A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITORS
In the 33 chapters of the two-volume set, an international cadre of contributing authors converge with remarkable consonance, voicing a call to action through the arts to stand up against hatred, bullying, bigotry and antisemitism. In the preface to Volume 1 titled Art as an Imperative for Healing: Stand up Against Hatred, we discuss our personal context and conviction, addressing the need for re-representing and witnessing, challenging readers to consider their personal mechanisms for upstanding against violence, hatred and antisemitism. We emphasize that the time is now to become upstanders.
We believe that the arts are formidable catalysts for witnessing the unbearable. The impact of experiencing the interaction between the creativity of artists telling significant stories resonates deeply within observers challenging each of us with formidable experiences. We are grateful to our contributing authors for their courage, tenacity, artistry and willingness to explain and analyze their work in our books. Whether on stage, in concert, on the screen or in the gallery, these artists, teachers and scholars insightfully explain their journeys and outcomes. We are honored to have collected and edited their stories in our own nearly 4-year journey in creating these two volumes. We hope that you will read the books carefully and hearken to the inherent calling and approach to our current crises of social injustice with empathy, understanding and deep engagement, as have our authors.
~ Drs. Karen Berman and Gail Humphries
Karen Berman, Ph.D., Dean Emerita of the College of Fellows of the American Theatre and former President of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, has directed over 150 theatre productions, including in the Czech Republic and off-Broadway. She has extensive experience in university administration, teaching at Georgetown University, and working with non-profit theatre organizations. She has been recognized with the Georgia Governor’s Award for the Arts, the Hillel Heroes Award, and numerous accolades for her film Giving Voice: A Black Lives Matter Musical. She has published chapters on transformative education and presented at various conferences. She is former Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Georgia College. She co-founded Washington Women in Theatre and has directed multiple plays with Holocaust and Jewish themes, including four original plays about Czech heroes.
Dr. Karen Berman
Co-Editor
Gail Humphries, Ph.D., Fulbright Senior Scholar at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Czech Republic, and a Likhachev/Yeltsin Cultural Fellow, St. Petersburg, Russia, has directed more than 180 productions in the US, throughout Europe and Russia. She is Dean Emerita, Stephens College and College of Fellows of the American Theatre, and ProfessorEmerita at American University, with a long history of advocacy for social justice through the arts. Gail is co-editor and contributing author for the book titled Arts Integration in Education: Theory, Research and Practice. She also contributed chapters to the books titled The Courage to Fight Violence Against Women, and The Power of Witnessing. Of all of the honors that Gail has received over the years, she is inordinately proud of the2025 Global Leader Alumni Award from American University.
Dr. Gail Humphries
Co-Editor
A CONVERSATION WITH THE EDITORS
Witness an exclusive interview with the co-editors of the groundbreaking two-volume set, "Stories of the Holocaust: Art for Healing and Renewal". Moderated by Dr. David M. Milch (philanthropist, filmmaker, and physician), the co-editors share their motivations, the importance of art and theatre in healing, and the powerful stories captured in their work. Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding how creativity can foster resilience and remembrance. Tune in and be inspired!
THE BOOK TOUR BEGINS
A GALLERY OF REELS
"A well crafted work that highlights the value of the arts in remembering the past."
—KIRKUS, Kirkus Reviews is a U.S.-based magazine that has published pre-publication book reviews and industry features since 1933, founded by Virginia Kirkus. Read Full Review
EXPERTS & Allies
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UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS
Contributing Authors
This publication represents the dedication and courage of many voices who have shared their scholarship, creativity, and lived experiences to preserve memory, inspire reflection, and offer paths toward healing.
We extend our deepest gratitude to each of the contributing authors for their invaluable work in shaping this project. Their contributions enrich not only these volumes but also the ongoing global conversation about resilience, remembrance, and renewal.
We invite you to view the full list of contributing authors using the link below, and join us in celebrating the collective effort that made this two-volume set possible.
Special Credits
Stories of the Holocaust - Vol. I
publisher
Published by IP Books | Queens, NY
cover design
Kathy Kovacic
cover photo
Tom Caravaglia of Cat’s Cradle | Carolyn Dorfman Dance
music on cover
Sonata for Cello and Piano-mir zaynen do! |
Composed by Dr. Laurence Sherr
Stories of the Holocaust - Vol. II
publisher
Published by IP Books | Queens, NY
cover design
Kathy Kovacic
top right cover painting
If Wishes Were Horses, by Lauren Bergman
bottom right cover painting
Lili, Let’s Dance, by Mindy Weisel | Photo by John Woo Photography
bottom left cover photo
Teresa Castracane of Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski
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“Clearly, we haven’t done enough. If over a quarter of our youth believe the Holocaust is a myth, we need to both admit our shortcomings, and reconfigure our approach. The Holocaust needs to no longer be stories from the grave, nor talking heads who preach, but rather to be imbued with life and creativity. Our answer may lie in these pages. Stories of the Holocaust may just very well be our new playbook.”
- Rabbi Shmuel Lynn,
Executive Director, Olami Manhattan,
Theatrical Writer and Producer
