Scarsdale Public Library Announces Exhibit and Series Honoring Holocaust Survivors

This October, the Scarsdale Public Library, in partnership with the Friends of Scarsdale Library, will host Survivors Among Us, an exhibit by Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS). This compelling photographic and storytelling project features Holocaust survivors living in Westchester County and shares their experiences and stories with the community.

“Each of them endured unimaginable loss, cruelty, and upheaval during one of the darkest chapters in the history of Jewish people. Through their stories, we remember the horrors they endured. Through the lives they built afterward, we witness extraordinary resilience, courage and hope. This exhibit was created to preserve their voices and their stories. As the generation of Holocaust survivors grows smaller, we know that soon there will no longer be opportunities to hear these stories firsthand.

In addition the library will be offering a series of programs that explore this period in world history, featuring local organizations. Throughout the month, there will be a fact-finding mission, History’s Clues, where participants can read their way through the exhibit to answer questions about the survivors. Booklists with suggestions for all ages will be available, as well as curated displays in each of the departments.

Opening Reception - Thursday, October 1

Teen Talk with Hanne Holsten, a Holocaust Survivor Among Us - Saturday, October 10, 2:00 PM

Meet Hanne Holsten, a survivor of the Holocaust. Hanne was just eight years old in 1938 when she survived Kristallnacht by hiding in the attic of her family's jewelry store in Nuremberg, Germany. Join us as we have a discussion with Hanne to learn more about her experiences and how these unimaginable events of her youth affected her and shaped her life.

Movie Screening: Survival in Shanghai - Thursday, October 15, 5:30 PM

Join us for this special screening of the documentary "Survival in Shanghai," produced by the Shanghai Media Group, about the Jewish refugees who fled to Shanghai during World War II to escape the Holocaust. The documentary's Director Meixing Ren will be in attendance, and we hope to have some survivors and/or Shanghai babies as well. There will be time for discussion after the screening.

Survivors Among Us: Children's Book Discussion - Monday, October 19, 4:30 PM

Join us for a reading and thoughtful discussion of Bartali's Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy's Secret Hero by Megan Hoyt. Children will participate in a hands on activity resulting in a poster to be displayed in the library.

Note: Registration is online only and begins Sunday, September 27 at 8:00 AM.

HYBRID: Scarsdale and the Holocaust with Jordan Copeland - Wednesday, October 21, 6:00 PM

Join Scarsdale Village Historian Jordan Copeland for a presentation exploring how the community responded to the rise of Nazi Germany, the persecution of European Jews, and the Holocaust. Drawing on local records and accounts, the program traces Scarsdale's awareness of events overseas, its efforts to aid refugees and support wartime relief, and how the Holocaust shaped the community in the postwar years. This event is co-sponsored by the Scarsdale Historical Society and the Scarsdale Public Library.

Survivors Among Us - Closing Reflections: Holocaust Memorials and Remembrance with Steve Goldberg - Sunday, October 25, 3:00 PM

Join us for the closing program and reception for the featured October exhibit, Survivors Among Us. Steven Goldberg, Director of Education at the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center, will guide participants in considering two essential questions: How should we remember the past? How effectively do Holocaust monuments and memorials preserve and communicate the memory of the Holocaust? Following the presentation, please join us for light refreshments, community conversation, and time to view the exhibit.