Inherited Identity

Identity is shaped by many things: family, culture, memory, and sometimes by stories that were never fully told. In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher explores what it means to inherit the legacy of the Holocaust, even for generations who did not experience it firsthand.

Through conversations with descendants of survivors, the episode examines how family history can quietly influence values, identity, and the way people understand themselves and the world around them.

And that begins with Stephen and Judith Wertheim, a father daughter duo who speak to young people about their family's experience. The pair reflect on speaking together about Stephen's parents' Holocaust experiences and the responsibility of carrying those stories forward across generations.

Mollie Bowman shares memories of her grandmother and the lasting impact those relationships continue to have on her life today.

Shoshana Cenker discusses the values passed down through her family, including resilience, compassion, and responsibility, and how she now shares those lessons with her own children.

The episode also features Dorothy Goldwin, a second-generation Holocaust survivor who reflects on how survivors gradually began speaking publicly about their experiences after years focused on rebuilding their lives in new countries.

Chosen For What? is brought to you by the Foundation for Genocide Education, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that every student understands the history and lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. To learn more about their work, or to make a donation, please visit GenEd.org.

*Note: You will hear the terms 2G and 3G used frequently in this podcast. This refers to second-generation and third-generation descendants of Holocaust survivors.