The Holocaust Speaker Series, hosted every Wednesday at 11 a.m., features Holocaust survivors and descendants of survivors sharing stories of life before, during, and after the Holocaust. The series is sponsored by Margaret & Michael Valentine in partnership with the Harriet and Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust Center and the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Steve Coppel is the son of two Holocaust Survivors, Trudy and Werner Coppel. Both his parents have an amazing story of survival, perseverance, rebuilding and love which is featured throughout the Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center. Steve’s Dad (Werner) was a survivor of Auschwitz. He was the first Holocaust Survivor in Cincinnati to speak publicly about his experiences. Starting in the early 1970’s, Werner spoke at schools, churches, meetings and public gatherings stressing the ills of hate and prejudice but also encouraging his audiences to stand up to them even when they didn’t apply to them personally. Steve’s goal is to continue carrying this message because it is so vital. Steve retired from a career in manufacturing and is one of the exhibit Interpreters at HHC as well as a member of the Coppel Speakers’ Bureau which was named in memory of his parents.