“I was researching my Hordinski family and the other families that were were connected to my Polish relatives, I discovered that many members of my family have been killed during the Holocaust, and that really inspired me to learn more about Holocaust survivors in my own community and through photography, which is what what I know best, I think.” — Madeleine Hordinski
Inspired by her own family history and a desire to connect with local survivors, Madeleine partnered with the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center to photograph and record the stories of 41 survivors, many sharing their experiences publicly for the first time. The result is a book and a photography exhibit – both entitled Holding Hope.
Together, portraits, handwritten reflections, and personal artifacts reveal stories of resilience, rebuilding, and the enduring power of hope. Madeleine and Holocaust & Humanity Center’s Director of Collections and Exhibitions, Cori Silbernagel, reflect on the deeply personal process of meeting survivors in their homes, capturing their stories, and preserving their legacy for future generations.
This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity
Our gratitude to Margaret & Michael Valentine for their ongoing support of this series.
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Episode Resources
Learn more about the exhibit, and purchase a copy of the book
https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/holding-hope/
See the Enquirer project that inspired Holding Hope
