FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Kara Driscoll, Director of Strategic External Engagement,
[email protected] | 513-638-0508
New exhibition features portraits and testimonies of 41 Cincinnati-area Holocaust survivors
CINCINNATI, OH — March 6, 2026 — The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center (HHC) has opened Holding Hope: Stories of Survival During the Holocaust, a powerful new photography exhibition that shares the stories of 41 Holocaust survivors who rebuilt their lives in the Cincinnati region.
Now on view in the Ruthven and Mallory Galleries at Union Terminal through June 7, 2026, the exhibition pairs moving survivor testimonies with portraits by Cincinnati photographer Madeleine Hordinski, offering visitors a deeply personal look at resilience, survival, and the enduring impact Holocaust survivors have had on the local community.
Collected from individuals who settled in Cincinnati during and after the Holocaust, the stories featured in Holding Hope reflect both unimaginable loss and extraordinary strength. Several of the testimonies are being shared publicly for the first time.
“Survivors have shaped our community in profound ways,” said Jackie Congedo, CEO of the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. “This exhibition honors their courage and ensures their stories continue to inspire future generations to stand up for dignity and humanity.”
Through intimate portraiture and first-person testimony, Holding Hope highlights not only the experiences of survivors during the Holocaust but also the lives they built afterward—raising families, creating businesses, and contributing to the cultural fabric of Cincinnati.
Photographer Madeleine Hordinski approached each portrait with the goal of capturing both the individuality and strength of each survivor. The resulting images, displayed alongside personal testimonies, invite visitors to engage with these stories on a deeply human level.
The exhibition is presented in both English and Russian, expanding accessibility for diverse audiences and reflecting the linguistic backgrounds of many survivors and their families.
The exhibition underscores the Holocaust & Humanity Center’s mission to preserve the history of the Holocaust and inspire visitors to confront antisemitism, hatred, and injustice today.
Holding Hope: Stories of Survival During the Holocaust is free and will be on view March 7 through June 7, 2026, in the Ruthven and Mallory Galleries at Union Terminal, 1301 Western Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio.
For more information, visit holocaustandhumanity.org.
