Hannah Kaye

The Kindertransport Lists: Latest Research

I interviewed Dr Amy Williams who has recently completed a post-doctoral fellowship here at Yad Vashem. The Kindertransport lists that she discovered in the course of her research at Yad Vashem have attracted international interest with articles on the BBC and in The New York Times among others and she hopes to publish her findings in an upcoming book which will be co-authored with Prof Bill Niven. Dr Williams's interest in the Kindertransport was initially sparked when she learned that the... Continue reading

A Prayer Upon Eating Chametz

Alongside the struggle to survive against the odds, the Holocaust brought all sorts of challenges for Jewish observance, to which many Jews strove to cling. Even in the ghettos and camps, some Jews found ways to make and distribute matzah at Passover. When that wasn't possible, they found ways to express their yearning to observe the commandments. A prayer to be recited before eating chametz (leavened bread) was written and recited in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp; under normal... Continue reading

Doing a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Yad Vashem

Dr. Amy Williams is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Yad Vashem's International Institute for Holocaust Research. I interviewed her about her time at Yad Vashem and her experience of being in Israel this year. What brings you to Yad Vashem? I was really lucky enough to get a fellowship here, which is for four months, which is super exciting. It feels like it's gone very quickly though, I'm already into the third month. I applied when I was at another fellowship in New York. So, I'm super,... Continue reading

Thomas Geve - The Boy Who Drew Auschwitz

Thomas Geve (1929 – 2024) was a Holocaust survivor from Germany. He survived Auschwitz, Gross Rosen and Buchenwald. He recorded his experiences in a series of nearly 80 drawings soon after the liberation and published a memoir in 1958. He gave testimony to groups at Yad Vashem and elsewhere. This interview with Orly Ohana, Associate Art Curator from Yad Vashem's Museums Division, discusses Thomas Geve and his work.  "No one else has come forward to tell of those who grew up in concentration... Continue reading

Some Thoughts in Memory of Prof. Yehuda Bauer Z"L

Today marks 30 days since the passing of esteemed international Holocaust researcher and Yad Vashem's Academic Advisor Professor Yehuda Bauer, Z"L, who passed away on Friday, 18 October 2024, in Jerusalem at the age of 98.  On the occasion of his shloshim, we have put together a collection of memories that were expressed by some of his friends and colleagues here at Yad Vashem. Dani Dayan Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate "Prof. Yehuda Bauer not only enriched our knowledge of the... Continue reading

Celebrating Purim in the Midst of Tragedy

The holiday of Purim is approaching; traditionally one of the most joyous holidays in the Jewish calendar. It is said that when the Jewish month of Adar begins, we should "increase in happiness,"[1] but how do we relate to this imperative to be happier in times of trouble and in times of uncertainty when people are sad or in mourning? I am going to address this question by looking at the different ways that Jews celebrated or marked the holiday of Purim during and immediately after the... Continue reading

Referencing Jewish History in Holocaust Art

In the final blog of this series, we explore unique artistic endeavors that connected those who created them with their ancestors, while expressing the anguish and anticipation for an end to the maelstrom in which they were caught. In their art, Holocaust survivors searched Jewish tradition for visual language to express what they had experienced. They leaned on the midrashic form of biblical interpretation, reimagining traditional Jewish texts to reflect the conditions under which they were... Continue reading

Interpretation of Jewish Themes in Sermons During the Holocaust

In the third blog of this series, we examine how religious and communal leaders encouraged their dispirited and desperate congregations through ancient words of hope and faith in better times ahead. In so doing, they drew on the tradition of the midrashic form of biblical interpretation, making connections between new realities and ancient biblical texts. The existential challenges posed by some of the traditional texts can especially be seen in sermons that were given around the High Holydays,... Continue reading

Adapting Jewish Prayers During the Holocaust

In the second blog of this series, we look at how prayers were adapted by Jewish men and women to reflect their ongoing reality, as well as their hopes and dreams for the future. The strategy of adapting a well-known Jewish text to the Holocaust era can be seen with Regina Honigman’s Passover Haggadah. Inside, we can see some of the range of emotions, thoughts and feelings that were brought to the forefront by her consideration of the traditional text. There are prayers of hope: “Avadim... Continue reading

Adapting Jewish Texts and Traditions During the Holocaust

Observing the Jewish laws and festivals with all their accompanying traditions and customs was one facet of how Jews struggled to maintain their human spirit in the face of persecution and death during the Holocaust. Many found ways to celebrate the Jewish holidays and to observe aspects of Jewish law even under the horrific conditions of the camps and ghettos, in hiding and under false identities. The Jewish festivals center around historical events – for example, the Exodus from Egypt or... Continue reading

Celebrating Sukkot – Before, During and After the Holocaust

I recently attended a special tour of the Holocaust History Museum that focused on the struggle to observe Jewish Holidays during the Holocaust. Most of the tour participants had previously visited Yad Vashem, and were making a repeat visit in order to learn more about this particular aspect of the Holocaust. Observing the Jewish festivals with all their accompanying traditions and customs was one facet of the phenomenon whereby Jews struggled to maintain their human spirit in the face of... Continue reading