Bearing Witness
Bearing Witness: Unforgettable Stories from the Holocaust
Bearing Witness, is a series that features Holocaust survivors who tell their unforgettable stories during the Holocaust. Their words rise above hatred and retribution to speak about the strength and will that enabled them to survive and to go on to build new lives. The Breman is pleased to offer free admission to the Bearing Witness series through a generous grant from The Rich’s Foundation.
“The Bearing Witness series is about hearing the full and untold stories of Jewish survival during the Holocaust. Through the Breman lens of the 4Rs: resilience, resourcefulness, resistance and rescue, we see how people survived this dark period in history.
“Even as we teach about the horrors of the Holocaust, we want to shine a light on the strength of our survivors and their families who were able to live through this time,” says Rabbi Joseph Prass, Director of the Weinberg Center for Holocaust Education. “It is through the first-hand recounting of our speakers that we learn the lessons of history so that we will never forget and never allow it to happen again.”
Rabbi Prass continues, “Through the generous grant from The Rich’s Foundation, the Bearing Witness series allows us to welcome a wide audience of new and returning visitors to the museum who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to hear a speaker first-hand. Because of this gift, we believe future generations will learn the vital lessons of history from those who witnessed it.”
Information about Bearing Witness Events
Guided tours of our Holocaust Gallery are given at 12:30 PM. Tours are capped at 60 persons in total, on a first-come, first served basis. While the tour is in session, the Holocaust Gallery will be closed from 12:30 – 2 PM.
Doors to the auditorium open at 1:30 PM. Speakers begin at 2:00 PM.
Free Parking is available onsite (with free overflow parking available) and seating is first-come, first-served, so be sure to arrive early in order to secure your spot!
Free admission to the Bearing Witness Series is provided through a generous gift from The Rich’s Foundation.
This event is presented by The Weinberg Center for Holocaust Education at The Breman and our community partner Eternal Life – Hemshech.
To view videos of previous Bearing Witness events, visit the ‘Past Bearing Witnesses’ tab or visit our Vimeo page
Curiosity. Piqued.
Unforgettable Stories from the Holocaust. Bearing Witness features videos of Holocaust survivors telling their remarkable stories. Find more on our Vimeo Page.
Helen Fromwitz Weingarten
Helen was born in Oybuchko, Romania in 1924 to a large and happy family.
In 1944, her and other family members were deported to the Slatina ghetto and eventually taken to Auschwitz. Her and most of her siblings were selected for labor and experienced terrible conditions in the camp for several months. Helen and her sisters were transported to a factory, in Germany, to work where they endured constant bombing.
After being liberated, Helen reunited with her surviving family members, got married, and later immigrated to the United States.
Helen passed away in 2021.
George Rishfeld
George was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1939 just before the outbreak of World War II.
After George and his parents were forced into the Vilna Ghetto, his parent’s made the difficult decision to send young George to live with a Polish family. At the end of the war, George, reunited with his parents, moved into a Displaced Persons Camp.
Eventually, the Rishfeld family set sail for the the United States. George joined the military, married, and today has loving family.
Marsillla ‘Bebe’ Forehand
Bebe was born in Antwerp, Belgium in 1929 to an interfaith couple.
Like Anne Frank, Bebe and her family hid in an attic for the duration of the war. Her father was part of the underground resistance movement in Belgium.
Bebe and her husband moved to the United States and she was shocked to discover the racial segregation in Atlanta.
Bebe had twins and became the matriarch of a beautiful large family.
Murray Lynn
Murray was born in Bilke, Hungary in 1930.
In 1942, his father was taken away along with prominent members of the Jewish community. Two years later, Murray, his siblings, and mother were taken to Auschwitz. Murray was the only one selected for labor. He performed forced labor for a year before being liberated.
He eventually made his way to the United States, where he met his wife and they had three successful children.
Murray Lynn passed away in 2021.
Please be advised there is a brief description of sexual assault in this film.
Norbert Friedman
Norbert was born in Krakow, Poland in 1922.
In 1942, Norbert’s mother and brother perished in Belzec while he and his father were sent to Mielec concentration camp. Norbert was imprisoned in 11 camps before his liberation. Afterwards, he briefly became a translator for the US Army.
In 1950, he immigrated to the United States. Norbert attributes his survival to the support and protection he received from his father.
Norbert passed away in 2019.
Curiosity. Piqued.
Unforgettable Stories from the Holocaust. Bearing Witness features videos of Holocaust survivors telling their remarkable stories. Find more on our Vimeo Page.