Crafting Your Second-Generation Stories

On January 14 and 28th, Rita Benn and Ruth Wade offered for the first time, a two-session memoir writing workshop for second-generation descendants of the Holocaust sponsored by the Holocaust Learning Experience, a program of the MorseLife Foundation. The program, limited to 25 participants, filled up almost as soon as it was announced.  Attendees were very excited by this program. They appreciated the opportunity to be in community with others who shared the same ancestral background. The structure of prompts and paired interaction created a safe space to explore the impact of the Holocuast on their own lived experience. Many had not delved into writing about their own family experiences prior to their enrollment. As one participant remarked, "Thanks so much for offering this important workshop. I also appreciate you sharing your book and your own moving personal stories. I see my parents, myself and my family in the stories and it is amazing at this point in my life to have this shared experience. Until I met my husband, I had never met another survivor family. I’ve been writing my parents’ story for awhile and only recently began to write mine. The prompts you gave brought out new ideas and helped me to see things in a different way. The workshop has moved me forward in my personal writing journey ... being part of a small writing group is so helpful." In reflecting on what's next, the majority of participants exclaimed a desire to continue writing together.  We are in discussion with MorseLife on ways to promote this opportunity.