Volume 2 of “To Tell Our Stories: Holocaust Survivors of Southern Arizona” will be among hundreds of books represented at this weekend’s Tucson Festival of Books, March 10-11 at the University of Arizona. The newly-released book chronicles 45 local Holocaust survivors’ stories. It is the second book in a project initiated by Raisa Moroz, Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona Holocaust Survivor Program manager. Agency volunteer Richard Fenwick, a retired United States Air Force Russian linguist, poet and author is the co-editor and translator for both books.
Moroz says she accidentally began collecting the stories, originally from Russian survivors. After the first volume was published 2015, many other survivors came forward, wanting to share their stories, from Hungary, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Poland.
“We have the gift of many amazing Holocaust survivors who came to Tucson from different European countries,” says Moroz. “I am so grateful that they entrusted their unique stories to us, and agreed to share them with our community so the personal accounts of what they experienced will be recorded and remembered by future generations to come.”
“JFCS is grateful to the survivors for sharing their stories,” says Susan Kasle, JFCS’ vice president of community services. “Having first-hand accounts of the Holocaust in circulation supports our survivor services and public awareness of our mission at JFCS.” JFCS’ Holocaust Survivors Program provides care management and support services to Holocaust survivors, and since 1998 has served over 150 local survivors.
JFCS sponsors book readings in public libraries and other community venues where survivors themselves read their stories. Since October, 1,025 listeners have attended one of nine readings, Moroz says. The next reading will be on Thursday, April 12, at the Joel Valdez Main Library downtown.
Both volumes are available at the Tucson Festival of Books and on Amazon.com. For more information on the JFCS Holocaust Survivor Program, the book project and public readings, visit jfcstucson.org/services/holocaust-survivors-program.
