Chosen For What?

The Foundation for Genocide Education

What does it mean to grow up in the shadow of survival? Chosen For What? is a powerful new podcast that dives deep into the personal stories of second and third generation Holocaust survivors. Hosted by acclaimed broadcaster and author Tommy Schnurmacher (whose own mother survived the horrors of Auschwitz), this original series features raw, unfiltered conversations with the children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren of those who endured and survived the Holocaust. This insightful podcast bridges personal histories and the present with heart, depth and some classic Jewish humour. Unpacking the unexpected ripple effects from survivors who surmounted and defied all odds. These lived experiences of inherited trauma, resilience, and identity are harrowing, heartbreaking, inspiring and deeply human. Through each episode, listeners gain intimate access to voices shaped by survival, silence, and the unshakable question: What does it mean to carry this important legacy forward? Brought to you by The Foundation for Genocide Education, Chosen For What? is a vital act of remembrance and a call to never forget. To make a donation or to learn more about The Foundation for Genocide Education, you can visit their website at GenEd.org

  1. 2D AGO

    Faith After Auschwitz: How Descendants Relate to Religion

    Faith can be a source of comfort, but it can also be deeply challenged by trauma. In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher explores how the Holocaust reshaped the relationship between faith, identity, and belief for survivors and their descendants. The conversation looks at how people make sense of suffering, and how religion can both anchor and unsettle those navigating the legacy of unimaginable loss.   Rabbi Lisa Grushcow shares her perspective on how descendants of Holocaust survivors engage with questions of faith, spirituality, and moral meaning today. Her insights highlight the complexity of belief in a post-Holocaust world, where faith is not always straightforward and can evolve over time.   This episode also features Stacy Seltzer, a third-generation descendant of survivors, who reflects on how two members of the same family can emerge from the same experience with two completely different relationships to religion.   The conversation extends beyond faith itself to the role of community, memory, and shared experience. Shoshana Cenker recounts her participation in the March of the Living and the impact of connecting that experience back to her grandparents.    Together, these stories explore how Holocaust memory continues to shape Jewish identity, how people reconcile belief and doubt, and why these conversations remain relevant for future generations.   Chosen For What? is brought to you by the Foundation for Genocide Education, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that every student understands the history and lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. To learn more about their work, or to make a donation, please visit GenEd.org.   *Note: You will hear the terms 2G and 3G used frequently in this podcast. This refers to second-generation and third-generation descendants of Holocaust survivors.

    11 min

  2. MAY 13

    Trauma, Healing, and the Body

    Trauma does not end when the event is over. It can live on in the body, in relationships, and across generations. In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher explores what trauma looks like beyond the moment it is experienced, and how it continues to shape the lives of Holocaust survivors and their descendants.   Through conversations with trauma therapist Brent Diaz, second-generation survivor Dorothy Goldwin, and descendants of survivors including Monica Bialski and Willie Handler, this episode examines how trauma can be carried, often unconsciously, from one generation to the next. From inherited anxiety and emotional patterns to survivor's guilt and silence within families, these stories highlight the many ways trauma can manifest long after the original experience. The discussion also touches on how people begin to recognize these patterns and what healing can look like over time.   The episode also features Aviva Ptack, a Holocaust survivor who was hidden as a child during the war. Her firsthand experience offers a powerful perspective on the origins of trauma, grounding the conversation in lived history. Together, these voices help answer questions many people are searching for today, including how trauma is passed down, how Holocaust survivors cope, and how future generations can begin to understand and process inherited pain.   Chosen For What? is brought to you by the Foundation for Genocide Education, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that every student understands the history and lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. To learn more about their work, or to make a donation, please visit GenEd.org.

    14 min

  3. MAY 6

    How Hate Evolves

    Hate doesn't always look the same. It shifts, adapts, and often disguises itself in language that can seem reasonable on the surface. In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher explores how hate evolves over time, how it takes root in societies, and how it continues to impact individuals and communities today.   Neal Dalzell is a social studies teacher who teaches a class on the sociology of genocide at Centennial Regional High School in Greenfield Park, Quebec, who offers a sociological perspective on how groups begin to define "us" versus "them," and how those divisions can escalate into exclusion and violence.    Anthropologist Adam Louis-Klein shares insight into how to engage with people who hold hateful views, and what it takes to challenge those beliefs in a meaningful way.    Rabbi Lisa Grushcow, Temple Emanu-El Beth Shalom, adds another layer to the conversation, reflecting on the origins of hate and the deeper need for control and certainty that can drive it.   The episode also looks ahead, focusing on what can be done to push back against hatred in everyday life. Mollie Bowman, Managing Director of Living Links, speaks to the power of community, education, and collective action in creating change. Together, these conversations explore questions many people are asking today: What does modern hate look like? How does antisemitism evolve? And how can individuals respond in a way that is thoughtful, informed, and effective?   Chosen For What? is brought to you by the Foundation for Genocide Education, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that every student understands the history and lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. To learn more about their work, or to make a donation, please visit GenEd.org.

    9 min

  4. APR 29

    The Rise of Anti-Semitism Globally

    The new season of Chosen For What? begins with a timely and urgent conversation about the rise of antisemitism globally, and what that means for Jewish communities today. Host Tommy Schnurmacher brings together multiple voices to explore how antisemitism is showing up in modern society, how it is being experienced across generations, and why these conversations matter now more than ever.   Rabbi Lisa Grushcow offers insight into how antisemitism is being discussed and understood within Jewish communities, while Mollie Bowman, a third-generation descendant of Holocaust survivors and Managing Director of Living Links, speaks to the importance of educating young people and empowering them to respond. Shoshana Cenker shares a deeply personal perspective, reflecting on what it means to raise children in a world where fear and visibility are once again part of daily life for many Jewish families.   The episode also examines the evolving language surrounding antisemitism, including the rise of anti-Zionism in academic and public spaces. Anthropologist Adam Louis-Klein breaks down how certain narratives and terminology are being used today, and why understanding these distinctions is critical in recognizing modern forms of hate. This conversation connects directly to broader questions people are asking today, including what antisemitism looks like in 2025, how Holocaust memory shapes Jewish identity, and why Holocaust education remains essential in combating hate and misinformation.   Chosen For What? is brought to you by the Foundation for Genocide Education, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that every student understands the history and lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. To learn more about their work, or to make a donation, please visit GenEd.org.

    11 min

  5. TRAILER

    TRAILER: Season Two of Chosen For What? Starts April 29th!

    After the incredible success of season one of Chosen For What?, we're thrilled to announce that season TWO begins on April 29th. Season two of Chosen For What? starts April 29th, with new episodes dropping every Wednesday. Be sure to follow or subscribe, so that you don't miss a single episode!

    1 min

  6. 11/27/2025

    Building the Foundation for Genocide Education with Heidi Berger

    Heidi Berger, founder and president of the Foundation for Genocide Education, joins Tommy Schnurmacher on Chosen For What? to share the story behind her life's mission: ensuring that every student understands the history and lessons of genocide.   Inspired by her late mother's experience as a Holocaust survivor, Heidi began her work as an educator and film producer, creating an interactive video presentation that brought her mother's story to life. But what began as a personal project soon revealed a shocking truth; many students (and even teachers) had never learned the meaning of the word "genocide." That realization led Heidi to establish the Foundation for Genocide Education, a registered non-profit dedicated to helping governments integrate genocide education into high school curriculums across Canada and beyond.   In this podcast, Heidi discusses the powerful story of her mother's survival, the urgent need for genocide education, and the ongoing challenge of keeping these lessons alive for future generations. She also shares what it's like speaking to students across North America and the reactions that continue to move her the most. Chosen For What? is brought to you by the Foundation for Genocide Education, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that every student understands the history and lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. To learn more about their work, or to make a donation, please visit GenEd.org.

    25 min

  7. 11/20/2025

    Inherited Fear and Anxiety with Dr. Benjamin Goldstein

    In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher sits down with Dr. Benjamin Goldstein, an Israeli-Canadian physician and third-generation descendant of Holocaust survivors. Drawing from personal reflection and lived experience, Dr. Goldstein explores how inherited fear and anxiety can quietly shape family dynamics, identity, and worldview, often without being recognized until much later in life.   He shares vivid memories of his grandparents' habits (like never leaving food on the plate or clinging tightly to loved ones) that once seemed harmless but now reveal the deep imprint of survival trauma. Dr. Goldstein describes how his understanding of their fear has evolved, especially as a parent raising children in Israel.    This thoughtful conversation explores how trauma is transmitted through families, how it adapts across generations, and what it means to live with inherited vigilance in today's uncertain world. Dr. Goldstein's story is a reminder that the echoes of history are not always loud; they often live in our smallest fears, our deepest instincts, and our most protective acts of love.   Chosen For What? is brought to you by the Foundation for Genocide Education, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that every student understands the history and lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. To learn more about their work, or to make a donation, please visit GenEd.org.

    27 min

  8. 11/13/2025

    Guilt, Gratitude, and Hope with Monica Mendel

    This week, Chosen For What? host Tommy Schnurmacher speaks with Monica Mendel, a second-generation Holocaust survivor whose life has been profoundly shaped by her parents' wartime experiences.  Monica shares the moving story of her family's survival, the silence that often surrounded those memories, and the emotional journey of uncovering the details later in life. Together, Tommy and Monica explore how growing up with Holocaust survivor parents can influence everything from identity and values to parenting styles and worldviews. They discuss the importance of Holocaust education, the responsibility of descendants to preserve memory, and the lessons that can help prevent future atrocities. Monica's reflections offer a deeply personal perspective on resilience, remembrance, and the bonds of family. Chosen For What? is brought to you by the Foundation for Genocide Education, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that every student understands the history and lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. To learn more about their work, or to make a donation, please visit GenEd.org.

    24 min
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Trailers

About

What does it mean to grow up in the shadow of survival? Chosen For What? is a powerful new podcast that dives deep into the personal stories of second and third generation Holocaust survivors. Hosted by acclaimed broadcaster and author Tommy Schnurmacher (whose own mother survived the horrors of Auschwitz), this original series features raw, unfiltered conversations with the children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren of those who endured and survived the Holocaust. This insightful podcast bridges personal histories and the present with heart, depth and some classic Jewish humour. Unpacking the unexpected ripple effects from survivors who surmounted and defied all odds. These lived experiences of inherited trauma, resilience, and identity are harrowing, heartbreaking, inspiring and deeply human. Through each episode, listeners gain intimate access to voices shaped by survival, silence, and the unshakable question: What does it mean to carry this important legacy forward? Brought to you by The Foundation for Genocide Education, Chosen For What? is a vital act of remembrance and a call to never forget. To make a donation or to learn more about The Foundation for Genocide Education, you can visit their website at GenEd.org

Information

  • Creator
    The Foundation for Genocide Education
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Chosen For What?

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