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. Jun 17

    Why We Teach

    Throughout this season of Chosen For What?, we've explored how the Holocaust continues to shape the lives of survivors, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In this final episode, host Tommy Schnurmacher turns his attention to an essential question: Why do we continue to teach these stories, and why does Holocaust and genocide education matter more than ever?   The episode brings together educators, descendants of survivors, authors, and advocates who have dedicated themselves to preserving memory and sharing history with future generations. Neal Dalzell discusses how today's students engage with difficult conversations about prejudice, racism, genocide, and human behavior. Stacy Seltzer reflects on what it means to pass her family's legacy on to her own daughter, while Mollie Bowman speaks about the urgent need to preserve survivor stories as the number of living Holocaust survivors continues to decline.   You will also hear from Judith Wertheim and Willie Handler, both of whom have found powerful ways to keep family histories alive through education, public speaking, and writing. The episode concludes with an inspiring message from Dorothy Goldwin about the impact one person can have by sharing their story.    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.

    14 min

  2. Jun 10

    Inherited Identity

    Identity is shaped by many things: family, culture, memory, and sometimes by stories that were never fully told. In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher explores what it means to inherit the legacy of the Holocaust, even for generations who did not experience it firsthand.    Through conversations with descendants of survivors, the episode examines how family history can quietly influence values, identity, and the way people understand themselves and the world around them.   And that begins with Stephen and Judith Wertheim, a father daughter duo who speak to young people about their family's experience. The pair reflect on speaking together about Stephen's parents' Holocaust experiences and the responsibility of carrying those stories forward across generations.    Mollie Bowman shares memories of her grandmother and the lasting impact those relationships continue to have on her life today.    Shoshana Cenker discusses the values passed down through her family, including resilience, compassion, and responsibility, and how she now shares those lessons with her own children.   The episode also features Dorothy Goldwin, a second-generation Holocaust survivor who reflects on how survivors gradually began speaking publicly about their experiences after years focused on rebuilding their lives in new countries.    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.

    9 min

  3. Jun 3

    The Weight of Silence

    Some stories are told openly. Others remain buried for decades. In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher explores the silence that often followed the Holocaust, and the lasting emotional impact that silence can have on survivors, their children, and even future generations.   Trauma therapist Brent Diaz explains how unresolved trauma can continue to shape families long after the original event, especially when painful experiences remain unspoken. The conversation examines how silence can affect identity, emotional regulation, relationships, and the ability to fully process grief and fear. The episode also explores an important question many descendants of survivors wrestle with: can trauma still be felt, even when the details were never shared?   The episode also features Cindy Silverman, a third-generation descendant of Holocaust survivors who only uncovered her grandparents' story years after they had already passed away. Cindy reflects on piecing together fragments of family history, learning about her grandparents' escape from Vienna, and what it was like to discover such a significant part of her identity later in life. Together, these conversations explore inherited trauma, family silence, Holocaust memory, and the emotional weight of stories left untold.   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.

    12 min

  4. May 27 ·  Video

    Millennials, Gen Z and the Future of Memory

    As Holocaust survivors age and fewer firsthand witnesses remain, younger generations are increasingly becoming the keepers of memory. In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher speaks with grandchildren and descendants of Holocaust survivors about what it means to inherit this history, and how they are choosing to carry it forward in their own lives.   Natalie Bruck reflects on the close bond she shared with her grandfather and the personal memories that continue to shape her understanding of her family's past. Mollie Bowman, Managing Director of Living Links, discusses how third-generation descendants are building networks and communities rooted in shared history, identity, and remembrance. Stacy Seltzer speaks about the unique common ground that often exists among descendants of survivors, even when their family stories differ. The episode also features Dorothy Goldwin, a second-generation survivor whose daughters are now continuing their family's commitment to Holocaust education and remembrance.   Together, these conversations explore what Holocaust memory looks like for Millennials and Gen Z, how younger generations connect to stories they did not live through themselves, and why preserving these histories remains so important. The episode also touches on intergenerational memory, Jewish identity, Holocaust education, and the responsibility many descendants feel to ensure these stories are never forgotten.   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.

    9 min

  5. May 20

    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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Chosen For What?

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