Local Officials Visit the Portraits of Survival: Life Journeys during the Holocaust and Beyond Exhibit

On Monday, August 12th 2019, the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara and Jewish Family Service will host a special presentation and exclusive visit to the Portraits of Survival: Life Journeys During the Holocaust and Beyond exhibit permanently located at the Jewish Federation’s Bronfman Family JCC for Mayor Cathy Murillo, Mayor Fred Shaw, and four Councilmembers of the city of Santa Barbara (Kristen Sneddon, Oscar Gutierrez, Meghan Harmon and Eric Friedman). The exhibit illustrates photography depicting the experiences of Santa Barbara residents who are survivors and refugees of the Holocaust. 

This will be a unique opportunity to experience this impactful program first-hand and hear an inspiring story of survival directly from one who lived it personally, especially as these chances are becoming less available.  The timing for this presentation was chosen to coincide with the Jewish commemoration of Tisha B’Av (the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av), which this year, falls on Sunday, August 11th.  This ancient Biblical fast day recalls the death and destruction which has befallen the Jewish people throughout the ages, especially due to Sinat Hinam (Baseless Hatred), which has abounded throughout society contributing to its downfall.  Not only the basis for the Holocaust, this ubiquitous hate continues to be an issue for us all to face and address. 

The Portraits of Survival: The Portraits of Survival Exhibit and Program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara plays a vital role in the Santa Barbara community and beyond.  Since its inception in 2003, more than 20,000 school children and community members have been tremendously impacted by the stories of Santa Barbara’s local Holocaust Survivor community, having heard these moving accounts directly from them – and therefore becoming witnesses to history themselves.  In 2012, the program was expanded to include the Upstanders:  Courage in the Face of Evil Exhibit, with its vital message that we can all be Upstanders in our own lives every day, standing up for what is right and just in our society and the world community at large.  Thus, students and other participants in our Program truly take the message of the stories they hear from the Survivors, creating a relevance to their own lives:  it is up to each one of us to work together to ensure that history never repeats this evil – we can each make a difference.

This specific event will be facilitated by Ruth Dubin Steinberg, LCSW, Director of Jewish Family Service and the Portraits of Survival Exhibit and Program and accompanied by Dr. Stanley Ostern, Holocaust Survivor (Survived as a hidden child). For more information or questions, please contact Info@sbjf.org.