The Art of Listening: Engaging with Holocaust Survivor Testimony

In partnership with the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies at Yale

The Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center is pleased to partner with the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies at Yale University for The Art of Listening, an engaging workshop that is open to everyone and qualifies as professional development for educators.

This workshop introduces the Fortunoff Video Archive’s New Haven origins, its survivor-founded mission, and its interview methodology as explored in The Art of Listening, a free digital teaching resource developed by the Archive.

Through excerpts from Holocaust survivor testimony and guided discussion, participants will explore how empathetic listening can deepen our understanding of memory, storytelling, and the human experience. Together, we will consider what it means to truly listen to another person’s story and why survivor testimony remains so important today.

Whether you are a teacher looking for classroom resources, a student, a museum professional, or simply someone interested in history, this program offers an opportunity to engage with survivor testimony in a thoughtful and meaningful way.

Educators will also leave with practical ideas and resources for incorporating Holocaust survivor testimony into their teaching.

Eliana Swerdlow is the Education and Outreach Program Manager at the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies at Yale University, where she develops teaching resources and supports educators and students in engaging with Holocaust survivor testimony. Her work with survivor testimonies has shaped her approach to listening and accompaniment in her roles as a public defender client advocate and multifaith hospital chaplain.

Please RSVP here.

No prior knowledge is required.

Everyone is welcome.