From Rubble to Roots: Six Stories of Survival and Resilience

Every family has roots. But some lie buried deep beneath rubble, under the weight of war, loss, and silence.

Photographs, documents, and personal objects are among the most fragile witnesses to history, especially those preserved by Holocaust survivors and their families. Vulnerable to destruction, displacement, and the passage of time, these artifacts carry stories that might otherwise have been lost. This exhibition brings together materials from six families, many on public view for the first time, revealing lives interrupted by catastrophe and rebuilt with remarkable resilience.

From Rubble to Roots originated as a podcast series produced by the Center for Jewish History with support from Ancestry®, dedicated to preserving survivor testimony before it is lost. The exhibition draws directly from that research, translating oral histories into a visual and material record. QR codes throughout the gallery connect each story to its corresponding podcast episode.

The six families represented here span different countries, experiences, and fates. Each story gives voice to histories that often remained unspoken for decades, told by the survivors themselves or by the children who carry their memories forward. Hosted by Miriam Malka Frankel, the podcast also draws on historical records to place these personal narratives within the broader history of the Holocaust. Together, the exhibition and podcast document vibrant lives before the war, the devastation of the Holocaust, and the enduring work of rebuilding across generations.

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Exhibit Closed

This exhibit closed on
Thursday, October 1, 2026