87-Year-Old Shares Holocaust Story With Great-Granddaughter

At 87 years old, Cipora Zoberman finally broke her silence about surviving the Holocaust. Her story poured out not to historians or journalists, but to a room full of eighth graders at Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School in Skokie, including one very special listener.

Among the student filmmakers was her own great-granddaughter, Adella Graber. The teen heard for the first time how her family escaped Nazi-occupied Zamość, Poland when Zoberman was just nine months old.

"I'm named after her mom," Graber said, her voice filled with new understanding. "Her mom's name was Adela."

The interview happened on Holocaust Remembrance Day, as part of a documentary project the school has run for 16 years. Students learn professional filming techniques, conduct interviews, and edit testimonies into full-length documentaries that preserve survivor stories for future generations.

"It's almost I feel I'm dreaming. It's a dream," Zoberman said during the filming session. The surreal experience of finally sharing her trauma with her descendant brought decades of unspoken memories into the light.

The students interviewed seven Holocaust survivors total, treating each testimony with care and respect. Professional filmmakers guide them through the technical aspects, but the students handle everything from research to final edits.

Why This Inspires

Over 20 years, this project has created more than 850 similar documentaries, with thousands of students worldwide participating. Each film captures irreplaceable first-hand accounts before they're lost to time.

For Graber, the project connected her to family history she never knew existed. She discovered why she carries her great-great-grandmother's name and glimpsed the trauma that shaped generations of her family.

"It's important for all the survivors to share their stories so we could keep on passing it down and so it doesn't get lost," Graber explained. Her words capture why these student-led documentaries matter so much.

The teens learned that some memories remain traumatic even at 87, but sharing them can bring unexpected peace. Zoberman's willingness to finally speak ensured her story won't disappear with her generation.

The finished documentary will premiere at a community screening on March 24, adding another voice to the historical record and giving one family an invaluable gift.