Holocaust Survivor Stories Live On in Saskatoon Exhibit

As Holocaust survivors age, their families are stepping up to make sure history never fades into silence.

Dahlia Libin stood before a photograph of her late grandmother, Sonia Kravitz, sharing how Kravitz tore off the yellow star Jews were forced to wear and fled into Poland's forests to survive. Her story is one of 20 featured in "Here to Tell: Faces of Holocaust Survivors," a moving photography exhibit now open at the Frances Morrison Library in Saskatoon.

"We're soon to be in a world without any Holocaust survivors," Libin told visitors. "It's our obligation to make sure that stories continue to be shared."

The exhibit, which originated in Calgary, features survivors with deep connections to Western Canada. Each portrait captures not just a face, but decades of resilience, loss, and the determination to rebuild after unimaginable darkness.

Libin emphasized why these stories matter more than ever today. "The Holocaust didn't start with murdering. It started with words. It started with hate. It started with the erosion of critical thinking," she explained.

For visitors like Seth Shacter, the experience transforms distant history into something deeply personal. "It brings you closer to what they experienced, and how we can't allow it to ever happen again," Shacter said.

Why This Inspires

Despite rising antisemitism that kept some survivors from participating out of fear, many chose courage over silence. Their willingness to share painful memories creates a bridge between generations, transforming trauma into education and hope.

The exhibit reminds us that remembering isn't just about honoring the past. It's about protecting the future by teaching compassion, critical thinking, and the importance of speaking up before words turn into something darker.

The installation is free and open to the public during library hours until June 2, giving everyone a chance to witness history through the eyes of those who lived it.

These faces, these stories, these lives will continue inspiring long after the last survivor is gone.