History Commons^™

Belsen Silence, Monica Gil

Geifman Prize in Holocaust Studies

I often look to text for musical inspiration, and after searching through swaths of Holocaust poetry online, I discovered "Belsen Silence" by Iolo Lewis. Its message is less graphic than some of the other texts I found, but that in no way detracts from its power of emotion. It is about looking back, tending to old wounds that are no longer fresh but are still healing. The Holocaust may have happened over fifty years ago, but it is still relevant, even alarmingly so at times. Today's reflections on yesterday's shortcomings are arguably the only way we learn, and that is …

S.S. Schatten Schmidt, Emma Albers-Lopez

Geifman Prize in Holocaust Studies

This poem attempts to display the horrors that prisoners in Auschwitz endured, but also the internal struggles of S.S. guards. It has a large focus on music in the camp.

This poem has a personal connection to my family. My great-grandmother did steal Nazi flags to make clothes for her six children. The seventh child was killed in the way that is explained in the poem. That seventh child is where I received my name "Emma". It was a privilege to honor my namesake through this poem.

To See In Color, Sarah Rebban

Geifman Prize in Holocaust Studies

No abstract provided.