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USC Shoah Foundation
Dimensions in Testimony

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Stephen Smith, Executive Director, USC Shoah Foundation:

Stephen Smith: 

The Holocaust is an undeniable and horrific chapter in human history, in which 6 million Jews and countless millions perished in genocide and crimes against humanity during the Second World War.

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USC Shoah Foundation has been dedicated to sharing testimonies of survivors and witnesses of genocide and crimes against humanity since 1994.

Stephen Smith:

Dimensions in Testimony is a new format of interview by which you can ask your questions of a Holocaust survivor, who has videotaped answers to many questions, so that the questions that you have will be answered directly in person, life size and [unclear]TV.

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Dimensions in Testimony is a new interview technology that allows students and others to interact with survivors and witnesses of genocide, long after they are gone.

Student 1:

What was life like before the war?

Pinchas Gutter:

I had a very happy childhood. I loved to be together with my family.

Stephen Smith:

We understand very well the power of conversation between Holocaust survivors and the younger generation. We’ve seen it in our schools, we’ve seen it in our universities. That conversation, that moment of dialogue, where I ask my question and I get it answered, is just, it’s as magic in the room when that happens. And we wanted to try and find a way to preserve that as best possible. What’s wonderful about conversing with these Holocaust survivors in this interactive form is that it’s about you, about what you want to know. Conversation allows you to learn in a way that most suits your interests. And that’s where the deepest learning takes place.

Student 2:

Do you feel hope for the future?

Pinchas Gutter:

I always feel hopeful. If I wasn’t hopeful, I wouldn’t be talking to you or anybody else about my experience. 

Anita Lasker‐Wallfisch:

I’m very happy that I was able to survive.

Renée Firestone:

And here I am. I was one of the lucky ones.

Stephen Smith:

The questions that students have is what’s driving the learning experience. And so we know that this is important because we’re going to enable them to be able to learn through their own curiosity. We are almost out of time to have deep conversations with Holocaust survivors. If we don’t have these conversations now, they will never take place.

Title Card:

USC Shoah Foundation

Dimensions of Testimony.

Learn more at sfi.usc.edu/dit