Frequently Asked Questions

How do you define Holocaust survivor?
We define “survivor” as anyone targeted or persecuted by Nazis because of their Jewish heritage.

How do I arrange for a Holocaust survivor to speak virtually to my school or institution?

To request a speaker via Zoom for your school, please complete this Virtual Speakers Bureau Request Form at least two weeks before your preferred program date.

To request a speaker via Zoom for your company/organization, please complete this Virtual Speakers Bureau Request Form at least two weeks before your preferred program date.

For questions and consultations, please contact the Holocaust Center, at [email protected].

What is the appropriate age or grade to hear a Holocaust survivor speak?
Ages 7th grade and up

What preparation must my students have prior to hearing a survivor speaker?
Hearing a survivor speak is a supplement to your Holocaust or genocide curriculum and is not intended as a replacement for formal Holocaust or genocide study. Prior to inviting a speaker to address your class, please be sure to prepare your students with a unit about the Holocaust and/or genocide. For questions, please contact the Holocaust Center, at [email protected].

What happens after I send my request for a speaker?
A member of the Holocaust Center staff will confirm receipt of the request and contact a speaker who is considered to be a good fit for your program.

When are survivors available to speak?
Survivors are available to speak on weekdays, between the hours of 9:30 am and 5:00 pm, depending on their schedules. Survivors are not available in the early morning hours, in the evening, or on weekends. Please get in touch with us if your program must fall outside of these hours.

What kind of experiences will the speakers talk about?
The survivors and descendants who speak have a variety of experiences that they will share. They are not historians; rather they are living witnesses who will testify regarding their individual or family experience. Some were Hidden Children or on the Kindertransport, and some were refugees. Each has an important story to tell and we request that you be sensitive to and appreciative of each of their unique experiences.

How long should I plan for the presentation?
Please plan for a minimum of 60 minutes for the speaker. In most cases, we recommend 75 minutes to include a Q&A period following their presentation. Remember that the speakers are describing complex and traumatic events, and should not be expected to abbreviate their stories. If there is not an hour available, please discuss this with our staff before requesting a speaker for your school or organization.

Can a speaker present to more than one class/group during their virtual visit?
Sharing about their experiences during the Holocaust can be physically and emotionally draining for our speakers. In order to look after their well-being, we do not schedule survivors to give more than one presentation per day. Should you wish for the speaker to address multiple groups in one day, we suggest combining the groups into a larger virtual program.