A Year-Long Holocaust Book Series from the JFCS Holocaust Center
Turning Pages, Bearing Witness is a year-long book lecture series for adults who want to engage deeply with Holocaust history, memory, and meaning. Through four public gatherings—some in person, some virtual—participants will explore landmark works of Holocaust literature with the guidance of expert facilitators, distinguished authors, and the resources of the JFCS Holocaust Center.
Together, we will read, reflect, and discuss how these stories shape our understanding of the past and our responsibilities in the present.
SUMMER SESSION: JUNE 4, 2026 • 6:30PM • SAN FRANCISCO
LGBTQI+ Persecution and the Holocaust - An Encyclopedia of Prejudice and Perseverance
Hitler and the Nazis’ reign of power had dire and long-lasting consequences for LGBTQI+ persons in Germany, Europe, and arguably the world. This survey of key topics and themes within the greater landscape of Holocaust and genocide studies helps identify how deep-seated prejudices against LGBTQI+ persons evolved into eliminationist ideology under the Nazis. Entries consider the lives of the persecuted and the persecutors alongside examinations of the attitudes and ideas that shaped their present and prejudices; in short, how the German society at large came to condone, and at times participate in, the forceful arrest, disappearance, and murder of thousands of their fellow citizens. Considering also the resistance movement, profiles of key individuals tell the story of those who resisted the Nazi assault on LGBTQI+ persons. A chronology of key events, perspective essays, primary sources, and survivor testimony further help shed light on the resilience and resistance of the community and the evolution of their persecution under and after the Nazis.
Meet the Author
Thursday, June 4, 2026 | 6:30 – 8:00pm
San Francisco
Join us for a special summer session held in honor of Pride Month, in partnership with Keshet.
This gathering features an author conversation with Alexis Herr, whose work invites powerful reflection on identity, memory, and the ongoing relevance of Holocaust history. The evening will include a guided discussion led by Ron Glait, Director of Community Education, creating space for thoughtful dialogue and personal connection.
Together, we’ll explore the book’s themes, reflect on the intersections of history and LGBTQ+ experiences, and engage as a community in meaningful learning.
Participants will also have the rare opportunity to explore original archival materials connected to the story, presented by Andrew Roth, Manager of the Tauber Library and Archive. These curated documents and images add important historical context and illuminate the lives and events at the heart of the book.