The Future of Holocaust Remembrance

Twenty-five years ago, Dr. Lauren Bairnsfather wrote an oral history of the “second generation,” children of Holocaust Survivors, in the United States. How did they think of themselves as individuals and as a group? How were they viewed from the outside of the close-knit communities that Holocaust Survivors formed in this country? How did they rise to meet the expectations of their legacy? In the 1970s, objecting to their being defined by a psychological profile of Survivors that focused on damage and trauma, the second generation formed organizations of their own. Yet, due to conflicting identities, priorities, and personalities, these groups often disbanded. What has lasted are nearly 100 museums and education centers across the United States.

Holocaust remembrance has been institutionalized, from small towns to the National Mall. But who carries the torch now? In this talk, Dr. Bairnsfather will revisit the topic of Holocaust remembrance in 2026. To what extent does Holocaust remembrance rest in the hands of the third and fourth generations? How can the work of memorializing the Holocaust, viewed as sacred by many, rise to meet the growing need to counter rising antisemitism across the globe?