Drawing on Jewish Family History – Audrey Reich

Living Our Beliefs

Episode 63.
Audrey Reich is an artist and art teacher in New York and is also involved in Holocaust education. Audrey is a speaker and board member of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center. Daughter of two Holocaust survivors, she credits her parents with modeling awe and appreciation, openness and curiosity. Despite their trauma, deportations, and long paths to the U.S. they each managed to heal some and focus on building a new future. They neither dwelt in the past nor forgot it. Audrey has much to share, so I have made it into two parts. In this first part, we talk about her family, childhood, Poland, and begin exploring her teaching.
Highlights:
· The evolution of Audrey's engagement with the Jewish community, from a conservative synagogue to an open modern orthodox community
· Audrey’s parents are Holocaust survivors. The impact of their resilience and curiosity about life, is evident in their openness to different backgrounds and stories.
· The importance of active remembrance of the past, coupled with a focus on reconciliation and moving forward rather than living in anger and resentment.
· Audrey's exploration of Poland and China to document her family's story and her role as the family's storyteller.
· Audrey's efforts to bridge cultural differences, particularly in relation to the Jewish community in Poland.
· Audrey's approach to educating students about the Holocaust, emphasizing the role of active witnesses and the impact of carrying on the victims' stories.
· Lessons learned from art history and Judaism, and how they intersect in the appreciation of nature, craftsmanship, and the ability to create something from nothing.
Social Media links for Audrey:
Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center – https://hhrecny.org/generations-forward/#unger

Social Media links for Méli:
Talking with God Project – https://www.talkingwithgodproject.org
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/melisolomon/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066435622271
Transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1851013/episodes/14687177

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The Living Our Beliefs podcast offers a place to learn about other religions and faith practices. When you hear about how observant Christians, Jews and Muslims live their faith, new ideas and questions arise: Is your way similar or different? Is there an idea or practice that you want to explore? Understanding how other people live opens your mind and heart to new people you meet.
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The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project – https://www.talkingwithgodproject.org/

Chapters

1. Drawing on Jewish Family History – Audrey Reich (00:00:00)

2. Introduction (00:00:05)

3. Audrey's Jewish path (00:02:16)

4. Family Holocaust story (00:06:43)

5. Being open to learning (00:13:44)