The Florida Holocaust Museum would like to share the inspiring story of two childhood friends who reconnected after being separated by the Holocaust 80 years ago. Curious to hear more? Join us for our virtual benefit, To Life 2021, on April 12.
March 30, 2021 [St. Petersburg, FL] — To Life 2021, The Florida Holocaust Museum’s annual benefit, which is happening virtually this year, will feature the heartwarming story of Betty Grebenschikoff and her recent reunion with her childhood best friend, Ana María Wahrenberg, after the two were separated by the Holocaust 80 years ago.
Betty’s story has been picked up by national and international media outlets in recent news. Betty is a Florida Survivor who is an active speaker at The FHM. The challenging times of COVID-19 and the increased use of technology led to the friends’ miraculous reconnection, which happened against all odds, thanks to the USC Shoah Foundation, The FHM, and the Museo Interactivo Judio De Chile. Betty thought she would never see Ana María again, but thanks to the partnership between the three organizations and the help of technology, the friends had the chance to reunite via Zoom and have since maintained frequent contact.
Here are a few of the stories about Betty and Ana María:
Since Betty is a local St. Petersburg resident, this is an amazing opportunity to interview her firsthand. Hear her phenomenal story in more detail during our upcoming virtual event, To Life 2021.
To Life is happening on Monday, April 12, at 7:00 p.m. This one-hour program will offer an opportunity for us to connect and share in The FHM’s mission of honoring the past to create a better tomorrow for all. This is a moment in history when we all need the lessons that Holocaust Survivors have shared with us: lessons of hope and resilience.
The To Life 2021 program will also take time to recognize
Michael Berenbaum, The FHM’s 2021 Loebenberg Humanitarian Award honoree. Berenbaum has extensively studied the history of the Holocaust throughout his life. A scholar, rabbi, filmmaker, and author, Berenbaum has played pivotal roles with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, and the Sigi Ziering Institute at the American Jewish University. He is the writer and editor of eighteen books and has worked on a number of films, including two which have won Academy Awards.
The 2021 Legacy Award honoree is the Generations After Group, a group of descendants of Holocaust Survivors and Refugees. Their purpose is to keep their families’ stories alive. The Generations After group speaks to school groups, volunteers at The FHM, attends academic and cultural programs, and much more.
For more information on To Life 2021, click here.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to me at rfreeman@thefhm.org with any questions. If you’d like to schedule an interview with Betty, I can help arrange that as well. Please stay engaged with The FHM online through the Museum’s virtual tour, virtual resources, online curriculum, collections, Holocaust Survivor testimonies, and on its social media pages Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About The Florida Holocaust MuseumOne of the largest Holocaust museums in the country, and one of three nationally accredited Holocaust museums, The Florida Holocaust Museum honors the memory of millions of men, women and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust. The FHM is dedicated to teaching members of all races and cultures the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides. For additional information, please visit www.TheFHM.org