Holocaust Remembrance Day Program: The Gonsenhauser Family Story

Join the Holocaust Commission for a meaningful evening of reflection and remembrance in observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

This year’s program features Eric Joffe, who will share the powerful Holocaust journeys of members of the Gonsenhauser family, a family with deep and longstanding roots in the Tidewater Jewish community. Through an exploration of family history and thoughtful reflection, Eric will illuminate the ways the Holocaust shaped individual lives and a family legacy, reminding us why memory, resilience, and moral responsibility matter across generations.

Together, we will honor the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, reflect on the lessons of the past, and recommit ourselves to standing against antisemitism, hatred, and prejudice in all its forms.

This program is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Program Update: Due to a medical emergency, Thomas Kemper is no longer able to join us. This program will now feature a presentation by Eric Joffe, focusing on the Holocaust journeys of members of the Gonsenhauser family, whose experiences have deep connections to the Tidewater Jewish community.

Thanks to the generous support of the Bartel Family, in honor of their parents and grandparents, Alan & Dolores Bartel, the following accessibility accommodations are available for UJFT's programs (depending on the program location). Accommodations must be requested at least a week prior to the event.

• Interpreting services for Deaf or non-English speakers
• Assisted listening services to amplify sounds
• Preferential seating near a presenter to aid in comprehension
• Sensory fidget tools
• Noise-reducing headphones
• Stand-assist devices
• Audio recording of written materials for the visually impaired