Seeking refuge from the horrors of the Holocaust, some survivors rebuilt their lives in Chile, a corner of the world far from the scenes of genocide and war. Today, only a few hundred remain; those who came to Chile as young children or adolescents are now between 75 and 105 years old. Samuel Shats’ photography exhibit, “On the Threshold of Oblivion,” preserves the personal histories of 31 of these survivors. These subtle and intimate images speak profoundly and sensitively to their experiences of memory, aging, death, resilience, tolerance and lives constructed beneath the shadows of the past.
Members of the Case Western Reserve University community are invited to join the Siegal Lifelong Learning Program and Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage for a rare opportunity to meet with the photographer. This in-person event, titled “On the Threshold of Oblivion: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors in Chile,” will be held Friday, March 24, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Landmark Centre Building (25700 Science Park Dr., Beachwood).
Shats will share images from this exhibit that shows the capacities of human beings to live meaningful lives after the most traumatic experiences.
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.