Miriam Rubel Davidow (second generation), daughter of Holocaust survivors Herbert and Ruth Rubel, with her daughter Alisa and granddaughter Lila Ruth. Together, they represent four generations shaped by survival, resilience, and remembrance.
A Legacy Worth Preserving
We are proud to announce the launch the Legacy Portrait Project—a statewide effort to locate and photograph the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of Holocaust survivors across Virginia.
For decades, our Museum has preserved the voices of survivors themselves. Now, we turn to the generations who carry that legacy forward.
These portraits are more than photographs. They are living evidence that the story did not end in 1945.
We are actively seeking participants across the Commonwealth. If you are a survivor—or a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of one—we invite you to complete our interest form here:
https://www.vaholocaust.org/legacy_interest_form/
Jonathan Davidow, grandson of Holocaust survivors Herbert and Ruth Rube (third generation).
In July, photographer Dean Whitbeck will begin contacting participants to schedule portrait sessions taking place from August through December.
This is the most ambitious project of its kind we have undertaken, and it depends on families across Virginia choosing to be part of it.
Portrait sessions will take place in Richmond, Tidewater, and Roanoke. There is no cost to participate.
The completed portraits will be exhibited next year at the Virginia Holocaust Museum and at locations across the Commonwealth.
At the same time, we continue our commitment to education through our summer teacher programs.
Educator Opportunities: TEI This Summer
We are offering two sessions of The Alexander Lebenstein Teacher Education Institute: From Context to Classroom Part Ithis summer.
Richmond Session
June 15–17
Virginia Holocaust Museum
• June 15–16: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• June 17: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Bristol Session
July 22–24
Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol, Virginia
• First two days: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Final day: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
This in-person institute is designed for middle and high school educators who teach or plan to teach the Holocaust. Through historian-led sessions, hands-on learning, and access to Museum resources, participants gain practical, standards-aligned tools for the classroom.
The program also includes pre-reading, Canvas-based coursework, and a final project.
Participants receive:
• Up to 45 recertification points
• $200 stipend upon completion
• $30 registration fee reimbursed
• Certificate of completion
• Classroom-ready resources
Register here for either session:
https://studentaccounts.longwood.edu/C20122_ustores/web/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=85&SINGLESTORE=true&CATID=77
Scholarships of up to $500 are available for educators traveling more than 50 miles from Richmond (June) or Bristol (July) to help offset travel, housing, and meal costs. To apply, contact Megan Ferenczy at mferenczy@vaholocaust.org.
Longwood University’s Professional Studies Office provides suggested professional development points based on the Virginia Licensure Renewal Manual; participants should confirm eligibility with their school or district.
Teachers in TEI last summer.
Closing Thought
Whether through a portrait or a classroom, this work is the same at its core: it is about memory carried forward by people who choose not to let it fade.
It is about the faces of families who remind us that survival is not only what came before, but what continues after. And it is about teachers who take that responsibility into their classrooms, ensuring the next generation understands not only what happened, but what it means.
In every portrait taken and every lesson taught, we are reminded that memory is not passive—it is something we choose to preserve, to pass on, and to protect.