Center for Jewish History Launches From Rubble to Roots Podcast
New York, NY (October 23, 2025)
In recognition of Family History Month, the Center for Jewish History is proud to announce the launch of From Rubble to Roots, a powerful new podcast where Holocaust survivors and their children recount stories of survival, courage, and renewal.
Hosted by Jewish culture writer Miriam Malka Frankel, From Rubble to Roots intertwines intimate family storytelling with historical reflection, connecting listeners to the lived experience of the Holocaust and its lasting impact across generations. Through powerful accounts and thoughtful narration, the series explores how memory endures, and how trauma, faith, and the strength of survivors continue to shape the identities of their children and grandchildren today.
“From Rubble to Roots is about listening across time,” said Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, President of the Center for Jewish History. “These stories remind us that while the record of the Holocaust is preserved in archives and museums, memory also endures in the living voices of families. As Jews, understanding where we are headed requires engaging with where we come from. Only by hearing these stories can we fully grasp the continuity of our history and the resilience that defines it.”
The debut episode, “Surviving Trembowla: The Story of Judith Koppel,” features Sabina Barash of New Orleans, who recounts her mother’s extraordinary story of survival amid the destruction of Trembowla, Poland. Guided by Frankel’s narration, the episode blends personal testimony, family reflection, and historical context, creating an immersive listening experience that honors both the past and the generations who continue to carry its memory forward.
From Rubble To Roots was created with support from Ancestry, the global leader in family history, as part of their ongoing partnership with Center for Jewish History to preserve the memories of Holocaust victims and survivors for future generations. Their collaboration to provide free DNA kits to Holocaust survivors and their children seeks to fill in the gaps in family histories and reconnect lost relatives. Earlier this year, Ancestry and the Center also unveiled the Ancestry Research & Reflection Room at the Center for Jewish History, a dedicated space where visitors can explore and preserve Jewish family histories. Ancestry is the Center’s Family History Sponsor for 2025.
Episodes of From Rubble to Roots are available worldwide on Spotify, YouTube, and through a dedicated webpage at cjh.org/rubble-to-roots. Each episode is also cataloged in the Center’s online collections at search.cjh.org. New episodes of this limited-series podcast will be released every other Thursday.
If you are a Holocaust survivor or the child of a survivor, we invite you to share your story. Please contact gi@cjh.org to learn more. We would be honored to record your family history and help strengthen the roots of memory for generations to come. For more information, visit cjh.org/rubble-to-roots.
