Fierce Love and a Loud Legacy: Shelley Silver on Generational Resilience

Shelley Silver, founder and CEO of Autumn Communications and mother of two, shares the extraordinary legacy of her grandmother Dora, a Holocaust survivor whose courage and tenacity shaped Shelley’s values and fire. Dora’s miraculous survival—scaling fences under Nazi gunfire and outwitting guards with grit and ingenuity—laid the foundation for Shelley’s fierce resilience, outspoken leadership, and deep commitment to Jewish identity.

In this emotional and unfiltered conversation, Shelley reflects on the aftermath of October 7th, the generational trauma that resurfaced, and her own stunned paralysis as the world’s response unfolded. What followed was a total shift: from quiet grief to unapologetic advocacy. Whether through raising her daughters with strong Jewish pride, supporting IDF soldiers with her husband’s hands-on volunteering, or cutting ties with longtime friends over moral lines, Shelley refuses to stay silent.

She shares how her grandmother’s strength lives in every action she takes—from standing up to antisemitism on college campuses to boldly wearing her Jewish star at trade shows. Shelley’s voice is one of love, anger, clarity, and action—pushing back against silence and calling others to speak up, show up, and never forget.

This conversation is a raw testament to inherited strength, the fight for visibility, and the unshakable power of Jewish joy in the face of rising hate. Shelley’s story is not only one of survival—but of defiance, remembrance, and enduring pride.