Ep 110: Legacy Chronicles with Zachary Graulich and guest Esther Jamnik on hmTv

Episode 110 of Legacy Chronicles
Guest: Esther Jamnik | Host: Zachary Graulich
Presented by hmTv and the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County (HMTC)

In this deeply moving episode of Legacy Chronicles, Assistant Director of Education Zachary Graulich sits down with Esther Jamnik, a second-generation Holocaust survivor, to share her powerful journey of rediscovering and honoring her father’s legacy. Esther recounts how she transformed from someone who once avoided Holocaust memorial programs into a passionate educator and speaker, dedicated to preserving memory and building empathy among younger generations.

Esther speaks about her father’s harrowing survival through Auschwitz and the death march, her mother’s separate escape through Soviet territories, and how she ultimately found her voice during a pandemic-era writing course offered by HMTC. From speaking at a family unveiling to addressing students in multiple languages, Esther's testimony is not only a tribute to her parents but a call to action for education, understanding, and standing up against antisemitism.

This episode explores how one person’s willingness to speak out can inspire generations—and potentially change lives.

🎧 Listen now to hear a story of survival, legacy, and resilience—and discover why Holocaust education matters more than ever.

Visit hmtcli.org for more episodes and educational resources.

Transcript

Episode 110 — Legacy Chronicles with Zachary Graulich and guest Esther Jamnik on hmTv

Hello and welcome to another episode of Legacy Chronicles. I’m Zachary Graulich, the Assistant Director of Education here at HMTC, and I’m joined today by second-generation Holocaust survivor Esther Jamnik. Esther, thank you so much for being here.

Esther: Oh, it’s my pleasure.

Zachary: You’ve been involved in our community for a little while now. Why don’t you start off by sharing a bit about your family history? I know you primarily speak about your father when you meet with student groups at the museum.

Esther: Sure. My dad was born in 1925 in a small town in north-central Poland, close to the German border. He was thrown into the war early on and was separated from his parents at the age of 14—never saw them again. He spent much of the war in Auschwitz, in and out, until the death march, and was eventually liberated from a camp in Bavaria.

My mother is also a survivor, thank God she’s still alive. Her story is very different—escaping through Russia while pregnant with my uncle. Her father was killed, and her mother raised them alone. So they both survived, but through very different paths.

Zachary: That’s remarkable. Did you always know you were a child of survivors? Was it something talked about at home?

Esther: Surprisingly, no. I was sheltered a bit. I have much older siblings, so I was kind of the younger child of survivors. I knew about the tattoo on my father’s arm, but he didn’t really speak about his experience. It wasn’t until I was older that I started to understand the gravity of it all and how it shaped our family.

Zachary: Every second-generation survivor has a different experience. What led you to start sharing your father's story publicly?

Esther: Honestly, it was a happy accident. During lockdown, I was on a Zoom with Irving Roth from HMTC, and someone reached out asking if I would ever speak about my father’s story. I said I wouldn’t even know where to start. Then, out of nowhere, I got an email from HMTC about a course on how to write your family’s Holocaust story. I joined the course, learned how to research, and it gave me the structure I needed. My father had done a Shoah tape, which helped me corroborate details.

Zachary: What was it like sharing that story for the first time?

Esther: Emotional. I first shared it at his unveiling, during COVID. We had postponed it, and when we finally got together, I shared the PowerPoint I created and told the story to my family. There were a lot of tears. They were deeply moved. He never spoke much, so it was a way of honoring him and making sure it wasn’t lost.

Zachary: And from there, you really embraced it. You’ve spoken at events, schools—how did that feel?

Esther: It was nerve-wracking at first. A friend asked me to speak at a Yom HaShoah program at her synagogue. I didn’t feel ready, but she encouraged me, and I did it. The response was so positive that I took the leap and contacted HMTC. You and the team helped me polish the story and prepare to speak with students.

Zachary: What has carrying this legacy meant to you?

Esther: I never thought I’d be doing this. But once the spark was lit, it all fell into place. After a couple of years of speaking, I’ve come to realize how important this work is. My father passed away at 93, after battling dementia. He’s not here to tell his story—even just stories from childhood—so I feel it’s my responsibility now.

Zachary: Do any of your family members participate in Holocaust education?

Esther: Not really. My mom still speaks in Florida, but among my siblings, I’m the one who has taken it on. My dad used to call me “Hurricane Esther” because of my energy. I’ve always been the one chosen to speak—eulogies, milestones—because I speak from the heart, even when emotional.

Zachary: Was Holocaust education something you were passionate about before this?

Esther: No. I actually shied away from it. As a teen, I would leave the Yom HaShoah assemblies because it was too painful. But over time, I started seeing how important it is, especially with my own kids not hearing as many stories firsthand. I came to appreciate the uniqueness of our experience and the urgency to share it.

Zachary: What does Holocaust education mean to you now, especially in today’s climate?

Esther: It’s evolved. Initially, it was about honoring my father. Now, it’s about making connections—especially with students who know very little. I recently spoke to a Spanish-speaking class with a translator, and they really connected with my father’s story as an immigrant who didn’t speak the language and had to pivot his life. It’s a story of survival but also resilience and hope.

Zachary: That connection is so vital. You’ve really helped humanize these stories for students who may never have met a survivor.

Esther: That’s exactly it. If I can help humanize Jews to students who might only know stereotypes, then that’s my work. My father’s motto was “Keep your head up.” It helped him survive and it helps me carry his message today. Especially with rising antisemitism, we need to connect, build empathy, and remember we’re all people.

Zachary: Do you think about what comes next? Will your kids or others in the third generation carry this on?

Esther: I haven’t gone too far down that path yet, but they’re proud of the work I do. They’ve heard me speak, and I’ve signed them up with 3G organizations. They’re still young and building their lives, but I hope they’ll take up the torch someday. I always encourage them to get involved.

Zachary: Thank you so much, Esther. Your dedication, your honesty, your emotional courage—it’s invaluable to our mission here at HMTC. It’s been an honor working with you and watching you grow in this role.

Esther: Thank you for having me. It’s really been a joy and such meaningful work. I’m grateful to be part of it.

Zachary: For more information on this podcast and other episodes, please visit hmtcli.org. Thank you for listening.