Ep 119: Legacy Chronicles with Donna Rosenblum and guest Doron Keren on hmTv

Episode 119: Legacy Chronicles with Doron Keren

In this powerful episode of Legacy Chronicles on hmTv, host Donna Rosenblum sits down with Doron Keren, a passionate second-generation Holocaust descendant, to explore the enduring impact of memory, survival, and storytelling. Doron shares the harrowing true story of his mother, Krystyna Chiger—co-author of The Girl in the Green Sweater—who survived 14 months in the sewers of Lwów during the Holocaust. He also reveals how his father was helped by Oskar Schindler, offering rare insight into both heroism and human resilience.

From the development of a major television series based on his grandfather’s memoir to his dedicated work in Holocaust education at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center, Doron speaks with candor and heart about his family’s legacy and the urgent responsibility of second and third generations to carry the torch.

This episode is a profound reminder that preserving Holocaust memory is not only a tribute to the past—but a vital safeguard for the future.

🎧 Tune in to learn how memory becomes a mission—and why telling the truth has never been more important.

Transcript

Episode 119 – Legacy Chronicles with Donna Rosenblum and guest Doron Keren
hmTv | Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center

Donna Rosenblum:
Welcome everybody to our next edition of Legacy Chronicles: Honoring the Past and Shaping the Future. I’m your host, Donna Rosenblum, and I’m here with Doron Keren, a second-generation survivor—what we call a “2G.” His mother is a Holocaust survivor, and today we’re going to have a powerful conversation about legacy, memory, and carrying the torch forward. Doron, thank you for joining us.

Doron Keren:
Thank you for having me, Donna. I truly believe this podcast is a vital platform to teach our stories. Understanding our past and present is the key to building a better future.

Donna:
Beautifully said. Let's begin by talking about your mother—where she was from and how she survived.

Doron:
Sure. So, both my parents were Holocaust survivors. My mother’s story is well documented—she co-authored a memoir with Dan Paisner called The Girl in the Green Sweater. And in 2011, the feature film In Darkness was nominated for Best Foreign Film. It was directed by Agnieszka Holland.

My mother, then seven years old, survived 14 months hiding in the sewers of Lwów, Poland—now Lviv, Ukraine—with her parents, little brother, and six others. They were helped by a Polish sewer worker, Leopold Socha—a devout Catholic and a petty thief—who started helping them for money but ended up risking his life for them. He became their savior.

Donna:
That’s extraordinary. What about your father?

Doron:
My father, Marian, had a different but equally compelling story. I call him the “Oscar Schindler of the Beilis survivor.” Schindler actually had a role in helping save my father. He moved into Kraków, just two doors down from my father’s home. My grandmother, who spoke fluent German, interacted with Schindler, and later—when she and my father were detained in the Plaszów labor camp—it was Schindler who helped arrange their escape.

Donna:
Incredible. And as a 2G, when did you first realize that your parents’ lives were different from others’?

Doron:
I grew up hearing bits and pieces of their stories. They were fairly open, which I now recognize as a gift. But it wasn’t until I heard their full testimonies, in a chronological way—like through interviews and their book—that I truly began to understand the depth and trauma of what they experienced. As a child, I didn’t grasp the weight of it. But as an adult, I started noticing the long-term effects—PTSD, hoarding food, emotional triggers like the sound of rushing water that reminded my mother of the sewers.

Donna:
The trauma left lasting imprints. Did you feel different growing up?

Doron:
Emotionally, yes. But I still had a relatively normal childhood—friends, sports, school. It was only later, as a father myself, as someone involved in Jewish life and education, that I felt the deeper call to engage with their stories and preserve them.

Donna:
Let’s talk more about The Girl in the Green Sweater. How did that book come to life?

Doron:
I nudged my mother for years to put her story in writing—not just what happened, but her personal emotional journey. One day, I ran into Dan Paisner—who happened to be a ghostwriter—at the school bus stop in front of my house. I told him, “You need to meet my mother.” A year later, the book was published.

The green sweater in the title? It was hand-knit by my mother’s grandmother. She wore it for 14 months underground. That sweater is now on permanent display at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in D.C.

Donna:
That’s so moving. And you mentioned your grandfather also wrote a memoir?

Doron:
Yes, in 1975, my grandfather Ignati sat down at a typewriter and wrote his story entirely from memory. It was published in Polish in 2011—the same year as the film. In 2018, I had it translated into English. It was like reading my mother’s story, but from a different angle—so rich and layered. That inspired me to begin developing a television series based on his memoir. Right now, it’s called Yellow Darkness. It’s a hero’s journey—not a victim’s tragedy. A story of courage, resilience, and ultimately, hope.

Donna:
That's such a powerful contribution to memory and education. When Schindler’s List came out in 1993, how did your parents respond?

Doron:
My mother refused to watch it—too painful. But my father did. And he told me it was accurate. He even pointed out scenes that mirrored his real-life experiences—like when Amon Goeth randomly shot people from his balcony. My father witnessed that. He was standing next to someone who was shot.

Donna:
That level of trauma… it’s hard to comprehend. And yet, here you are, sharing their stories with such strength and purpose. Tell us about your work at HMTC.

Doron:
I see myself as a living link to the past. I educate and inspire students, helping them understand the unbreakable human spirit. This work is about bearing witness. Holocaust denial isn’t fringe anymore—it’s mainstream in some corners, fueled by disinformation. That’s why we must speak out. It's not just about honoring my parents. It’s about safeguarding the truth.

Donna:
It truly is. Like the Passover Seder, where we retell the Exodus story each year—Holocaust memory is our modern-day Exodus. It’s our sacred inheritance.

Doron:
Exactly. Memory is survival. And by using every medium—books, TV, podcasts—we build bridges between memory and humanity. My hope is that young people don’t just learn history—they feel its urgency. That they grow up understanding that silence is dangerous and that truth must be protected.

Donna:
To someone who feels they can’t tell their family's story—what would you say?

Doron:
Try. Just try. It might awaken something inside you. It could be healing. It connects you not only with your family’s past, but with others who share this mission. And if your parents are still alive, it’s a way to honor them now. If they’ve passed, it’s a way to stay connected forever.

Donna:
That’s so meaningful. And you mentioned your mother is still with us?

Doron:
Yes—she’ll be 90 in October. We’re planning a big party. You’re invited!

Donna:
I wouldn’t miss it. So finally, what’s your hope for students, for the public, for anyone who doesn’t understand the Holocaust?

Doron:
Education is the key. Holocaust education must remain in schools. Students must visit places like HMTC where the history becomes tangible. It’s not just words on a page—it’s testimony. And 2Gs, 3Gs—our children—need to carry the torch. The truth must be preserved through us.

Donna:
Absolutely. And your passion is inspiring. What you’re doing matters. Your PowerPoint project, your storytelling, your openness—all of it. And you’re right—visuals are powerful, but they must be authentic. We can’t allow Holocaust denial to use any tools to discredit us. But we continue learning and growing.

Doron:
Exactly. Art is never finished. We just keep refining the work.

Donna:
Well, we are just about out of time. Any last thoughts?

Doron:
Just gratitude. What HMTC is doing—the podcasts, the outreach—is phenomenal. Hats off to Bernie and the whole team. This platform connects people across the world. And I’d be honored to return to share more—especially about my grandfather’s book, which is being released in January.

Donna:
We’ll hold you to that. January—we’re booking you now. Thank you so much, Doron. You’re not only honoring your family—you’re teaching the world.

Doron:
Thank you, Donna. Always a pleasure.

Donna:
And thank you, everyone, for joining us on Legacy Chronicles. Please like, subscribe, and share—help us keep the flame of memory alive. Until next time, on hmTv.