Ep 502: Voices Illuminated with Judy Liman and guest Michael Glickman on hmTv

Ep 502: Voices Illuminated

In this moving episode of Voices Illuminated, host Judy Liman welcomes Michael Glickman, advisor to the Anne Frank exhibition, for a powerful conversation about memory, storytelling, and the enduring voice of Anne Frank.

Through an immersive global exhibition, Anne’s story is brought to life with original artifacts, a meticulous reconstruction of the Secret Annex, and deeply personal insights into her world. Michael shares how the exhibition allows visitors to walk through Anne’s life—her family, her dreams, her fears—and experience history not as distant facts, but as a human story that feels immediate and real.

Together, they explore why Anne’s diary continues to resonate with young people today, how her words transform unimaginable loss into personal connection, and the importance of preserving these stories for future generations.

This episode is a poignant reminder that behind the numbers of history are individual lives, voices, and dreams—and that Anne Frank’s legacy continues to illuminate the path toward empathy, understanding, and humanity.

Transcript

Ep 502 – Voices Illuminated
Host: Judy Liman
Guest: Michael Glickman

Humanity matters.

Welcome to Voices Illuminated. I’m Judy Liman.

“When I write, I can shake off all my cares. My sorrow disappears. My spirits are revived.”
 These words come from the diary of Anne Frank, written while she was in hiding during the Holocaust. Her voice has reached generations around the world, offering an intimate portrait of a young girl coming of age under unimaginable circumstances.

Today, we explore how her story continues to live on through a powerful new exhibition. My guest is Michael Glickman, advisor to the Anne Frank exhibition and founder and CEO of JMuse. Michael, welcome.

Michael Glickman:
Thanks, Judy. It’s great to be here.

Judy Liman:
I recently visited the exhibition in New York, and it was truly moving. Can you describe what visitors experience as they walk through it?

Michael Glickman:
Most visitors come in already knowing something about Anne Frank. What we wanted to do was provide context—who she was, who her family was, and what shaped her life.

The exhibition begins with Anne receiving her diary on her 13th birthday in June 1942, just weeks before going into hiding. From there, visitors walk through her world—her family, her home life, and the events that led them into hiding.

There are over 130 original artifacts, and we take visitors back even further, to Anne’s early family life in Frankfurt, when things were stable and hopeful. Then gradually, they see how everything changes.

Judy Liman:
One of the most powerful elements for me was seeing Anne not just as a historical figure, but as a young girl. She feels so relatable.

Michael Glickman:
That’s exactly right. Anne’s diary resonates because it’s not just about the Holocaust—it’s about growing up. She writes about friendships, family tensions, dreams, and even first love.

That relatability is what draws people in. You don’t need prior knowledge to connect with her. She could be anyone’s daughter.

Judy Liman:
And her diary—she called it something special, didn’t she?

Michael Glickman:
Yes, she called it “Kitty.” She wrote to it like it was a friend. It became her companion during those 25 months in hiding.

And it wasn’t just one notebook. She wrote on multiple pages, notebooks, and materials—constantly reflecting, editing, and expressing herself.

Judy Liman:
The exhibit also recreates the annex where they lived. Can you describe that experience?

Michael Glickman:
We reconstructed the annex to exact dimensions. Visitors move through the hidden bookcase, up the stairs, and into the rooms where eight people lived in secrecy.

You see Anne’s room, which she shared with an adult. You see the shared spaces, the tiny living conditions, and how confined life was.

During the day, they had to remain silent—no movement, no noise, no running water. Life became internal—reading, writing, thinking, and yes, sometimes arguing.

Judy Liman:
That closeness, that pressure—it really comes through.

Michael Glickman:
It does. And yet, within that space, life continued. There were meals, conversations, even moments of joy. Anne’s relationship with Peter, for example, and their time in the attic—it’s all part of that human story.

Judy Liman:
Another moment that stayed with me was the classroom photo.

Michael Glickman:
That’s one of the most powerful parts of the exhibition.

We show Anne’s kindergarten class—32 children, 15 of them Jewish. Ten of those children were murdered.

At the end of the exhibition, those children’s names are read aloud. One by one, their images disappear from the photograph.

It’s a visual reminder of the scale of loss—and the individuality of each life.

Judy Liman:
It’s haunting. It really brings the numbers into focus in a deeply personal way.

Michael Glickman:
Exactly. Six million Jews were murdered. One and a half million were children. But numbers alone can feel distant.

Anne gives those numbers a face, a voice, and a story.

Judy Liman:
What about the objects in the exhibition? I remember seeing a Monopoly game.

Michael Glickman:
Yes, that’s a great example. That game was donated by one of Anne’s friends. It represents the small moments of normalcy—kids playing games, even as their world was collapsing.

We also show personal items, photographs, and everyday objects that make the story tangible.

Judy Liman:
And how did Anne’s diary survive?

Michael Glickman:
After the family was arrested, one of the helpers, Miep Gies, found Anne’s writings and kept them safe.

After the war, when Otto Frank returned—he was the only survivor—she gave them to him, saying, “This is your daughter’s legacy.”

He later published the diary. It was first released in Dutch in 1947 and eventually published in English in 1952.

Judy Liman:
That legacy continues to reach people around the world.

What do you think young people take away from this exhibition today?

Michael Glickman:
They see themselves in Anne. They understand her emotions, her struggles, her hopes.

It humanizes history. It encourages questions. And it makes the past feel real, not distant.

Judy Liman:
And for you personally?

Michael Glickman:
This has been one of the most meaningful projects of my life.

To bring history to life in a way that moves people—to reflection, to emotion, to action—that’s incredibly powerful.

Judy Liman:
Michael, thank you for sharing your insights and for helping to keep Anne Frank’s story alive.

Her voice continues to illuminate the past and guide us toward a more compassionate future.

This has been Voices Illuminated with Judy Liman. Thank you for listening, and until next time.