If You Heard What Shelley Heard

L'Dor V'Dor: Passing the Torch of Remembrance

In this special episode of If You Heard What I Heard, Carolyn Siegel sits down with Emily Kane Miller and her beloved Bubby, Holocaust survivor Yetta Kane, for a powerful conversation about survival, family, and the legacy of love and resilience. Yetta shares vivid memories of surviving the Holocaust—living hour to hour in the forests with the partisans—and the miracle of building a beautiful life in America after the war. Emily reflects on what it means to carry her grandparents’ stories forward, and how becoming a mother deepened her understanding of their experiences. Together, they explore the importance of sharing these histories in a time of rising antisemitism, the strength they draw from Israel’s existence, and the responsibility to keep memory alive across generations. Through laughter, tears, and even treasured family recipes, this episode is a moving tribute to endurance, hope, and the unbreakable Jewish spirit. Emily shares the story of her Grandmother, Yetta Kane. who survived the Holocaust by escaping to the forest with her family and joining a group of partisans here [https://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com/if-you-heard-what-emily-heard-1?rq=emily].  Support the show [https://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com/donate-now] A glossary [https://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com/glossary] is available for any terms mentioned in this episode that may require further context. If you're interested in sponsoring an episode, please email us at info@ifyouheardwhatiheard.com [info@ifyouheardwhatiheard.com] Please visit www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com [http://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com] to watch more stories and support.

If You Heard What Emily Heard

Emily shares the story of her Grandmother, Yetta Kane, who survived the Holocaust by escaping to the forest with her family and joining a group of partisans after the Jews in her town of Miadzol, Poland were massacred by the Nazis. They survived harsh conditions from the elements, lack of food, and narrowly escaped discovery by Nazi soldiers before finally immigrating together to the U.S. where they settled and rebuilt their lives.  If you heard what Emily heard, you would never forget.  Support the show [https://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com/donate-now] A glossary [https://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com/glossary] is available for any terms mentioned in this episode that may require further context. If you're interested in sponsoring an episode, please email us at info@ifyouheardwhatiheard.com [info@ifyouheardwhatiheard.com] Please visit www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com [http://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com] to watch more stories and support.

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. Support the show [https://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com/donate-now] A glossary [https://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com/glossary] is available for any terms mentioned in this episode that may require further context. If you're interested in sponsoring an episode, please email us at info@ifyouheardwhatiheard.com [info@ifyouheardwhatiheard.com] Please visit www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com [http://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com] to watch more stories and support.

If You Heard What Shelley Heard

Shelley shares the story of her Grandmother, Dora Daches Josephson, who escaped the Vilna Ghetto with her mother, narrowly dodging Nazi bullets. They survived by hiding in the basement of the building Dora’s mom used to run. After the way, they came to the U.S. where they rebuilt their lives. If you heard what Shelley heard, you would never forget. Support the show [https://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com/donate-now] A glossary [https://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com/glossary] is available for any terms mentioned in this episode that may require further context. If you're interested in sponsoring an episode, please email us at info@ifyouheardwhatiheard.com [info@ifyouheardwhatiheard.com] Please visit www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com [http://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com] to watch more stories and support.

Stories That Survive: How Sharing the Past Strengthens Jewish Identity

Molly R. Stern, celebrated Hollywood makeup artist and devoted mother of three, shares the powerful story of her grandparents, Frank and Magda Stern, Holocaust survivors whose resilience has shaped her identity. Growing up as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, Molly reflects on how her family’s past was ever-present in her life — a reality she openly embraces and proudly discusses in any setting. In this conversation, Molly recounts the transformative experience of diving deeper into her family’s history for her interview with If You Heard What I Heard. Through heartfelt conversations with her father, she uncovered previously unknown details of her grandparents’ survival, from the dangers her grandfather faced as a forced laborer in the Hungarian army to the unimaginable resilience that kept them alive. Molly describes how this deeper understanding has shifted her perspective from simply acknowledging her family’s past to actively honoring it by sharing their story. Amid the rising tide of antisemitism, Molly reflects on the importance of standing proud in her Jewish identity and using her voice to combat hatred. She shares her father’s stoic perspective on today’s challenges and how his lived experience serves as a grounding reminder of the ongoing need to remember and speak out. Through her work with If You Heard What I Heard and her daughter Vivian’s passionate storytelling, Molly ensures her family’s legacy endures. This conversation highlights the enduring power of resilience, the responsibility of remembrance, and the importance of allies in the fight against antisemitism. Molly’s story is a moving testament to the strength of Holocaust survivors and their descendants, who carry forward their legacy with pride, hope, and a commitment to ensuring these stories are never forgotten. Molly shares the story of her grandparents, Frank and Magda Stern, Hungarian Jews who were forced to live in a ghetto and narrowly escaped death by Nazi soldiers numerous times here [https://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com/if-you-heard-what-molly-r-stern-heard?rq=molly] Support the show [https://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com/donate-now] A glossary [https://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com/glossary] is available for any terms mentioned in this episode that may require further context. If you're interested in sponsoring an episode, please email us at info@ifyouheardwhatiheard.com [info@ifyouheardwhatiheard.com] Please visit www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com [http://www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com] to watch more stories and support.