From Rubble to Roots

About From Rubble to Roots

Welcome to From Rubble to Roots, a new podcast from the Center for Jewish History and Ancestry®, the global leader in family history. Every family has roots. But some lie buried deep beneath rubble, under the weight of war, loss, and silence. In this podcast, we follow Holocaust survivors and their children as they gather what remains, hold onto what they can, and try to understand what it means to inherit such a history.

Publisher

Center for Jewish History

Category

history

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Oct 2025

Latest episode

24 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

7 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 Sept 2026

   From Podcast to Exhibit and Everything in Between: The Making of From Rubble to Roots

   In this special reunion episode, host and curator Miriam Malka Frankel sits down with two From Rubble to Roots participants, Paul Goldstein, featured in Episode 5, and Lyn Stiefel Hill, featured in Episode 3, to reflect on what happened before, during, and after their family stories became part of the podcast and exhibition. Paul and Lyn share what it was like to carry their parents’ histories, record their stories for the first time, discover they would become part of an exhibition, and ultimately see those stories brought to life. They reflect on the experience of honoring their parents publicly, the reactions their stories received, and what it means to continue carrying these histories forward. The conversation also explores where these stories have led since the podcast and exhibition. Lyn’s story went on to be featured in PBS 13’s City of Rebirth, while Paul is continuing his family’s story through his forthcoming book, The Shoemaker of Treblinka, set for release on January 27 2027, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. More than a look back at From Rubble to Roots, this reunion is a conversation about what happens when family history becomes public history, and where the stories can go from there.

2. 

   1 Jan 2026

   From Łódź to Liberty: The Story of Michal Boruch Knaster

   In the Season 1 finale of From Rubble to Roots, Mirka Knaster shares the story of her father, Michal Boruch Knaster, a Holocaust survivor who endured the unthinkable and lived when nearly everyone he loved did not. Forced into the Łódź Ghetto, he pulled 2,000‑kg carts under constant beatings, survived brutal labor in multiple Nazi camps, and narrowly escaped executions, including one halted by Oskar Schindler himself. Believing he knew the fate of his wife and children, he carried that heartbreak through the war, though Mirka later uncovered the full, unimaginable truth after his death. Both her parents had lost entire families before she was born, shaping the life and resilience she would inherit. This is a gut-wrenching and awe-inspiring story of survival, faith, and the human spirit against all odds and a wonderful end to our first season.

3. 

   18 Dec 2025

   The Man Who Helped Plan The Treblinka Uprising: The Story of Samuel Goldstein

   Born in Kozienice, Poland, Samuel Goldstein was the youngest of twelve children in a devout Orthodox Jewish family. When the Nazis invaded, his world was shattered: his family was forced into a ghetto, his parents were murdered, and he was sent to Treblinka, one of history’s deadliest extermination camps. There, he not only survived forced labor and brutal beatings but also helped plan a daring revolt, one of the few uprisings in the camp’s history, escaping a fate that claimed nearly a million lives. Find out how he did it in this week's episode of From Rubble to Roots.

4. 

   4 Dec 2025

   The Survivor Who Can't Remember Surviving: The Story of Ernie Brod

   He survived the Nazis, but remembers none of it. Born in Vienna just weeks after the Anschluss, his father vanished into a Nazi prison, his brother was sent away on the Kindertransport, and he and his mother were confined in a Jewish encampment with almost no chance of release. Their escape depended on something no one could have predicted: a desperate moment, a crying baby, and a guard’s sudden shift in mood. It was a narrow, improbable break that set the course for the rest of his life. Decades later, he would build a life in America, reunite with his brother, and uncover truths long buried by time and war, fragments of a past he would spend a lifetime learning to understand. This is the story of a survivor whose earliest memories begin only after the danger had passed… and a life shaped by what was forgotten, what was found, and what refuses to fade. Discover his story in this week's episode of From Rubble to Roots, available worldwide on Spotify, YouTube, and at cjh.org/rubble-to-roots (https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cjh.org%2Fprograms%2Frubble-to-roots%3Fmc_cid%3D4874052eff%26mc_eid%3DUNIQID&data=05%7C02%7Cmfrankel%40cjh.org%7C7d24b25d0a954f6b841c08de32762786%7C81196ead69114e2caebd5dffd230275b%7C0%7C0%7C639003680243090885%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=izNaFY6Lp1T%2FyYLgPpUxxBA4aPOHChrqavroEJLIGrE%3D&reserved=0), with new episodes released every other Thursday. This podcast is made possible with support from Ancestry.

5. 

   20 Nov 2025

   Surviving Kristallnacht and the Kindertransport: The Story of Erica Gorin

   Born into comfort in 1920s Berlin, she fed elephants at the zoo and slipped secret poems of gratitude beneath the challah cover. Then comfort turned to chaos. The world turned against her. At sixteen, she crossed an ocean alone, seasick, heartbroken, clutching hope tightly. By nineteen, she was dancing in New York, speaking perfect English, and smiling through a lifetime of loss. What becomes of a girl taught to “walk tall and be proud you are a Jew” when the world tries to break her? Find out on this week's episode of From Rubble to Roots. _____________________________________________________________ In recognition of Family History Month, the Center for Jewish History is proud to announce the launch of From Rubble to Roots. Hosted by Jewish culture writer Miriam Malka Frankel, From Rubble to Roots intertwines intimate family storytelling with historical reflection, connecting listeners to the lived experience of the Holocaust and its lasting impact across generations. “From Rubble to Roots is about listening across time,” said Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, President of the Center for Jewish History. “These stories remind us that while the record of the Holocaust is preserved in archives and museums, memory also endures in the living voices of families. As Jews, understanding where we are headed requires engaging with where we come from. Only by hearing these stories can we fully grasp the continuity of our history and the resilience that defines it.” From Rubble to Roots was created with support from Ancestry, the global leader in family history, as part of their ongoing partnership with Center for Jewish History to preserve the memories of Holocaust victims and survivors for future generations. Their collaboration to provide free DNA kits to Holocaust survivors and their children seeks to fill in the gaps in family histories and reconnect lost relatives. Earlier this year, Ancestry and the Center also unveiled the Ancestry Research & Reflection Room at the Center for Jewish History, a dedicated space where visitors can explore and preserve Jewish family histories. Ancestry is the Center’s Family History Sponsor for 2025. Episodes of From Rubble to Roots are available worldwide on Spotify, YouTube, and through a dedicated webpage at cjh.org/rubble-to-roots. Each episode is also cataloged in the Center’s online collections at search.cjh.org. New episodes of this limited-series podcast will be released every other Thursday. If you are a Holocaust survivor or the child of a survivor, we invite you to share your story. Please contact gi@cjh.org to learn more. We would be honored to record your family history and help strengthen the roots of memory for generations to come.

6. 

   6 Nov 2025

   The Man Who Escaped Death Ten Times- The Story of Isak Borenstein

   He cheated death more than ten times. From brutal labor camps to near-executions, from collapsing mountains to unexploded bombs, Isak Borenstein endured horrors that defy imagination. He survived shootings, beatings, starvation, forced labor, and the relentless cruelty of the Holocaust, witnessing the murder of friends, neighbors, and strangers alike. Every day was a test of courage, quick thinking, and sheer luck, and yet he lived, and lived with hope. How did he do it? Find out on this week’s episode of From Rubble to Roots ____________________________________________________________ In recognition of Family History Month, the Center for Jewish History proudly announces From Rubble to Roots, a new podcast preserving and sharing the voices of Holocaust survivors and their families. Eighty years after the Holocaust, Jewish life continues to rebuild and thrive. This series ensures that the testimonies of survivors and their descendants remain accessible to future generations, creating a permanent archive that honors their stories and inspires all who listen. New episodes of this limited series will be released every other Thursday and are available worldwide on Spotify, YouTube, and via the Center's website at https://cjh.org/rubble-to-roots (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWlSc2pEZW5MNDI3SlZOUWdzQjVkaGsxYy11QXxBQ3Jtc0tuS1lIQWppRDJvYjRJcFFQRE5oakJSNXVfSGxTXzY1SjRmaWhlVy1mVlZ6eG9aWkFNMFhRYmFhbEx3VVo1dDlnbmRsS3NIRElzeU9rZnJyOWQ5czZUclctNlFhVENRQ3Q2SnI0SGxjQXZ4ZTFHb3pNQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fcjh.org%2Frubble-to-roots&v=3_01jIjYYYQ) and the Center's online catalog at https://search.cjh.org (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWpfb2NZVElVa3JLNFNVX05EWVlEY3FLYzNWd3xBQ3Jtc0tuYmNrZXZMREVtZVg1MnRKY1NQeVdfcXJuWlZ4NENYcmhhc2RRTXZDeWwzZ08zeDlVaVlkbFQwWl9LakFSU3ZTRmEydVNZQ19CT05XR0c3THZJNWNBaDdJa1pHNmhRNDA2N2w3ZGJWMXl4SGZmRnVSdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.cjh.org%2F&v=3_01jIjYYYQ) where they will remain part of the Center’s permanent collections. If you are a Holocaust survivor or a child of a survivor, you are invited to share your story. Please contact gi@cjh.org to record your family history and help preserve these vital memories for generations to come. The Center for Jewish History holds the world’s largest collection of Jewish history outside Israel, providing access to archives, exhibitions, and genealogy resources. Ancestry® is the global leader in family history, offering more than 60 billion records and a growing DNA network that helps millions discover and preserve their family stories.

7. 

   23 Oct 2025

   Surviving Trembowla: The Story of Judith Koppel

   What would you do if everything you knew and loved was torn away, simply because of who you are? This was the world Judith Koppel was thrust into. Before the war, Judith was a fearless tomboy, a gifted student, and the fastest student swimmer in Trembowla, Poland. Before long, her world was shattered. The skies darkened with bombs. Her home was looted. Her community was torn apart. Classmates and teachers became Nazis, and she became a hidden Jew. Hunted, starving, and stripped of everything familiar, Judith clung to her faith and survived in large part thanks to the heroic actions of a poor Catholic maid who risked everything to hide her. How did Judith hold on? Discover her story in this episode of From Rubble to Roots. _____________________________________________________________ In recognition of Family History Month, the Center for Jewish History is proud to announce the launch of From Rubble to Roots. Hosted by Jewish culture writer Miriam Malka Frankel, From Rubble to Roots intertwines intimate family storytelling with historical reflection, connecting listeners to the lived experience of the Holocaust and its lasting impact across generations. “From Rubble to Roots is about listening across time,” said Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, President of the Center for Jewish History. “These stories remind us that while the record of the Holocaust is preserved in archives and museums, memory also endures in the living voices of families. As Jews, understanding where we are headed requires engaging with where we come from. Only by hearing these stories can we fully grasp the continuity of our history and the resilience that defines it.” From Rubble to Roots was created with support from Ancestry, the global leader in family history, as part of their ongoing partnership with Center for Jewish History to preserve the memories of Holocaust victims and survivors for future generations. Their collaboration to provide free DNA kits to Holocaust survivors and their children seeks to fill in the gaps in family histories and reconnect lost relatives. Earlier this year, Ancestry and the Center also unveiled the Ancestry Research & Reflection Room at the Center for Jewish History, a dedicated space where visitors can explore and preserve Jewish family histories. Ancestry is the Center’s Family History Sponsor for 2025. Episodes of From Rubble to Roots are available worldwide on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and through a dedicated webpage at cjh.org/rubble-to-roots. Each episode is also cataloged in the Center’s online collections at search.cjh.org. New episodes of this limited-series podcast will be released every other Thursday. If you are a Holocaust survivor or the child of a survivor, we invite you to share your story. Please contact gi@cjh.org to learn more. We would be honored to record your family history and help strengthen the roots of memory for generations to come.

Contact From Rubble to Roots

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.