UPDATE: April 28, 2015
Like many projects, this one has evolved over time and is now called, “What Happened to that Baby”. More info to come soon.
Original description of book and blog:
Welcome to Googling the Holocaust, a companion blog to my book-in-progress, “What Happened to That Baby”. The book tells the true story of two people whose brief chance encounter altered the course of both their lives. It is also a story about the Holocaust as it enters the digital age: Connections made. Reunions had. Lives changed. The impossible made possible.
Thanks to major technological advances in the past 15 years — such as sophisticated search engines and social media sites — Holocaust survivors and their offspring have been able to dig deeper and reach farther. The pace and scope in which they are able to connect is astounding. These multiple generations of survivors (including children and grandchildren) are both discovering history and making history simultaneously.
This blog will serve as a repository of interesting things I discover while writing this book. I encourage you to join the conversation and introduce discussions of your own. Please join me on my journey by checking back often. And of course, thanks for stopping by.
Julie Z. Rosenberg
Brooklyn, NY
P.S. The black-and-white photograph at the top of the home page is of my mother-in-law, Hana Berger Moran, She is the protagonist of my book, Googling the Holocaust. The photograph was taken by Yuri Dojc.
Googling the Holocaust 
Hiya, Jules:
Looks awesome! I’m incredibly impressed!
All best,
-Hamilton
Nice to see this, Julie. And WHAT a picture of Hana. Absolutely lovely.
Amy
Julie, what an amazing achievement! You are accomplishing so many things with this blog, not the least being to inform and educate. Good work. I thank you!
Colleen
Hi Julie. I’m the Managing Editor at Care.com and I’ve read your Patch.com column “You don’t Know Jack.” I apologize for contacting you here, but I thought it would be the fastest way to connect. I’m looking for special needs-based writers. If you’d be interested, I can be reached at kbugbee(at)care.com
All my best — and good luck on all your proejcts!
Katie
Wow. What an incredible story. Anxious to read this book and get the WHOLE story.
Best!
Thanks Charles! I’m working on it as fast as I can! I just signed with an agent and am now finishing up my sample chapter. If you subscribe to my posts via email (at the bottom, left-hand side of the page after you scroll down) you’ll be kept in the loop.
Hello,
I’m about set to open a Holocaust Museum in my home town of North Adams,MA
useing my vast WW2 and Holocaust collection of over 10,000 artifacts..Of that some 800
items are from the Holocaust..If you would like to talk on this matter some more you can reach me at 413-664-9103…or Googel my name or go onto iberkshires.com and look me up there..
Thanks
Darrell English
Just came across this blog from 3GNY. The photo of your mother in law was taken by Yuri Dojc, who is my mother’s cousin! Do they know each other? if so, how? Please e-mail me!
Julie, Please read my blog entry called Holocaust Revelations. I am in the midst of writing my mothers memoirs and I too found her savior through technological advances. Let me know what you think.
Sign me another Brooklyn girl now living in California. PS Mom still lives in Brooklyn.
Hi Julie, I can so relate to your journey. I took my own when I researched Holocaust survivor’s food memories for my book Recipes Remembered, a Celebration of Survival. I met the most remarkable people and with them am trying to preserve food memory and solidify their amazing legacy. The Museum of Jewish Heritage has benefitted from the proceeds from sales, with the book now in its 4th printing. I wish you the best of luck on your sacred venture, maybe our paths will cross in real life or at the very least digitally.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The 9th edition of the JEWISH MOTIFS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL will take place on 24-28 April, 2013.
The JEWISH MOTIFS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL is one of the biggest European festivals focused on Jewish themes in contemporary cinematography. We strive to show our audience the most interesting aspects of Jewish culture, history and tradition, and to promote tolerance and cultural diversity. Every year we receive hundreds of films from all over the world and present those which we feel are the most interesting and inquisitive. We accept only the latest cinematic offerings, produced no earlier than two years prior to the current edition of Festival.
The selected films take part in a competition and are judged by an international jury which includes film directors, screenwriters and critics. The most important criteria are Jewish impact, aesthetic value and craftsmanship.
The Festival films compete in the following categories:
* Best Feature
* Best Documentary
* Best Short / Animation
The Festival prizes are:
* The statues of the Warsaw Phoenix – a symbol of revival * Cash prizes (amounting to $25 000)
The organizers of the Jewish Motifs IFF cover the following expenses:
– travelling costs (return ticket) for the film director (one person per production)
– accommodation costs in Warsaw (hotel in the city center) for one person per production (or two persons in a double/twin room)
For pre-selection, we accept films produced in 2011 or later. Please send us PAL DVD (with English subtitles) only.
The submission deadline is 5th January 2013.
Films and entry forms should be sent to:
JEWISH MOTIFS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Wilcza 12C
00-532 Warsaw, Poland
Entry forms can also be sent via e-mail to Magda Maślak: magda@jewishmotifs.org.pl You will find more information about the Festival Rules, as well as the entry forms, on our website: http://www.jewishmotifs.org.pl
We strongly encourage you to take part in the competition, and watch the films during the Festival in Warsaw!
Kind regards,
Organizers – Jewish Motifs Association
Miroslaw Chojecki – Festival Director
Magdalena Lazarkiewicz – Art Director
Julie, I was reading an article in The Atlantic about Theodore Geisel’s political cartoons and it mentioned Adolf the Wolf. When I Googled it, I immediately came across your site. Looks fantastic. M
Hi Julie – I know you’re taking a FB holiday, so wanted to tell you that my book BURY THE HOT is published and available on amazon! I’d love to send you a copy, or do a Q&A on your blog. I don’t have your email, but message me on FB and we can be in touch. Hope you’re well! – Deb Levy
Bless you, Julie!
I just spent the last few hours scouring details and leads from your blog pages to books, websites, and of course, many details that often often never shared, due to time or priorities with various writers.
Your writings are certainly in-depth, carry a manner of intuition and insight not seen very often. I can only say thank you with some profound humility and sincere appreciation!
I have added my talents, voice and words to the growing call to stand with those persecuted, marginalized, oppressed, and in the worst of cases, murdered.
My visit to Israel 20 months ago galvanized that reality forever in my heart and convictions. Offsetting this, is the crescendo of anti-Semitic voices gaining ground around the world.
My dad, out his expediency for survival, chose to hide his Jewish heritage, while dropping distant hints over the 4 decades of his life that I was able to share with him.
I will do no such thing, despite the stinging vitriol I hear. I refuse to back down, even though the specter of such rhetoric is chilling at the least, and if anything, might well serve as a harbinger for what is to come.
I applaud your sensitive and timely efforts to shine your light while it is still the day. The falling of darkness will certainly be unparalleled in its scope to all history, once it does. It is then, we who chose to stand tall and shine brightly, will provide contrast in the darkness, for those who will seek to find their way out of it.
Shalom and blessings to you and your family,
David Castelli
Hi David,
Thanks for such a thoughtful post. I’m curious about your father’s story. What do you know about it? Can you share some of it with me? Do you have links you can direct me to? I love to hear about other people’s family discoveries.
Best,
Julie
“…the Holocaust as it enters the digital age: Connections made. Reunions had. Lives changed…”
How true!
Have a look here : https://www.facebook.com/pages/A7734 : a Holocaust survivor uses Facebook to search for his lost twin brother after they became separated during liberation of Auschwitz!
[…] Blog, https://googlingtheholocaust.wordpress.com/about/ […]
Could the Holocaust happen in America? Can it really happen?
Kudos to you, Julie for the work of awareness you are doing!
I recently ran into a discussion with the questions posted above.
My simple answer is YES! Not maybe or perhaps, or possible …Yes, it can happen! It can happen here in America! It had happened numerous times before in not so distant history. By the way, we do not need Israel to be destroyed for that starting to happen over here. It is already happening right before your very eyes. One Freedom after another is gradually taking away from us. Our fellow Jews are not helping by voting and helping elect the ones now in power.
If you recall Soviet and Nazi Germany history, you may find the answer right there. Allow me to quote myself. This is from the Epilog of my novel :Russian Jews Don’t Cry”
“Communism and fascism are the same. The main difference is communists start killing their own first. Fascists arrive to that a bit later in the process. If German people would face today the same circumstances as they were when fascism was just on the rising, they most likely wouldn’t let it happen again, simply because they are free people now. If the same circumstances would arise today in Russia as they were when Stalin came to power, the history most likely would repeat itself again. People did not change there — they are still slaves, maybe better fed and dressed, but they are, and they deserve their government…”
This was one of the main two reasons why I wrote my novel. It is not a political writing. I wrote it so younger generations, people in their 20s and 30s, and 40s did not make the same mistake was made before them. I also wrote it so they could read it and have some fun along the way.
Respectfully, Uri Norwich.
Novel available on Amazon and everywhere books are sold.