POV Season 18 Episode 11 Hiding and Seeking: Faith and Tolerance After the Holocaust

Hiding and Seeking: Faith and Tolerance After the Holocaust is the 11th episode in the 18th season of POV. This documentary follows the journey of a Jewish father and his adult Orthodox sons as they travel to Poland to retrace the steps of their ancestors and find the Polish farmers who hid their grandfather during the Holocaust.

The father, Menachem Daum, is a Holocaust survivor and has spent most of his life learning about the atrocities committed during that time. However, he is concerned that his sons are not fully aware of their heritage and the importance of not only surviving but of thriving and learning from the past.

The documentary delves into the difficult topic of tolerance and forgiveness. Throughout their journey, the family visits various Holocaust sites and meets with people who have faced discrimination themselves. They also meet with non-Jewish Poles who have been recognized by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Israel, as Righteous Among the Nations. These individuals risked their own lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from persecution.

In Hiding and Seeking, the Daum family is forced to confront the harsh reality that not everyone wants to face their past. They visit a village where their ancestors lived and were betrayed by the local community. Today, the villagers refuse to acknowledge or apologize for their actions, forcing the family to come to terms with the lack of closure they may never receive.

The documentary also raises questions about the importance of faith in the midst of tragedy. Menachem Daum believes that maintaining faith and tradition is vital for both individuals and communities. His sons, however, struggle with the notion of faith in light of the horrific events of the Holocaust.

Hiding and Seeking: Faith and Tolerance After the Holocaust is a poignant look at one family's personal journey towards healing and reconciliation. It offers a nuanced perspective on difficult topics such as forgiveness, faith, and the role of personal identity in understanding one's place in history. Ultimately, it is a story of hope and the power of human connection.