Ep 2. Surviving the Holocaust

In season 2 episode 2 of the heart-wrenching series We'll Meet Again, titled "Surviving the Holocaust," we are transported back to the darkest moments of history, to a time when millions of innocent lives were lost due to the systematic annihilation of a community. The episode follows the emotional journeys of two people who survived the Holocaust as children and were separated from their families during the war. Hosted by the renowned journalist Ann Curry, this powerful episode recounts the stories of two Holocaust survivors who, after being separated from their parents and siblings, made it their lifelong mission to reconnect with their loved ones.

The first story is that of Mark Rubin, a Jewish boy from Poland who was only five years old when Nazi soldiers burst into his family's home and dragged him away from his mother and father. Mark was sent to a concentration camp, where he was subjected to brutal conditions and forced to watch as his fellow prisoners were tortured and killed. But Mark was determined to survive, and with the help of his innate resilience and a rare stroke of luck, he was eventually able to escape and find his way to safety. However, he had no idea what had happened to his family - all he knew was that they had been taken away by the Nazis. Years later, Mark became a successful businessman and started a family of his own, but his thoughts always returned to his lost loved ones. With the help of a genealogist and his own unwavering determination, Mark embarks on a journey to discover what happened to his parents and siblings - and hopefully, reunite with any surviving members of his family.

The second story told in "Surviving the Holocaust" is that of Margie Finkelman, who was just a baby when her mother placed her in a wicker basket and left her on the doorstep of a Christian couple. Margie's mother was a Jewish woman who knew that her baby daughter would never survive under Nazi rule, so she made the heartbreaking decision to give her up in the hope that she would have a chance at a better life. Margie was taken in by the couple and raised as their own, never knowing the truth about her heritage. As she grew up, Margie always felt like something was missing - like a part of her identity had been taken away. It wasn't until she was in her sixties that a cousin discovered her existence, and Margie began to learn about her Jewish ancestry. Despite many setbacks and challenges, Margie relentlessly searched for any information she could find about her mother and her family, determined to find out more about the woman who gave her life and the family she never knew.

As with every episode of We'll Meet Again, "Surviving the Holocaust" is expertly crafted to elicit deep and intense emotions from its viewers. Through expertly edited archival footage, heartfelt interviews with survivors and their families, and the compassionate narration of Ann Curry, viewers are taken on a profound and moving journey that is as educational as it is emotional. The episode highlights the strength and resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of unimaginable evil and despair. In "Surviving the Holocaust," viewers will find themselves privy to some of the most moving and heartwarming reunions imaginable as our two main subjects are finally able to come face-to-face with members of their families whom they thought they had lost forever.

Overall, "Surviving the Holocaust" is a testament to the power of love, hope, and perseverance - and serves as a stark reminder of the darkest period in human history, and the need to never forget the horrors that occurred during that time. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in history, human resilience, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.