As a tradition, the Keene community gathers each year to remember Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, making a pledge to stand together against hatred and violence.
For this year’s anniversary event, the Cohen Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, in collaboration with Congregation Ahavas Achim and the Monadnock Interfaith Project, welcomed “Who Will Remain,” an artistic performance featuring a survivor’s story from the Holocaust.
“Who Will Remain” was designed by Amy Lieberman and her colleague Angelynne Hinson. The two were inspired by Lieberman’s grandmother, a Holocaust survivor and resistance fighter, also known as a partisan. The original work was created as an educational and theatrical piece but transformed into an emotional journey, as seen in the Alumni Recital Hall, on Nov. 6, 2025.
“We had two actor friends. It was more of a dramatization of actual figures who lived through the Holocaust and it was more educational. That was the impetus for interviewing my grandmother. She was always a part of this. As we went on, we wanted to be less academic and take people and ourselves on more of an emotional journey,” said Lieberman.
The performance included poetry and historical texts, alongside vocal and instrumental music to complement the story heard from Rose Dunman Holm, Lieberman’s grandmother.
“It’s really about understanding what it feels like to be the other, to be marginalized because unfortunately, you can’t anticipate that. But if you can experience it through art and poetry in some way, when the time comes, and you see it happening to somebody else, you think, ‘Oh wait a minute, I think I know what that might feel like. I don’t want to go there,’” Hinson said.
While first-years Sonya Frisbie and Emerson Decato came for extra class credit, inviting their friend Maxine Gourd to tag along, the three enjoyed the musical aspect and overall experience.
“I also thought it would be an interesting way to educate myself,” said Decato.
Recalling the music and emotions brought up, Gourd said, “I thought it was really tear-jerking and you could definitely tell the emotions without hearing the words.”
Some of the compositions in the performance were written in Yiddish, including The Partisan Song, sung by the Dublin School choir.
“It was cool to hear them singing different languages and follow the story,” Frisbee said.
Ace Agnes, a sophomore at Dublin School, is performing in the Kristallnacht Remembrance for a second time. Agnes enjoyed the learning experience and having a larger ensemble to perform in.
“I really enjoyed learning and hearing people’s stories. I find the song we’re singing very meaningful and I’m excited to see what it’s about this year and learn,” said Agnes.
Freshman student in the Dublin School choir Naima Fleischer-Castro felt the music and performance created a bridge between herself and her Jewish heritage.
“My favorite part is getting the opportunity to understand the pronunciation of Yiddish because my grandfather and great-grandparents are Jewish and had escaped the Holocaust. I feel like I’m connecting to my culture a little more,” said Fleischer-Castro.
Fleischer-Castro was also a part of the candle lighting ceremony, where select pairs within the community were invited to go on stage and deliver a small speech as to why they are “lighting” the candle (switch on the electric candle).
Following the ceremony was the community pledge, a call and response led by Director of the Cohen Institute Kate Gibeault. The audience members stood together with their own tealight candle, as a recommitment to standing up against all forms of bigotry, hate and brutality.
“What happened to her could happen to any one of us on this Earth. Pay attention to the signs to make sure that we find our bravery and stand up for what is right. For people being marginalized, victims of racism, anti-semitism, bullying and immigrants being treated badly. We have to stand up to those things in our own communities,” Lieberman said.
“Who Will Remain” allowed the audience to step into a survivor’s shoes, including the calm before and the chaotic after.
“I hope people can feel that there is hope also, that my grandmother did survive, and that she survives in me, and in the future,” said Lieberman. “She survived in this room, where everybody heard her story. That keeps her story alive and keeps us focused on being good to each other, finding our compassion daily.”
Madelyn Marabella can be reached at
mmarabella@kscequinox.com
