Memories of the Holocaust: The Lived Experience of Having Voices Heard

Abstract

This study involves Jewish survivors of the Sho’ah, the attempted extinction of the Jews during the Holocaust. Significant research has been conducted on the Holocaust; however, the research on one’s experiences of trauma and storytelling, one’s ability to tell their story, and the experience of being heard while doing so, is an understudied subject. This study explored the phenomenon of storytelling, the experience of being heard, and the relationship between storyteller and listener using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and semistructured interviews. Throughout this study, five Holocaust survivors were encouraged to discuss their experiences before, during, and after the Holocaust. They were then encouraged to focus on their lived experiences of telling their stories. Participants were able to discuss the lived experience of the Holocaust as well as the lived experience of telling their story and being heard. Through the use of IPA, 20 themes emerged and were categorized into five domains: the relationship between storyteller and listener, communication styles, emotional experiences, family ties, and tenacity. Specific clinical implications addressed involve identifying what makes for a safe setting, the individual’s desire to succeed, and the requisite relationship dynamics needed in order to foster an environment helpful in the formation of trust and a willingness to increase vulnerability.