“I’m considered a third-generation Holocaust survivor. There’s a very unique role for the third generation. We are the ones that are tasked with saying, I remember I met survivors, I heard their stories firsthand. I’m going to share the lessons of what they taught me.” —Rachel Kastner
At age 18, Rachel Kastner urged her grandfather, Karl Shapiro, to travel with her to Poland and Ukraine. A Holocaust survivor, Karl had vowed never to return to Europe after the war. But in 2014, he agreed to go back with Rachel.
Rachel made her first feature documentary, The Barn, to tell the story of their journey. She talks to Exploring Hate about what she has discovered about her own life in the years since making the film.
Presented in partnership with:
A new documentary by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, and Sarah Botstein. Premiered September 18, 20, 21, 2022. "The U.S. and the Holocaust" is a three-part, six-hour series that examines America’s response to one of the greatest humanitarian crises of the…
At age 18, Rachel Kastner urged her grandfather, Karl Shapiro, to travel with her to Poland. A Holocaust survivor, Karl vowed never to return to Europe after the war. But he agreed to make the trip and Rachel's first feature…