Speaking Through Silence is a heartfelt memoir about a first-generation American coming-of-age in the shadow of her four Holocaust Survivor grandparents. In this riveting read, Judi Shink uncovers the hidden histories, inherited silences, and enduring love that shaped her identity. She unravels her family's complicated and devastating past to forge a new path, while accepting the mantle of legacy that demands she speak out about a new 21st century kind of hate against her people. This book asks us all to decide whether we'll carry on the legacy of generations that came before, how we'll find ways to belong in a new complicated world, and what it means to survive.
"Speaking Through Silence connects memory to responsibility. Judi Shink is a gifted storyteller who makes the past feel present, relevant, and personal."
Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld, CEO, the Zekelman Holocaust Center
"In Speaking Through Silence, Judi Shink weaves together the stories of her four Holocaust survivor grandparents with honesty, compassion, and deep humanity. This heartfelt, powerful book offers an intimate and deeply meaningful way to understand the lasting impact of the Holocaust."
Merle R. Saferstein, author and former Holocaust museum director
"Judi Shink transforms silence into something profound and enduring. This is more than a memoir; it is a living act of bearing witness and a bridge between generations. Essential reading for anyone seeking connection and meaning in a complex time."
Heidi Shertok, author of Unorthodox Love and Match Me If You Can
"Speaking Though Silence brings a cinematic touch to a family tale. Judi's grandparents jump off the page, illuminating both their resilience and her responsibility to transmit their wisdom. Deeply personal, yet relevant to all, this sharply written memoir invites readers to find themselves in a family that might be their own."
Salvador Litvak (aka The Accidental Talmudist), filmmaker, author, social media influencer
"Moving, compelling and insightful, Judi Weiss Shink's Speaking Through Silence is both a remarkable story of multigenerational resilience and a beacon of light piercing the darkness of Holocaust ignorance, revisionism and denial."
Arthur Myron Horwitz, author of Dual Identities: Living in Meier's Shadow