These digital records from 2009 to 2015 were mainly created by Esther Finder in her work as president of Generations of the Shoah - Nevada. Materials include correspondence, articles and essays, meeting agendas and notes, photographs, drafts of speeches, fliers, informational documents, planning documents for conferences and events, and Holocaust education materials. Also included are emails sent and recieved by Finder, which function as the organization's main method of communication, in lieu of a printed newsletter.
Archival Collection
Generations of the Shoah - Nevada Records
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Collection Number: MS-00720 Collection Name: Generations of the Shoah - Nevada Records Box/Folder: Digital File 00
Esther Toporek Finder is a professor of psychology and has lived in Las Vegas, Nevada since 2010. She was born May 28, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Washington D.C. in 1979 after graduating with her Masters from the University of Chicago. While in Washington D.C, Finder was able to jump start her career as an oral historian recording Holocaust survivor stories with the U.S Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Shoah Foundation. Esther Finder is a second generation Holocaust survivor. Her passion for Holocaust education and its representation in society has led her to many opportunities to teach, facilitate, educate, create and contribute to many survivor oriented groups such as The Generation After where she was President for 15 years, the Holocaust Era Assets Conference as representation of the American survivor community, as well as the creation of the Generations of the Shoah International group in October 2002. When Finder moved to Las Vegas, she quickly and deeply involved herself in the Las Vegas Holocaust survivor community. She has been integral with Nellis Air Force Base?s Days of Remembrance, the opening the Generations of Shoah Nevada Chapter, and partnering with the World Federation of Jewish Child Survivors of the Holocaust and Descendants to bring conferences to the Las Vegas Valley. In addition, she has been an organizer of commemoration programs for students attending UNLV and schools within the Clark County School District. Her involvement with the Governor?s Advisory Council on Education Relating to the Holocaust and the television series Eyewitness to History have highlighted the Holocaust survivors living in Las Vegas. In this interview, Finder discusses her childhood as well as the paths that led her to realize her passion for the Holocaust survivor community and her deep association with the community. She shares her experiences interviewing survivors and second generation survivors giving a deeper insight into the stories that they have shared with her over the years. In addition, she reflects on her long reach within the survivor community and brings to light the foundation of family being a survivor gives. Finder highlights the traveling, teaching and community service opportunities she has had over the years while enlightening people about the importance of countering hate through education.
Esther Toporek Finder was the president and founder of Generations of the Shoah – Nevada (GS-N), an organization based in Las Vegas, Nevada for the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. GS-N's mission is to support local Holocaust survivors and educate community members about the Holocaust and its legacy.