When we remember the past, is it in ways that are painful and stop us from moving forward, or do we take those lessons and use them to find greater meaning and purpose in life? The Triumphant Spirit, a piercingly beautiful book of photographs and personal stories of survivors, looks at that question again and again, always affirming life, creating hope, and celebrating the human spirit. Newly released and reprinted by Clal in partnership with acclaimed photojournalist Nick Del Calzo, the book challenges us to remember one of the darkest times in history while embracing the future.

“This moving volume represents a way of remembering the past while lifting our own spirits about the potential for the future,” said Clal President Rabbi Brad Hirschfield. “It celebrates the triumphant spirit in the face of unimaginable horror.”

For more than 35 years, Clal has led the way in responding to the Holocaust, from our founding by Rabbi Irving “Yitz” Greenberg and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, to our early work developing the first Holocaust Resource Center in the country from which the U. S. Holocaust Museum emerged, to our more recent publication, Remember for Life.

“The Triumphant Spirit is an important resource for anyone looking to uncover how the wisdom and experience of a people, at one of history’s worst moments, can help us lead more fulfilling lives and build a better world,” said Clal President Irwin Kula.

The reprinted volume, made possible by the generous support of The Feiner Family Foundation of Denver, has been met with enthusiastic response from a wide variety of organizations, both Jewish and non-Jewish, including the Islamic Society of North America, The Chautauqua Institution, the JCC Association, AIPAC, and leaders from the Jewish Federation of North America. Its important and inspiring message of peace, tolerance, and compassion bridges people everywhere, regardless of their differences.

For more information on the book, or photojournalist Nick Del Calzo, please go to http://www.thetriumphantspirit.com/.

By Judy Epstein from Clal