What does it really mean to inherit trauma? In this episode of ‘Chosen for What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher speaks with Dr. Eva Fogelman, a renowned psychologist, author, and pioneer in the study of Holocaust trauma and its intergenerational impact.
Dr. Fogelman challenges the common assumption that the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors directly inherit trauma. Instead, she explains that what is often passed down are worldviews, communications styles, and relationship patterns shaped by survivor experiences.
Together, Tommy and Dr. Fogelman explore how this legacy unfolds over time, through stages of shock, denial, mourning and discovery, and why some descendants of survivors feel compelled to uncover their family’s past while others choose distance.
The conversation also delves into the emotional complexity of survivor guilt, unconscious survivor behaviours, and the ways in which many descendants have transformed pain into purpose. From creative expression to Holocaust education, from human rights activism to Jewish cultural preservation, Dr. Fogelman offers powerful insights into how inherited memory can inspire resilience and meaning for generations to come.
