In March 1938, 21-year-old Jewish athlete Max Sheldon traveled from Germany to Palestine to compete in track and field at the third international Maccabiah Games. While he was at the competition, he received communication from his family telling him not to return to Germany, where conditions for Jews were fast deteriorating. That message saved his life—and inspired generations of Sheldons, including his grandson Derek, who now lives in Northern California and devotes his time to the Jewish sports community.
Join Stephanie Butnick, Tablet Magazine Deputy Editor and co-host of the leading Jewish podcast Unorthodox, for a conversation with Derek Sheldon about his grandfather’s legacy and his life as a 3G. This program is co-presented by Maccabi USA as part of the Museum’s “GENerally Speaking” series with third-generation Holocaust survivors.
Public programming at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is made possible, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; a Humanities New York CARES Grant with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the federal CARES Act; and other generous donors.
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