Ruth Gruener’s parents owned a candy shop in her hometown of Lvov, Poland (now Lviv, Ukraine), where she was born in 1933.

Ruth’s life changed forever as a six year old girl. Living first under Soviet occupation and then under Nazi rule, she was forced into a ghetto and later into hiding with a customer of her parents’ candy shop. By the end of the Holocaust, Ruth was the only surviving student from her Kindergarten class. She emigrated to the United States in 1949 after a challenging escape from the Soviet Union.

Join Ruth for this Stories Survive program, in which she’ll share her experience of hate, kindness, and coming of age during the Holocaust.

A $10 suggested donation enables us to present programs like this one. We thank you for your support.

Stories Survive is made possible by the Goldie & David Blanksteen Foundation.
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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