Expanding Holocaust Education in Five States
August 2025
The words in the Op-Ed headline above—written in 2022 by a high school junior in Virginia—still stop me cold.
And today, they strike even deeper. With antisemitism surging and Holocaust survivors vanishing from our midst, the danger of forgetting has never felt more real—or more urgent.
At The Mitzvah Prokect, we’re working every day—with passion and urgency—to meet this moment by bringing powerful stories, essential history, and life-changing dialogue into classrooms where many students are hearing the word 'Holocaust' for the very first time.
I’m excited to share two important updates below—about our expanding presence on social media and the extraordinary volunteer team now helping us grow across the Western U.S.
And looking ahead: in 2026, I Died in Auschwitz—the play that speaks to the heart of our mission—will return to the stage in a new production opening in the San Francisco Bay Area.
But we can’t do this alone. Your support makes everything we do possible. Please stand with us.
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Since June, The Mitzvah Project has been busy expanding our capacity in two critical areas: Social Media and High School/College outreach.
Breaking Ground: Social Media
Our newest team member is social media intern, Ellery Lapin. Ellery is a rising senior at George Washington University and brings experience creating and implementing social media campaigns for the Women Business Collaborative and GW Hillel.
Under the supervision of Mitzvah Project Outreach Coordinator Ashley Eisenkramer, Ellery has developed a student engagement effort launching this August on both Instagram and LinkedIn. Says Ellery: “I was drawn to The Mitzvah Project because I believe in its mission and the power of storytelling to preserve history, challenge ignorance, and spark empathy.”
Expanding Outreach
And we now have five amazing volunteers! This is a big deal. And I want to take a moment to thank my advisor, Phyl Terry.
Phyl has been encouraging his own newsletter subscribers to volunteer and now we have five top professionals from the tech world each of whom has been helping us build our database of high school principals and administrators an college professors throughout Northern and Southern California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Utah.
Please meet our five wonderfully talented volunteers:
San Diego-based Leilani Sandan is a global marketing executive with 20+ years of experience at companies like Dexcom, Illumina, and Sony. “Ever since I visited the Holocaust Museum in D.C. within its first five years of opening, I’ve never forgotten how deeply it moved me,” says Leilani. “That’s why I volunteer with The Mitzvah Project—to help others learn from the past and build a kinder, more respectful world.”
Phil Newman, based in Portland, OR, is a seasoned product strategist and SaaS innovator with over 15 years of experience leading product development at companies like Nike, Anaconda, and Cambia Health. “I'm proud to be a small part ensuring the lessons of the Holocaust are not forgotten and delivered using The Mitzvah Project’s wonderfully creative approach.”
Denver, Colorado’s Jessica Kibble, is a marketing and operations executive with two decades experience leading enterprise-wide transformation across higher ed, consumer brands, and wellness; including roles at L’Oréal, Amway, and the University of Denver. As Jessica says: “It’s vital to keep the stories of the Holocaust alive so younger generations not only understand what happened but also develop empathy. By doing so, we will help ensure that such atrocities are never repeated — not just against the Jewish community, but against anyone, anywhere.”
Christine Lee, based in Louisville, CO, is a business analyst and part-time tutor currently exploring her next career chapter. With a background in education and data-driven problem solving, she brings a thoughtful, mission-oriented approach to everything she does. “I believe The Mitzvah Project can help prevent racial violence and antisemitism by educating youth and young adults — empowering them to engage in their communities through the arts and meaningful dialogue.”
Oletta Reed, based in Oakland, CA, is a product strategist with a sharp eye for innovation and a heart for impact. Oletta believes “we need to keep retelling these stories to help our youth grow their empathy and make our communities better.” For Oletta, the work is both personal and powerful—a way to help shape a future rooted in compassion, remembrance, and resilience.
Coming in 2026
An exciting new production of the solo stage drama, I Died in Auschwitz, will be opening in one of two – or both – of the following theaters in 2026; the Marin Shakespeare Company’s beautiful indoor theater in San Rafael and/or at the Oakland Theater Project’s home in Oakland, CA! Dates, director, and actor to be announced.
I Died in Auschwitz (originally entitled The Obligation) is a searing solo stage work “that refuses to let the past be safely archived.” The 2017 premiere was hailed by the San Francisco Examiner as “an unsparing, at times agonizing… Holocaust remembrance [that] should surely exist in perpetuity.” The play’s 2018 revival was a finalist for the Theatre Bay Area Award for Outstanding Solo Production. For additional reviews and background, please visit the I Died in Auschwitz homepage.
Through the interwoven voices of a Polish-Jewish survivor, a half-Jewish Wehrmacht officer, a grotesquely candid SS general, and a sardonic American-Jewish comedian, the play confronts audiences with urgent questions about memory, moral failure, and the dangers of forgetting.
Of the 2017 production, The Huffington Post wrote:
“The material covered in I Died in Auschwitz remains astonishingly relevant to the social tensions and growing antisemitism in the United States today.”
Stay tuned for more updates in the weeks and months to come. This is a production you don’t want to miss.
On stage, in Classrooms, and in the Hearts and Minds of a New Generation
The Mitzvah Project’s bold new initiatives—in social media, school outreach, and the powerful storytelling of I Died in Auschwitz—are expanding our reach like never before, bringing the critical lessons of the Holocaust to more youth and adults in more places.
As we look ahead, we see I Died in Auschwitz becoming an integral part of The Mitzvah Project’s Holocaust education portfolio. While our signature in-school program will remain at the heart of our work, the play offers a uniquely powerful learning experience for young audiences—one that brings the history and moral questions of the Holocaust to life in visceral, unforgettable ways. For that reason, we plan for all future productions to include opportunities for high school and college groups to attend.
A tax-deductible gift today of $50, $100, $1,000 or more will help make all that possible—on stage, in classrooms, and in the hearts and minds of a new generation.
To donate online:
To donate by mail:
Send checks payable to PlayGround (add “The Mitzvah Project” in the memo section)
Mail to:
PlayGround
3286 Adeline Street #9
Berkeley, CA 94703-2485.
PlayGround (Federal ID 94-3336399), a California not-for-profit corporation, is The Mitzvah Project's fiscal sponsor.
All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Thank you!
Warm regards,
Roger Grunwald, Founder, The Mitzvah Project
