Story perspectives

Holocaust Memoir Readership Plummets Post-Hamas Attack

4/14/2026

Summary

Story summary

Liesbeth Heenk, owner of Amsterdam Publishers, notes a significant decline in Holocaust memoir readership since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, especially among survivors' great-grandchildren.
Heenk emphasizes the importance of personal testimonies, which resonate more than second-hand accounts.
Despite rising antisemitism and a shrinking pool of survivors, she remains committed to publishing these stories.
She believes sharing these narratives fosters empathy and understanding.

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Story summary

Liesbeth Heenk, owner of Amsterdam Publishers, notes a significant decline in Holocaust memoir readership since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, especially among survivors' great-grandchildren.
Heenk emphasizes the importance of personal testimonies, which resonate more than second-hand accounts.
Despite rising antisemitism and a shrinking pool of survivors, she remains committed to publishing these stories.
She believes sharing these narratives fosters empathy and understanding.