I am the grandchild of Holocaust survivors. My grandfather lost 273 of his family members to concentration camps. My grandmother fled the war and her brother, who fought for the Russian army, was murdered by the Germans at the young age of 22. As a result, I made it a point growing up to speak to people around me about the Holocaust. I remember one year, my grandmother came to my school to speak to my peers about her experience during the war. I remember the whole class (including myself) was in tears.

Last year, I visited the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem and nearly broke down. How could something like this happen? How can we make sure it doesn’t happen again? As time goes on, it’s so important to continue that education so that history does not repeat itself.

The world right now is in a dark place, whether it’s the refugee issues happening in Europe, or the divide happening in our own country. So when I heard that the Jersey City Theatre Centee was bringing the play And Then They Came For Me: Remembering The World Of Anne Frank to Jersey City, I knew I had to help spread the word.

This poignant multimedia play, by award-winning playwright James Still and directed by Susan Kerner, weaves videotaped interviews of two teen-age friends of Anne Frank – Holocaust survivors Eva Schloss and Ed Silverberg – with live actors recreating scenes from their lives during WWII.

There will also be an exhibit of visual arts on themes of oppression and the Holocaust in the Merseles Studios art gallery.

I called Susan Kerner, the director of the play, to get a little background story on this play:

I stayed very close to Eva, who lives in London. This year is the 20th anniversary from when we first did the play in 1996, and now this has become even more relevant because of everything that is going on in the world. We decided to revive it for the 20th anniversary, and Eva was willing to come here and participate in post-play discussions.

How do you feel, with everything going on, that this story is relevant today?

It’s scarily relevant. There is a Hitler character in the play. He talks about getting rid of the Jews, the Blacks, Gays, and disabled. He says that the world would be a better place. Then he says “Let’s make Germany great again.”

Wow. How does Eva feel about the election? 

She has been advocating for years. She became a full-time Holocaust educator. She is an advocate for refugee causes all over the world.

Eva Schloss, Holocaust educator and author, has lectured on issues of oppression and genocide around the world and at the United Nations. She will be participating in the Talk-Backs on Nov. 17 – 21. Schloss, now 87 years-old, is the step-daughter of Otto Frank and posthumous step-sister of Anne Frank, and is a character in the play and among the last Auschwitz survivors able to serve as a witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust.

I was able to have a quick call with Eva yesterday to get a little more insight into this play and her life.

Hi Eva, tell me a little bit more about the play?

20 years ago, I had a phone call from Susan and James Still, asking if I wanted to cooperate to help write the screenplay. We had a lot of interviews. I said yes. My husband was traveling with me and we went to see the main rehearsal. Every one was in tears, it was so emotional to all of us. It’s been running now for many many years, in many countries. Eventually, we took it to England. It’s been shown in many places in the world.

The story is partly my life and my brother, who died so young.

How do you feel the story is relevant to what is happening in the world today? 

The situation everywhere is very critical. War is looming, in a way. We have to really try to teach young people not to go along with all this. Have no prejudice, against anyone. It’s a terrible situation, the hatred in the world. It feels like we are back in old times. There was so much hatred.

That is why it’s so important to continue educating people about the Holocaust. Do you think, as time goes on, people are still responding to that education? 

I am disappointed. We were hoping our message would have more of an impact. We thought we could educate young people.

Why do you think that is the case?

People are motivated by different things nowadays. Money and power have become the most important thing. There is a lot of greed in the world.

I know this is a random question but… What is happiness? 

To be satisfied with what you’ve got and with the way your life is going. Don’t think many people are satisfied with what they have. That is why their is unrest with some people.

What makes you happy?

I enjoy the little things. I enjoy nature. I like meeting people. I like movies. Little things make me happy.

And Then They Came for Me: Remembering The World Of Anne Frank opens Tuesday, November 15 at Merseles Studios (339 Newark Avenue, Jersey City).

Nov. 15 through Nov. 18: Doors Open at 6PM, performances at 7PM

Nov. 19: 2 shows – 3PM (doors open: 2:30PM) and 8PM (doors open: 7PM)

And Then They Came For Me: Remembering The World Of Anne Frank will be also be presented Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2PM and Monday, Nov. 21 at 7PM, at The Museum of Jewish Heritage in NYC.

All shows are followed by Talk-Back, a dialogue and Q&A with Anne’s Frank’s step-sister Eva Schloss, the cast, and the director

Get your tickets now for And Then They Came For Me: Remembering The World Of Anne Frank.