One Voice Two Lives

18Jun2020Blog post, My Polish WisniaAuschwitz, David Wisnia, HAMEC, holocaust, Holocaust Awareness Museum, Jews, My Polish Wisnia, One Voice Two Lives, Philadelphia, Poland, survivor

Remembering the Holocaust Virtual RoundTable

What does it mean to carry forward stories of the Holocaust?
That’s what we will discuss in this virtual roundtable program event.
Tune in on Zoom – Free to RSVP, contact info@hamec.org

Read about my grandfather’s incredible story and his memoir: www.OneVoiceTwoLives.com

Read about my travels with my grandfather: www.aviwisnia.com/tag/my-polish-wisnia

Watch David Wisnia sing at the 70th Anniversary International Auschwitz Commemoration in Poland

Watch BuzzFeed Video ‘How I Survived The Holocaust’

#MyPolishWisnia

19Apr2020Blog post, My Polish WisniaAuschwitz, David Wisnia, holocaust, Holocaust Memorial Day, Jews, My Polish Wisnia, NMAJH, One Voice Two Lives, Philadelphia, Poland, survivor, video, Yom HaShoah

Remembering the Holocaust in Story & Song

I am honored to be doing this program with
The National Museum of American Jewish History.
Please join us online, wherever you are.

“From Generation to Generation:
Remembering the Holocaust in Story and Song”
a program streaming live at
Facebook.com/NMAJH or NMAJH Website
Monday, April 20 at 6pm ET

“In honor of Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day, NMAJH welcomes award-winning Philadelphia singer/songwriter Avi Wisnia to discuss the stories and songs of his grandfather, Cantor and Auschwitz survivor David S. Wisnia. Cantor Wisnia’s remarkable singing voice helped save him in the Nazi concentration camp, and he continues singing to this day as he and his grandson travel around the world performing concerts and conducting programs on the Holocaust.

The program will feature some never-before-seen video footage from an intimate concert performed by Avi and his grandfather. Conversations between songs will explore the duo’s multi-generational musical connection, the importance of preserving David’s story and legacy, the Wisnia family’s recent return to Poland to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, and more. The event will highlight the urgency of keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive, and the importance of passing on this legacy from generation to generation.

>> RSVP on FACEBOOK | Tune in to the Livestream <<

31Jan2020Blog post, My Polish WisniaAuschwitz75, David Wisnia, holocaust, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, My Polish Wisnia, One Voice Two Lives, Poland, travel

Poland Part III: Epilogue

I was born in the United States, but because my grandfather is from Poland, I am also from Poland.

It is the place where the stories of my family have their roots. It is the place where I can trace the beginnings of my own love of music, and the place where my family’s history was ended, cut short when they were murdered in the Warsaw ghetto.

For me and my grandfather, music sustains us. And for my grandfather, it quite literally saved his life. When I hear my grandfather sing, I hear my history come alive, I see the family that I never knew, and I feel the connection to the traditions of a people someone tried to erase. By going on this journey and returning to Poland, with my grandfather and the family that he continued, I honor the past, and I sing for the future.

There are so many more things I want to tell you.
But for now, I encourage you to read my grandfather’s memoir: www.onevoicetwolives.com
and if you want to go back and revisit Poland with us, you can see my previous entries on this blog: #MyPolishWisnia

In Hebrew, when we celebrate, we often say “L’chayim” – “To Life.” Because we know that in the face of being denied the right to exist, the greatest act of defiance is to live.

it’s good to be home.

#MyPolishWisnia

13Sep2019Blog post, My Polish WisniaAuschwitz, David Wisnia, free, gigs, holocaust, My Polish Wisnia, never forget, One Voice Two Lives, Poland, survivor, Warsaw, Wissahickon

Wisnias in Concert

Music is the through-line of my grandfather’s life. Music made him famous as a child singing in Warsaw. Music saved his life as a prisoner in the Nazi concentration camps. Music helped him establish roots and community in the United States. Music is the story, the pain and joy wrapped in tradition and memory, that he has passed along to me.

Come hear his story in music, with a concert event that we will perform together, including a song he composed while a prisoner in Auschwitz that I translated into English.

Thursday Sept 19 at Wissahickon Valley Public Library
free, and open to the public
seating is limited, reservations recommended to attend
program details and RSVP at www.aviwisnia.com/tour

—

Read about my grandfather’s incredible story and his memoir: www.OneVoiceTwoLives.com

Read my blog about our recent travels in Poland: www.aviwisnia.com/tag/my-polish-wisnia/page/7/

Watch David Wisnia sing at the 70th Anniversary International Auschwitz Commemoration in Poland: http://youtu.be/ONGl0sML5OY

and… Featured on BuzzFeed Video ‘How I Survived The Holocaust’: https://youtu.be/pcc8xCZ35KI

#MyPolishWisnia

25Nov2018Blog post, My Polish WisniaAuschwitz, David Wisnia, gigs, holocaust, Kable House, My Polish Wisnia, One Voice Two Lives, survivor, York

My Polish Wisnia, Live in Concert

My grandfather has seen war from all sides:
as a prisoner and as a liberator;
as a soldier and as an immigrant and as a refugee.
He is a Survivor.

Come hear his story of survival, and the music that saved his life which we will perform together. Our concert includes a song my grandfather composed while a prisoner in the Auschwitz concentration camp that I translated into English. Music passed down from generation to generation. A story as important now as it will ever be.

Kable House Presents:
Cantor David Wisnia & Avi Wisnia
together in concert
Thursday November 29 in York PA
program details and tickets at www.aviwisnia.com/tour

Read David Wisnia’s incredible story and purchase his memoir: www.OneVoiceTwoLives.com

Read Avi Wisnia’s blog about their recent travels in Poland: #MyPolishWisnia

Watch David Wisnia sing at the 70th Anniversary International Auschwitz Commemoration: video

and see the short film as featured on BuzzFeed Video: video

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