Tells the story of her mother-in-law, who became the sole surviving family member at age 6

Daughter-in-law of two Holocaust survivors

Extensive speaking experience with 4th-12th grade students

Ellen Kaidanow is the daughter-in-law of two Holocaust survivors. Her mother in law, also named Ellen Kaidanow, was only 5 years old when her mother, father and two sisters were all forced to move from their beautiful home in Dubno, Ukraine to a walled Jewish ghetto. Ellen tells the story of her mother in law’s life as a young girl in the ghetto and her miraculous tale of becoming the sole survivor of her family at age 6. She was saved by a Christian woman who hid her for two years.

Ellen feels that part of her fate and purpose is to be a witness for her mother in law’s story. She wants to honor her and help others of all religions have a personal connection to the Holocaust so they become witnesses. Most important, she wants to influence others to be “upstanders”, not bystanders. She also wants to show those who are struggling with tragedy that her mother in law was able to be resilient under the worst circumstances and went on to have great joy and love in her life despite the devastating experiences she had as a child. She wants to inspire others to never give up hope and to be grateful for what you do have.

Ellen enjoys traveling which included a 2018 trip to Poland where she participated in The Ride for the Living, a 60-mile bike ride from Auschwitz-Birkenau to the JCC in Krakow to commemorate the Holocaust and celebrate the resilience of the Jewish community. She also visited three concentration camps and then met her mother-in-law in Dubno, Ukraine for an emotional return to her hometown where she survived the Holocaust.

Ellen lives in Harrison, NY with her husband, Joseph. They have three adult children. Ellen worked in commercial real estate and executive recruiting before she became an active community organizer and volunteer for her children’s schools. She continues her volunteer work with her synagogue, UJA, the Pleasantville Cottage School, and is also a Facilitator for Safekeeping Stories.

Ellen is a member of GenerationsForward, a group of second and third generation individuals sponsored by the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center of White Plains, New York. She has presented and spoken with students from 4th–12th grades at public and private schools and synagogues throughout the tri-state area including: Byram Hills High School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Greenwich Academy, Greenwich Country Day Schools, King School, Hackley School, Harrison High School, Riverdale Country School, Somers High School, The Ursuline School, Malcom E. Nettingham Middle School, Beth El Synagogue, Jewish Community Center of Harrison, Larchmont Temple, Rye Community Synagogue, Temple Shaaray Tefila, and Westchester Reform Temple.

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