Storyteller Alex Teplish reinvents Holocaust education for new generations

As an advocate of the Jewish people and who has always believed in the preservation of the Holocaust history in order to never forget the atrocities that occurred at the hands of the Nazi regime, I don’t think it is a coincidence that I recently befriended Alex Teplish.

Teplish was born in Odessa, Ukraine, formerly in the USSR. After his grandparents survived concentration camps during the Holocaust and his parents struggled to live a decent life, the family decided to immigrate to the United States when Alex was a young boy. He went on to enjoy an average American childhood and life growing up in Brooklyn.

Upon graduating from Stony Brook University, Teplish worked diligently for over 25 years to become an expert in digital technologies, graphic design, marketing, and technology leadership. Outside of his corporate career, he has tapped into his creative side to author two graphic novels.

The first, a science-fiction book based on the Ancient Astronaut Theories, is titled In The Beginning: The Epic of the Anunnaki. His second book, titled Survivor: Aron’s Story, which is part illustrated memoir and part history book, tells of his grandfather’s survival during World War II and one of the least documented episodes of the Holocaust.

This book and its accompanying interactive virtual museum have won various awards and recognitions, including the Silver Medal of the Independent Publisher’s Award. It is now utilized in the American school curriculum. As Teplish continues to help spread the mission of Holocaust and empathy education through this work and his live multimedia presentations, I recently had the opportunity to interview him in New York.

What inspired you to create your latest project?

I was inspired to create the project Survivor: Aron’s Story because of the current rise in antisemitism and also the need to engage future generations with this critical history. By leveraging emerging technologies, multimedia, and interactive features, I aimed to make this story more accessible and engaging for students and readers. Additionally, my personal connection to the story, as it is based on my grandfather’s survival during the Holocaust, drove me to use visual mediums like the graphic novel format and then adapting it into a virtual museum. This would ensure that this least documented episode of the Holocaust is not forgotten, yet also engaging for a younger, more tech-savvy audience. With the popularity of graphic novels and the importance of educating about the Holocaust, I believed this initiative would resonate with a new generation and help combat antisemitism.

You created a digital initiative that uses visuals to remind future generations to never forget the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust. Why?

I initiated this project to ensure that future generations, particularly millennials, Gen Z, and other future generations are reminded of the Holocaust’s atrocities and never forget its lessons – not just for Jews but all humanity. The inspiration behind this initiative stems from my deeply personal connection to the Holocaust, as my grandfather’s story is a central part of it. In an era of rising antisemitism and changing learning preferences, I saw an opportunity to engage and educate through visuals, first leveraging the graphic novel memoir format, and then supplementing it with emerging technologies and multimedia, making this critical history more accessible and impactful for younger audiences.

With all of the great work that you have done, what is your advice to future generations?

My advice to future generations is to never forget to prioritize education about critical moments in history, especially the Holocaust. Learning from the past is essential to preventing future atrocities, genocides, and conflicts, and fostering compassion for our diverse global community. While we may have missed opportunities in the past, and as other peoples have experienced genocide and atrocities, it’s never too late to promote Holocaust and empathy education. By doing so, we can work toward uniting humanity, promoting peace, and building a harmonious world that values the lessons of history. ■

The writer received his undergraduate degree in business (cum laude) from Yeshiva University and his MBA with double distinction from Long Island University. He is a financial adviser who resides in New York City, and is involved in Israel based and Jewish advocacy organizations.