What happens when an art historian discovers Nazi memorabilia being sold at auction houses without ethical consideration? For Beatrice Levine, it sparked a journey that would transform her career and personal identity.

Growing up as a military child in Germany during the 1990s, Beatrice developed a natural curiosity about Holocaust history and her own Jewish heritage. Though her father was ethnically Jewish, her family practiced the cultural aspects rather than religious observance – what Beatrice colorfully describes as "that East Coast big, lox-loving Jewish family" where everyone watched Seinfeld and said "oy" but didn't attend synagogue. This early exposure to German history planted seeds that would later bloom in unexpected ways.

After pursuing art history and landing positions at prestigious auction houses, Beatrice witnessed disturbing practices surrounding Nazi artifacts and potentially looted artwork. The auction world's casual approach to selling items like Hermann Göring's weapons and Nazi tableware created what she calls "a queasy feeling" that eventually led her to specialize in provenance research – tracking the ownership history of artworks to identify those stolen during the Holocaust. The resistance she encountered when raising ethical concerns revealed how deeply rooted these problems were in the art world.

When academic institutions pushed back against her research focus, Beatrice found her way to specialized Holocaust studies programs, ultimately pursuing a PhD focused on these ethical questions. Perhaps most remarkably, she formally converted to Judaism in 2023, completing her Mikvah ceremony just one month after the October 7 attacks – a decision that speaks volumes about her commitment to this path.

Today, Beatrice balances serious academic work with a lighthearted approach to art history on her popular social media accounts. Her "Culture Quota" Instagram follows her mantra of providing "safe spaces" where people can enjoy art and culture as a respite from constant heaviness, while still occasionally addressing serious historical topics.

Whether discussing the ethical dilemmas of inherited Nazi artifacts or sharing her favorite Real Housewives moments, Beatrice brings authenticity and depth to every conversation. Her story reminds us that confronting difficult history isn't just an academic exercise – it's deeply personal work that can transform both individual lives and our collective understanding of the past.

What artifacts from difficult periods of history do you have questions about? Join the conversation and let us know how you navigate these complex ethical waters.

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Welcome back for Part 2 of my discussion with 3G Collective: John Reed, Shany Dagan, and Jana Krumholtz!

Three grandchildren of Holocaust survivors are using their talents as dancers, actors, and choreographers to tell their families' stories through powerful artistic performances.

• John describes his journey from watching his sister dance to becoming a professional dancer and choreographer
• John shares his experience working on "Amid Falling Walls," an off-Broadway show featuring Yiddish songs written in concentration camps and ghettos
• Shany discusses her transition from Israeli contemporary dance to American theater and aerial circus arts
• Shany explains her dance memoir featuring her grandparents' Holocaust survival stories performed simultaneously on stage
• Jana talks about her commercial dance career highlights including performing on SNL and Lip Sync Battle
• The artists explain how they formed the 3G Collective after discovering their connected histories
• Each artist describes their individual shows exploring third-generation Holocaust trauma and resilience
• They discuss why third-generation stories provide unique perspectives on Holocaust history and intergenerational trauma
• The collective emphasizes that their art demonstrates Jewish resilience - "they didn't win, we're still here"

Follow the 3G Collective on Instagram at @thirdgenproject for information about their upcoming performance at Arts On Site on August 7th.

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In this episode, we welcome a panel of third-generation Holocaust survivors (3Gs) who share their grandparents' remarkable survival stories and reflect on how this legacy shapes their lives today.

• Our guests Jana Krumholtz, John Reed and Shany Dagan discuss their varied Jewish upbringings across Florida, Australia/Texas, and Israel
• Each shares detailed accounts of their grandparents' Holocaust experiences, from the Lodz ghetto to concentration camps and partisan resistance
• We explore how trauma passes through generations, manifesting in relationships with food, safety concerns, and family dynamics
• The guests reveal personal journeys to understand and heal from intergenerational trauma through therapy, bodywork, and creative expression
• We discuss the challenge of balancing Jewish identity with personal authenticity in a world where antisemitism is again on the rise
• All three guests are creating theatrical works that process their family histories and trauma

This episode is part one of a two-part interview with the 3G Collective. Be sure to subscribe and follow us on Instagram and TikTok for more content.

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