Holocaust
'Two Roses:
A Story of Deception and Determination in Nazi Germany'
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In June of 2023, graphic artist Miriam Libicki travelled to Toronto, Ontario to meet with survivor Rose Lipszyc and interview her about her life and experiences during Holocaust for the graphic novel. They were joined by Research Cluster Lead Mark Celinscak (PhD), who assisted with the facilitation and testimony collection, and director Chorong Kim who filmed and photographed the interviews with assistant camera Skylar Kim.
Since their first visit together, Miriam continued to meet with Rose online for check-ins and to discuss new pages. Their meetings were supported by family and our local community liaisons from the Azrieli Foundation: Devora Levin, Carson Phillips and Arielle Berger. Miriam’s process was also supported through research assistance and interview transcription from our MA student Jessica Botts from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Near the completion of the graphic narrative, Miriam returned to visit with Rose in Toronto to share a physical printed version to read with Rose.
The collaboration of Rose and Miriam is being celebrated at the official book launch of Two Roses hosted by our partners at the Toronto Holocaust Museum on March 25, 2026. Registration is free and we hope to see you there!
Survivor
Rose Lipszyc
Artist
Miriam Libicki
Team
Research Cluster Leads:
Mark Celinscak (PhD)
Charlotte Schallié (PhD)
Research Assistant: Jessica Botts
Community Liaison:
Devora Levin, Carson Phillips & Arielle Berger (Azrieli Foundation)
Film Director & Photographer: Chorong Kim
Assistant Filmmaker: Skylar Kim
Additional Funding
National Holocaust Remembrance Program
(Government of Canada’s Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program)
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Conversations with Rose
June 11 - 15, 2023
Miriam and the documentary team spent four days with Rose, focusing on research conversations for only half of the day. The remaining time was spent getting to know Rose through her memorabilia, her daily routines, and generous hospitality. The conversations took place in Rose’s condo with Miriam and Mark, as she welcomed our small documentary team into her home.
Rose discusses with Miriam and Mark her experiences in Holocaust education. She showed the team digital photographs of her life and told us about receiving the Order of Canada in 2021. Photo credit: Chorong Kim.
Top left: Miriam and Rose go for a walk to refresh after an interview.
Top right: Rose tells the team stories over coffee and pastries in her kitchen.
Right: Miriam’s initial sketches of Rose over time.
Photography by Chorong Kim.
Documentary Film
A Rose in Plain Sight (2024)
In early June, award-winning artist, Miriam Libicki, and historian Mark Celinscak travelled to Toronto to work with Holocaust survivor Rose Lipszyc. The week-long sessions involved testimony collection for the next graphic narrative in the series. Rose told her story of survival in Poland and Germany, shared photographs and other mementos, and discussed her many years working in Holocaust education. The sessions were filmed and photographed by Chorong Kim, with support from assistant camera Skylar Kim, who produced a short documentary film about Rose’s life and the process of creating this new graphic novel. We are grateful to Devora Levin, Arielle Berger and Carson Phillips of the Azrieli Foundation for their help coordinating the interviews and for being our trusted community liaisons. The resulting film, A Rose in Plain Sight, was completed in the fall of 2024, and is available for viewing on our Films page and YouTube channel.