From Holocaust to Hope: Meet Dr. Irene Butter
Our Tuesday morning Bible Study group has been on a year long interfaith learning exploration. The group has read the book, Holy Envy, by Episcopal priest and author Barbara Brown Taylor. In addition to the book, they have invited a series of speakers to join them on Tuesday mornings to help them learn about the gifts of other faith traditions and find what we share as people of faith. They have also had a series of field trips to visit the sacred spiritual homes of these traditions. They have visited a Buddhist temple, a synagogue, the Islamic Center of Cincinnati and others. The learning and friendships that have emerged from this study have been rich and beautiful.
On January 20th at 10 a.m., the Bible Study group will be sharing a zoom phone call with Dr. Irene Butter, a Holocaust survivor who at 95 years old, is intent on sharing her story with as many people as possible.
About Irene
Born into a Jewish family in Berlin and fleeing to Amsterdam, Irene Butter grew up in Nazi-occupied Europe. Her childhood was cut short on June 20, 1943 when she and her family were deported to two prison camps, including Bergen-Belsen, where her childhood acquaintance and former neighbor, Anne Frank, was a fellow prisoner. Irene barely survived until being released along with her family as “exchange Jews” in January of 1945.
When Irene came to the U.S., she was forbidden from speaking about her experiences by the relatives who cared for her. She remained silent on the topic for the next forty years. Now, she is making up for decades of lost time and has dedicated herself to Holocaust education and peace activism. Professor Emerita of Public Health at the University of Michigan, Dr. Butter is also co-founder of the Raoul Wallenberg Medal and Lecture Series, and co-founder of Zeitouna, an Arab/Jewish Women’s Dialogue group and abides by the theme of the group: “Refusing to be Enemies.”
Dr. Butter authored her memoirs From Holocaust to Hope: Shores Beyond Shores. Rather than dwelling on misery and tragedy, Irene personally reveals coming to terms with a terrible event with determination as a survivor instead of a victim of the Holocaust. This true story celebrates empathy even in the most inhumane conditions and has been published in four languages and distributed in the US, UK, Netherlands, Germany, and the Czech Republic.
Considering it her duty to tell her story on behalf of the six million other Jews who have been permanently silenced, Dr. Butter’s message continues to resonate at a time when hatred and discrimination are on the rise. She has received numerous awards for her commitment to peace activism and dedication to education about the Holocaust. Eighty-one years to the date of deportation, on June 20, 2024 Dr. Butter received the German Order of Merit-First Class, the highest honor awarded a German citizen. In spring 2025, she was presented the Anne Frank Award for Human Dignity and Tolerance and immediately thereafter, decorated as Knight by the honor of Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Dr. Butter is a frequent and well-received inspirational speaker and has shared the stage with revered peacemakers as the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Elie Weisel. Her story has also been made available internationally across multi-media outlets, including the Shoah Foundation podcast series, Searching for Never Again. Talking about her war-time experiences, she stresses the importance of being “never a bystander” and that “one person can make a difference.” She engages tirelessly with groups of all ages and education levels, but her favorite audiences are middle school students.
A Long Friendship
Parishioner Louise Borden shares the story of how she met and became friends with Irene:
“I first met Irene in Ann Arbor and our friendship spans almost 25 years. Irene has been an inspiring mentor and light to students and audiences around the world. I have attended a few of her many honors - most recently last spring in Washington, D.C. when Irene was given the Anne Frank Award by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In the summer of 2024 at the German Embassy in D.C., Irene received the Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany for her remarkable efforts on behalf of Holocaust education. The German ambassador became tearful as he delivered his remarks.
Louise wants our St. Barnabas community to hear Irene’s message. She says, “So many people have been inspired by Irene’s story and witness. I hope that our St. Barnabas community might also find her to be a source of encouragement. Our church is named after St. Barnabas who has been called a "son of encouragement". Barnabas was also known for his generosity and courage. Irene Butter’s long and remarkable life has also been one of encouragement, generosity, and courage.””
Join us
If you would like to join in the zoom session with Dr. Irene Butter on January 20th at 10 a.m., please register in Realm through this link. We encourage any members of our parish to participate. If you would like to learn more about Irene you can explore her website or there are several copies of her book in the parish library to borrow.
“Refusing to be an enemy is simple, profound, and anybody can do it. It is looking the other person in the face. It is listening. It is the conscious decision to open your eyes, your ears, and your heart. It is the serious intention to see the other person as human, and not a stereotype. But is comes with the responsibility we owe to every person, to stand on the side of tolerance. When tolerance is violated–by individuals, by groups, and by nations–we must call it for what it is: bullying. The world can't afford us to be bystanders in the face of oppression and hate. “ - Irene Butter