Art, Memory, and the Jewish Practice of Re-Membering
Choosing to Remember is a ready-to-host program that brings together Viviane Silvera’s PBS-featured film See Memory and her essay for On Being Jewish Now, “Choosing to Remember” — a reflection on Jewish resilience, intergenerational memory, and the creative act of repair.
Through film, conversation, and art, communities are invited to explore what it means to carry memory forward — to turn remembrance into resilience, and imagination into healing.
About the Film
SEE MEMORY transforms over 40,000 hand-painted frames into a cinematic meditation on how memory is formed, reshaped, and healed. Blending art and neuroscience, the film visualizes how imagination allows us to reframe trauma and reconnect with the past.
Originally broadcast on PBS, See Memory has been featured at institutions including Yale, Tufts, Columbia, and the UCLA Semel Institute, and was awarded the 2025 Telly Award for 2D Animation.
About the Essay
In her essay “Choosing to Remember” for On Being Jewish Now, Viviane Silvera reflects on her father’s escape from Aleppo and the Jewish act of remembering as an act of repair. She writes:
“To remember is not just to recall — it is to repair. To retrieve and reweave. To reassemble the self and the story.”
The essay and film together form a deeply moving conversation about identity, loss, imagination, and the sacredness of memory.
🔗 Read the full essay on On Being Jewish Now →
Program Options
Choosing to Remember can be hosted as a:
🎥 Film Screening & Discussion — 30-min film followed by guided conversation (discussion toolkit included)
🕯️ Shabbat or Community Program — for reflection on healing, belonging, and memory
🎤 Guest Talk with Viviane Silvera — virtual or in-person Q&A on art, trauma, and Jewish storytelling
Each program includes:
The 30-min PBS See Memory film
A 113-page discussion & reflection toolkit
Optional guest participation by filmmaker Viviane Silvera
Perfect For
Jewish Learning & Cultural Programs
Wellness and Reflection Events
Holocaust Remembrance or Sephardic Heritage Month
Interfaith and Diversity Dialogues
Interested in Hosting?
Email seememoryfilm@gmail.com to explore program options or schedule a brief call.
Customizable posters, digital invites, and facilitator guides are available upon request.