Bagels and Books at The Breman Featuring Dr. Fred Katz

Enjoy a bagel and relax while Dr. Fred Katz shares his photography and stories about Holocaust memorials from around the world.

“My Road to Remembrance” presents a unique opportunity to remember those individuals who perished during the Holocaust. While this book captures the memorials designed and erected to immortalize the lives taken, it’s also a book about human rights and history. As George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it”.

More than seventy-five years have passed since the Holocaust and yet memorials around the world continue to grow illustrating the profound tragedy of the millions of lives lost. Approximately six million Jews were systematically murdered along with Roma (Gypsies), people with disabilities, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses and millions of Eastern European civilians. As time passes and memories fade, I have dedicated my time and energy to photograph and document those significant memorials honoring the victims.

My personal “Road to Remembrance” began in the Dachau concentration camp in 1975, where I took my first photographs. I have continued for the past forty-seven years with one goal: To photographically stand witness and honor those who died, by providing a roadmap of remembrance to their lives.

With no headstones or cemeteries to visit, these artistic and sculptural monuments and museums remind us to never forget. Traveling over thirty thousand miles in forty-seven years, I have photographed over one hundred sites, including thirteen concentration camps. I have included those images that were most meaningful to me and ones that would inspire others to recognize the importance of these memorials.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Fred Katz is a retired Radiologist and Associate Professor of Radiology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He’s also a passionate photographer dedicated to preserving the legacies of Holocaust victims and advancing Judaica studies.

During the Vietnam War, Dr. Katz served as a physician, receiving recognition for his service with a Bronze Star and Army Commendation medal. His experiences in Vietnam inspired him to pursue a path of communal and professional service, leading to the creation of his book, “Road to Remembrance.”

Through his travels, he has photographed over 100 Holocaust memorials worldwide, from Auschwitz to Moscow to New York. Katz honed his photography skills by completing an intensive course at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography, allowing him to excel in all phases of photography, including processing and digital editing.

His photographs have been exhibited at various notable locations, such as The Breman and the Atlanta Jewish Community Center, as well as several synagogues. Moreover, he is an accomplished speaker, having delivered lectures for the Jewish Federations of North America, Radiological societies, and medical schools.

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