The Indestructible Spirit

Without exception, the experience of meeting with and photographing these survivors is one which moved me to my core. I learned about their singular courage and steadfast determination to stay alive; I learned about their ability to deny death any sort of victory even though the prospect and possibility was ever present; I learned about their absolute faith, whether it was one in a higher power or simply their faith in themselves; whether it was a faith in God, in luck or in the possibility of a future – a strong faith that sustained

them through one of the darkest times in human history; I learned what it means to struggle and to survive and to remain a human being.

The prophet Zechariah proclaims that the people of Israel will prevail “not by might, nor by power, but by spirit alone … will you survive.” Clearly, it was not by might, nor by power that they prevailed, but by the strength of their enduring spirit.