Over the last three decades, the beloved children’s book by Marvell Ginsburg, The Tattooed Torah, has been a powerful resource for Holocaust education. The book recounts the true story of the rescue and restoration of a small Torah from Brno, Czechoslovakia, and teaches the Holocaust not only as a period of destruction but also as an opportunity for redemption. Marvell was the director of Early Childhood Education for the Board of Jewish Education in Chicago for many years, and is the author of numerous books and articles. The adaptation of The Tattooed Torah into an animated short film is a three-generational endeavor, initiated by Marvell’s daughter, Beth Kopin, who first had the dream to transform this book into a film, and is one of the executive producers. Beth’s son Brett, the co-screenwriter, is currently a rabbinical student in Los Angeles.

The film brings illustrator Martin Lemelman’s rich artwork to life, and will allow this story to reach a much broader audience all over the world. Now more than ever, it is essential to continue teaching the lessons of the Holocaust to young children in an impactful and palatable way, so that such horrific events are never forgotten and never repeated.

The film is presented by The Goldrich Family Foundation in association with USC Shoah Foundation, executive producers Melinda Goldrich and Stephen Smith, produced by Lisa Effress of 11 Dollar Bill, animated by Jeffrey Pittle and Christian Robins, with original score by Daniel Alcheh and recorded by The Bow Tie Orchestra and Choir of Moscow, co-written by Brett Kopin and Marc Bennett, story by Greg Ferkel, directed by Marc Bennett, narrated by Ed Asner, and voice of the little boy by Abe Effress. The Spanish version is narrated by Fernando Allende, and the voice of the little boy by Adán Allende. The film is 21 minutes in length.