I am thrilled to propose bringing the award-winning documentary How Saba Kept Singing to the State College community, paired with an exclusive talk and performance by Avi Wisnia. This event will provide a unique opportunity to experience a powerful story of resilience, music, and love while fostering conversations about history, faith, and family.

How Saba Kept Singing tells the remarkable story of Cantor, Holocaust Survivor, and Military Veteran David “Saba” Wisnia, who, in his later years, traveled with his grandson and accompanist, Avi Wisnia, sharing his story of survival through music. For much of his life, David believed he survived Auschwitz largely by singing for his Nazi captors, which granted him a fragile status as a “privileged prisoner.”

However, during a family trip back to Poland for a final performance, Avi began asking deeper questions. Together, they uncovered a surprising truth—someone else had played a significant role in David’s survival. This revelation added a new dimension to David’s story, one that illuminates the power of love, sacrifice, and resilience even in the darkest of times.

Directed by Sara Taksler (Tickling Giants) and Executive Produced by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, the documentary has been met with critical acclaim. It premiered at the HotDocs Toronto International Documentary Festival in 2022, aired nationally on PBS in 2023, and earned the Audience Award at the Rutgers Jewish Film Festival. It is currently nominated for a News & Documentary Emmy Award. David Wisnia’s story has also been featured in The New York Times and Buzzfeed.

My goal is to bring this impactful film and Avi Wisnia’s insightful talk to State College to engage the community in meaningful dialogue. This event will connect audiences to an extraordinary story of survival and music, sparking conversations about history, resilience, and the enduring power of human connection.