Resilience by Cheryl Reibel

A Message of Courage, Hope, and Healing

I’ve witnessed the deep harm that hate can cause. I grew up surrounded by Holocaust survivors and their stories of unimaginable atrocities. From them, I learned that knowledge has the power to heal and rebuild. Through my voice, my book, and my art, I strive to help communities understand the weight of history and the lasting impact of hate across the world.

My most meaningful message lives in this book and the exhibit that brings to life the powerful stories of courageous young survivors. These poems and paintings express what words alone cannot. Resilience is more than a title—it’s a call to rise above hate and the senseless hatred endured by Jewish communities.

Let this message of courage, hope, and healing be heard—clearly, and with urgency. My purpose is to inspire awareness, action, and a shared stand against hate.

Cheryl Reibel, Author and Art Exhibitor

About Resilience, the Book

Resilience is a collection of original poems inspired by the stories of Holocaust survivors I grew up around—neighbors, family members, and their friends who shared their memories in quiet moments and everyday places. Their stories of strength in suffering, kindness in cruelty, and hope in the face of despair stayed with me, and now live on through this book.

Each poem is paired with evocative artwork by world-renowned artist McLean Fletcher, bringing these true stories to life in a deeply moving and visual way. The result is a collection of 37 poems, each capturing the innocence, courage, and resilience of children who survived—even as the Nazis sought to extinguish both their hope and their lives.

The number 37 holds special meaning—twice 18, the Hebrew number symbolizing “life,” plus one to represent a new generation that emerged from the darkness of the Holocaust.

This book serves as a powerful educational tool, helping both young people and adults understand the urgent need to confront hatred—before history repeats itself.

Resilience is currently being taught in public and private schools, across all faiths and denominations, as well as in universities, youth organizations, and adult education programs throughout the United States and Eastern Europe. Unfortunately, this issue continues to affect Jewish communities around the world. Resilience has been therefore requested for translation into multiple languages.

It is also featured in museums, libraries, and is available for purchase online at Amazon.

“The flowers of their courage will not wither”

"A Masterpiece"

The poems in Resilience are about Jewish children in Germany, Poland, and other areas of Eastern Europe enduring the events of the Holocaust (1941-1945 CE. )

“Deeply moving stories brought to life like never before.”

The suffering and death proved too much for many people – they despaired. However, for the children in these poems, they found hope in suffering, endured, and even fought back.Their experiences are varied: Some children escaped, others were forced to survive the horrors of the concentration camps. Many hid. But they survived.

“An important piece of Holocaust history vividly captured through poetry and art.”

These poems speak with the voices of survivors of the Holocaust. The poems in Resilience are about hope despite atrocity, love despite cruelty, and about finding the strength within and surviving.

Resilience, the Project

The Resilience Project was created to inform and educate young people and adults on the spiraling hatred and what we can do to stop it.

Bring Resilience to Your City

Nothing impacts the senses more than art, and our traveling exhibition will bring our original oils, inspirational artwork to Holocaust museums, universities, and places of worship. Do you want to remember the tragedy, while inspiring resilience and hope?

Holocaust Education

Cheryl Reibel is an experienced educator who has taken Resilience on the road. Her hour long classroom appearances galvanize your students into an awareness that inspires empathy, and awareness for the history of the Holocaust.

Bulk purchases at a discount for schools and non-profits when you contact me via the form at the bottom of this website.

Resilience Curriculum

Educational materials in the form of teacher’s guides and curriculum are available. The author and artist are available to guide you along the journey of the exhibit, and not only teach about the Holocaust from a position of truth, but to also engage middle school through college aged students and inspire them with amazing courageous stories of resilience of young Holocaust survivors.

Coming soon: Resilience, The Project is becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Join us in any way you can to help lead the fight against spiraling hate.