Between reality and myth: screening testimonies of child sexual abuse during the Holocaust in Israeli documentary

The article first examines the silencing and portrayal of child sexual abuse during the Holocaust in Israeli cinema and culture, compared to the limited treatment of the topic in international cinema. It discusses the challenges in depicting victims and analyzes why they are silenced in Israeli society and the media. The second section traces how portrayals of child sexual abuse during the Holocaust have changed since World War II. While Israeli films and documentaries continue to address the Holocaust, depictions of child sexual abuse have appeared more gradually and openly in international cinema. The article reviews major Israeli films, offering interpretive and narrative analyses of their content and messages, and features firsthand testimonies from adults who endured sexual abuse as children during the war. The conclusions highlight the importance of on-camera testimonies, both for the audience and the speakers, as a way to reveal the hidden stories within the Holocaust. By bringing these previously unspoken narratives to light, Israeli cinema offers a platform for survivors’ voices, shedding light on a dark chapter of history and helping to deepen understanding of the Holocaust’s impact on child survivors.