International Holocaust Remembrance Day: "Chemin des Juifs”

Discover the story of a forgotten road in Northern France, where the footprints of Belgian Jews, forced into labour between 1942 and 1944, stand as a silent testament to suffering, resilience, and one survivor’s extraordinary journey from captivity to peace.

Marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, “Chemin des Juifs: The Path Between Silence and Survival” revisits a little-known chapter of Holocaust history in Northern France. Along this quiet 4km road near Hardelot, Belgian Jews were forced into labour between 1942 and 1944 to build the Atlantic Wall. Among them was seventeen-year-old David Shentow of Antwerp. He had survived the Nazi occupation of Belgium, a forced-labour camp, the Auschwitz concentration camp, the Warsaw Ghetto, a death march and Dachau.

Through testimony, music, and memory, the Chemin des Juifs becomes more than a place. It becomes a bridge between the past and our shared human conscience. David's vivid recounting of events, accompanied by expert interviews, archival footage, and a powerful original score by Patrick Savage, come together to show that this modest stretch of road stands not only as a physical remnant of history, but as a living testament to humanity’s enduring capacity for remembrance, resilience, and the unyielding search for peace.

About the Human Rights and Holocaust Education Fund

In partnership with the Calgary Jewish Federation's Holocaust and Human Rights: Remembrance and Education department.

Human Rights and Holocaust Education programming is a partnership between Calgary Public Library and Edmonton Public Library to raise awareness and engage Albertans in critical dialogue about human rights and the Holocaust. Donor funds support physical exhibits and virtual tours that build on programs and events, facilitate community storytelling opportunities and enhance Library collections related to human rights.

This collaboration between Alberta’s two largest municipal libraries is generously supported by the Balaban family, the Krell family, Viewpoint Foundation, and donors to the Human Rights and Holocaust Education Fund at Calgary Public Library Foundation.