Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is thrilled to present a special Q&A with HUC-JIR faculty member Cantor Gerald Cohen, the composer of Steal a Pencil for Me, an opera in two acts that captures one of the Holocaust’s most poignant love stories. Created by Cantor Cohen and librettist Deborah Brevoort, the opera is set against the harrowing backdrop of WWII concentration camps and tells the true story of Jaap and Ina Polak, who fell in love as prisoners at Westerbork and Bergen-Belsen. Through secret love letters and an unbreakable bond, they helped each other survive the unimaginable.

Based on Jaap and Ina’s love letters, Steal a Pencil for Me transcends the epic horrors of the Holocaust, focusing on intimate moments of hope, resilience, and the indestructible human spirit. The opera premiered in 2018 by Opera Colorado, and now a studio recording of the production is available.

Read the full Q&A here.