The Last Manilaners

Episode 2

Invaded

In an attempt to annihilate the Jews, the German government cultivated an act of extreme violence-burning down synagogues, and attacking Jewish schools, cemeteries, and stores- called Kristallnacht or the Night of Broken Glass. Determined to get away from Hitler's clutches, Margot Pins-Kestenbaum and Max Weissler, together with their families, braved the seas in hopes of rebuilding their lives in the Philippines. Looking back on their journey, Margot and Max share their struggles fleeing to Manila and the joy they felt finding home in a foreign land- until the Japanese occupation in 1940.

Episode 3

War

During the Japanese occupation, Jewish refugees joined the fight and rallied alongside Filipinos and Americans. Unbeknowst to them, their families in Europe were facing a toxic battle with the mass-killing of Jews called Holocaust. Margot Pins-Kestenbaum, Lotte Cassel-Hershfield, and Max Weissler tell how their new home turned into a battleground when the Japanese troops infiltrated the shores of Manila, while their loved ones suffered terribly back in Germany.

Episode 4

Gratitude

As the Manilaners reminisce on their years of refuge in the Philippines, Margot Pins-Kestenbaum, Lotte Cassel-Hershfield, and Max Weissler express their deepest gratitude to the only country that opened its doors when everyone one else refused. The three Manilaners also talk about how the Filipino's compassion and hospitality gave them warmth after years of living with terror and agony, later creating a strong bond with the Jewish people especially in times of need.