Portrait of the Month
Dora Rivkina
This month we are featuring a portrait of Dora Rivkina. Dora was extremely brave; at 19 years old she joined a resistance movement called the partisans. As a member of this group, she fought and died defying the Nazis. This portrait was created by middle school student Anya H. in Omaha, Nebraska. It was featured in an art show that displayed work from students in the Omaha area who were studying the Holocaust.
Though her story ends very sadly, Dora’s courage has touched and inspired many. Students around the world have drawn Dora's portrait and reflected on the experience of remembering through art:
“The story of how Dora almost escaped but was caught at the very end showed me just how detailed life can be and there's more to life than how it ends.”
—Jamie
“It was something I've never experienced before. It was really interesting to look at the little girl and try to put myself in her shoes.”
—Demi
“This person made a great effort to continue on with her life, and I also believe that it’s important to remember what she went through. She was a beautiful young girl who tried to push through despite the pain she was facing.”
– Anastasia
Read Dora’s story below and click here to view past Portrait of the Month selections
About the subject
Dora Rivkina was born in Minsk, Belarus in 1924. She was a talented and athletic girl. In 1941, the Nazis invaded Minsk and her family was forced into the ghetto. Two years later, when the Nazis sent all the Jews from the ghetto to concentration camps, Dora escaped and joined a group of partisans who were fighting against the Germans. Her group was captured, and her Jewish identity was betrayed by another member of the partisans. She was brutally murdered by the German soldiers. Honor Dora's courage and bravery by viewing more portraits of her.
About the workshop
This portrait was made at St. Wenceslaus School in partnership with IHENE in Omaha, Nebraska.