Conversations with Lisa Gold

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Gold

Hi Lisa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My siblings and I have always been extremely close to our grandparents. They were the first people I would go to if I needed advice about social conflicts, education or any life concerns. My grandparents placed a strong emphasis on the importance of family and weaved that value through our Jewish family traditions. I felt a significantly deep connection with them, more so than with anyone else in my life.

Growing up, I was always told that my grandparents were Holocaust survivors, but as a child, I could not comprehend what that meant. It wasn’t until I was 14, when my family and I visited the United States Holocaust Museum, and the docent strongly encouraged my Grandma Sara to share her story with us. This was the first, and only time she opened up to me and it changed my life forever.

When my grandma was 11 years old, Nazis shot her entire extended family in the first pogrom in Koretz, Poland, in 1941, forcing her to flee her town alone. Even at such a young age, she used her instincts to convince a family of farmers to take her in. For four years, she hid her Judaism from that family and community and endured abuse and trauma that stayed with her for life. Hearing what she lived through shook me to my core.

I’ve always felt like the guardian of my family’s trauma, which likely led me to become a psychotherapist. My goal is to transform my family’s sorrows into strength. When the horrific massacres occurred in Israel on October 7th, 2023, I was devastated but not surprised. I had a sense that this was inevitable, as similar events have repeated throughout Jewish history and in my own ancestry. During that difficult time, I drew on the resilience of my grandparents. This helped me channel my pain into intergenerational healing. Through this process, I connected with an incredible organization called Living Links. Living Links is working in partnership with the USC Shoah Foundation to empower descendants of survivors, like me, to ensure that the stories of our families are remembered and passed on for future generations. With the use of over 55,000 video testimonies from Holocaust survivors in the USC Shoah Foundations Visual History Archive, I was able to dive deeper into my grandmother’s story and learn to share it with others through the Living Links Speaker Training Program. This not only forged a deeper bond between her and me, but it also provided me with a richer context to better understand the challenges we face as Jews today.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I find myself calling upon my grandparent’s strength, instinct, and courage now, more than ever. According to data released by the FBI, reported hate crime incidents across the country reached a record high of 11,862 in 2023. Reported single-bias anti-Jewish hate crime incidents rose to 1,832 incidents (63% increase from 2022). Although Jews only make up 2% of the U.S. population, reported single-bias anti-Jewish hate crimes comprised 15% of all hate crimes and 68% of all reported religion-based hate crimes in 2023. (ADL, 2024).

To say the least, life has not been easy for Jews around the world. I know that if I have been seeking the wisdom of my late grandparents, other 3G’s have likely been too. That is why I launched 3GMichigan, a local affiliate group of Living Links that will cultivate a community of descendants and provide a platform for them to share their grandparents’ stories here in our state.

We want to create a family-style group here in Michigan, with social gatherings, learning opportunities, and even family playdates. Through this initiative, we can help ensure that future generations experience the human face of the Holocaust by sharing our family’s story in schools and other educational settings.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Processing my own intergenerational trauma is what lead me to becoming a psychotherapist. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I own a private practice called Live and Grow Counseling. I offer psychotherapy to folks who struggle with trauma, anxiety and depression. I have a specialization in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and I have a passion for working with new parents who have struggled through miscarriages and postpartum mood disorders. When I am with my clients, I don’t feel like I am working. It is an honor and a privilege to sit in my seat and bear witness to the strength my clients show on a weekly basis. As a social worker, I also advocate for social justice—a concept that is deeply rooted in Judaism. Creating 3GMichigan is the perfect bridge to not only honor my grandparents, but also to deeply connect to my religion and help make our world a safer place.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
History repeats itself. When learning about my grandparent’s stories as a child, I always wondered what I would do if I were in their shoes. Unfortunately, over 80 years later, I am watching history repeat itself. But today, I am not sitting back. With the rise of antisemitism and discrimination against many groups, the goal of our work in 3GMichigan is to make a meaningful impact in Michigan and beyond.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lisagoldlmsw.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/3gmichigan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565013042399
• Other: https://www.wearelivinglinks.org/community