Laura is the proud granddaughter of two Holocaust survivors: David and Paula Bakst (Silberfarb). Following in her grandfather’s footsteps, Laura is passionate about Holocaust education; she spent years researching her family history, interviewing survivors, and writing The Shoemaker’s Son—a book documenting her grandparents’ experiences and resistance efforts. She regularly speaks at schools, congregations, and other events regarding her grandparents' stories, and visited Poland in 2024 to learn more about Jewish history in the region on the invitation of the Polish Embassy. Laura’s family history also influenced her decision to pursue a career in law. She holds a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, where she focused on anti-discrimination studies, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

David Bakst. David was born in Ivye, Poland (now Belarus) in 1922. He survived the ghetto, multiple aktions (mass murders), and fought back against the Nazis in the partisans.

Paula Bakst (Silberfarb). Paula was born in Serniki, Poland (now Ukraine) in 1931. She survived the ghetto and an aktion before escaping to the forest where she hid with her mother and siblings until liberation.

The Shoemaker's Son: The Life of a Holocaust Resister