The Suitcase
Tim Lorsch's
Tim Lorsch is the first born son of Jews who fled from Nazi Germany in the late 1930's. In the early part of the 20th Century, before the Holocaust, Germany was one of the safest places in the world for Jews. Tim's relatives lived in the same environment that produced Sigmund Freud, Gustav Mahler, Albert Einstein - at one point, Germany was a golden paradise for Jewish people. In less than a decade, that all ended.
In 2016, a suitcase was found in a little antique store in the Czech Republic. The suitcase had the name "Julius Israel Lorsch" inscribed inside, along with a transport number. Julius was Tim's great- uncle who took the suitcase to the Nazi concentration camps. The Suitcase was miraculosy returned to Tim.
This project serves to tell the story of Tim's family story through music. It reflects the hopes, dreams, resilience and vulnerability of the immigrant experience - It's a story of refugees and community; a story of survival. The suitcase is a one man seventy minute show that blends the narrative storytelling with music and archival video. The accompanying photographs/videos contain material from the United States Holocaust Museum, The Shoah Foundation and family albums. The Suitcase has been performed at synagogues, churches, schools, libraries, community centers, colleges, museums and theaters. The music is all original and performed live using looping technology to weave layered story through classical string instruments.
"One measure of a true work of art is its power to change a person.
The Suitcase transforms people. It is timely, wise, and beautiful."
~ Bob Raines, Ph.D. ; Honors Program Coordinator, Jackson State Community College
TESTIMONIALS
“A home run!”
~Jeffrey Jamner, Creative Consultant for Art and Ideas Jewish Federation of Louisville
"I have heard hundreds of survivor stories - this is one you don't want to miss. It is an amazing, moving, and meaningful story. The same can be said for the music and the technology that makes it all possible. A must see."
~James Schuster, retired teacher, Chicago, IL
"The show is incredibly moving, We had a full house in January and had rave reviews from everyone who attended."
~Mary Pat Higgins, President, CEO, Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
"Beautifully creative, softly piercing, honoring others, challenging assumptions, heart-filled."
~Ray O'Connor, school bus driver, SF, CA
"Admiration for the scope of your vision, gripped by the stories....stunned."
~Jim Prendergast, Mill Pond Music Studio, Portsmouth, NH
"It was simply outstanding. I could not give it a higher recommendation"
~Howard L. Rosenthal, Associate Director, The Jewish Federation of Fort Worth & Tarrant County
"What a wonder: A moving, poignant, and sublime gift of story and music. Mercy.”
~Larry Thomas, Issaquah, Washington, retired Lutheran pastor, author, "Lily Packed A Face Mask: Pastoral Letters During a Pandemic”
“One of the most extraordinary things I've ever witnessed.”
~Robert Jay Ross, New York, NY, Strategic Advisor, World Outside My Shoes
“A stunning and unique experience for the audience that is not only educational and inspiring but unforgettable as well!”
~Mark Thomas, Music Minister, Faith Baptist Church, Madison, TN
“What a fantastic program yesterday at Makom. I think the evidence of 35 5-6 grade students sitting still for 70 minutes is testimony that your program was so well received. Our congregants were also captivated by your presentation.“
~Vanessa Ehrlich, Director of Lifelong Learning, Makom Solel Lakeside, Highland Park, IL
“The audience was captivated. We knew it was going to be a musical evening, but I saw rows and rows of people amazed at the confluence of melodic string instruments and generations of family photos.”
~Shira Muroff, Director of Programs, Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life
“Your violin is pure heart, soul and empathy.”
~Stuart Elovitz, McAllen, TX
“It was the most unique, most respectful experience I had ever seen regarding the Holocaust."
~Barbara Schulman-Spent the war hidden in a Catholic orphanage in Belgium
Upcoming Live Performances
SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 ELGIN, IL GAIL BORDEN MAIN LIBRARY, 6:30 PM
OCTOBER 29, 2023 FARMINGTON HILLS, MI ZEKELMAN HOLOCAUST CENTER
Past Live Performances
APRIL 17, 2023 MISHAWAKA, IN PENN HIGH SCHOOL, 10:00 AM
APRIL 16, 2023 MUNSTER, IN JEWISH FEDERATION, 1:00 PM
MARCH 26, 2023 MASON, TX FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 2:00 PM STUDENTS; 5:00 PM GENERAL PUBLIC
MARCH 12, 2023 MADISON, TN FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH; 5:00 PM, FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
MARCH 9, 2023 NASHVILLE, TN GORDON JCC,12:15 PM, TGIT
DECEMBER 11, 2022 MASON, TX PRIVATE PERFORMANCE
DECEMBER 8, 2022 LOUISVILLE, KY TRAGER FAMILY JCC
NOVEMBER 9, 2022 SKOKIE, IL ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM AND EDUCATION CENTER, 6:30 PM
NOVEMBER 6, 2022 HIGHLAND PARK, IL MAKOM SOLEL LAKESIDE, 10:00 AM
SEPTEMBER 10, 2022 CALUMET, MI THE CALUMET THEATER, 7:30 PM
JUNE 2, 2022 NASHVILLE, TN PRIVATE PERFORMANCE
MAY 9, 2022 DYERSBURG, TN DYERSBURG MIDDLE SCHOOL
APRIL 30, 2022 HATTIESBURG, MS TEMPLE B’NAI ISRAEL, 7 PM
APRIL 29, 2022 JACKSON, MS BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION, 6:15 PM
APRIL 27, 2022 COLLEYVILLE, TX CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL, 7 PM
FEBRUARY 23, 2020 NASHVILLE, TN MAIN LIBRARY
FEBRUARY 26, 2020 NASHVILLE, TN BLAIR SCHOOL OF MUSIC, VANDERBILT, TURNER HALL
JANUARY 30, 2020 DALLAS, TX, DALLAS HOLOCAUST AND HUMAN RIGHTS MUSEUM
JANUARY 26, 2020 DOTHAN, AL RUTH REMNANT MINISTRIES, THE DEPOT OFF MAIN
JANUARY 18. 2020 NASHVILLE TN, DOUGLAS CORNER CAFE
JANUARY 16, 2020 CLEVELAND, TN, LAKE FOREST MIDDLE SCHOOL
OCTOBER 19, 2019 DOUGLAS CORNER CAFE, NASHVILLE TN
AUGUST 15, 2019 GORDON JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, NASHVILLE, TN
AUGUST 10, 2019 DOUGLAS CORNER CAFE, NASHVILLE TN,
MAY 23, 2019 MCALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY, MCALLEN, TX
MAY 8, 2109 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
MAY 7, 2019 HOUSE CONCERT, AUSTIN, TX
MAY 6, 2019 EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH, ALEXANDRIA, LA
APRIL 28, 2019 ARNSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, KNOXVILLE, TN
JANUARY 29, 2019 AKIVA SCHOOL, NASHVILLE, TN
DECEMBER 9, 2018 MEMPHIS JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY, MEMPHIS, TN
NOVEMBER 7, 2018 LIMOR CONFERENCE, NASHVILLE, TN
NOVEMBER 1, 2018 JACKSON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, JACKSON, TN
OCTOBER 28, 2018 FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH, MADISON, TN