For almost two decades, I’ve researched the Holocaust and conducted interviews with Holocaust survivors, as part of my scholarship on the resilient mindset and its application to nurses and healthcare professionals. Among those individuals was Thomas Buergenthal, Holocaust survivor, international judge, human rights advocate, and dear friend. Tom’s life and legacy profoundly influenced both my research and my understanding of resilience. Through his example, I came to appreciate that resilience is not simply an individual capacity to overcome adversity. It is also shaped by whether justice, dignity, and human rights are protected. Most importantly, I learned that justice is a prerequisite for flourishing and that each of us bears responsibility for how we respond to injustice.
As a result of this friendship (and others like it), my research and work has extended into the relationships between resilience, sense of purpose, and moral courage – including the elements of ethics and character. I’ve been blessed to be a part of the Justice for Flourishing Interest Group – a subgroup of the Harvard Human Flourishing Project.
The Justice for Flourishing Interest Group is an international community of scholars, educators, practitioners, and leaders who explore the relationship between justice and human flourishing. Through interdisciplinary dialogue and shared learning, members examine how human dignity, human rights, ethics, character, institutions, and community life contribute to the conditions that allow individuals and societies to flourish.
I am honored to be speaking at the October 13 meeting to share reflections on my friendship with Thomas Buergenthal and to discuss the documentary about his life and work. The film explores Tom’s extraordinary journey from child Holocaust survivor to international judge and human rights advocate while examining the relationship among justice, human rights, resilience, meaning, and flourishing.
Together, we will consider a central question:
What conditions must exist before human flourishing is possible?
Event Details
📅 Tuesday, October 13, 2026
🕓 4:00-5:00 PM Eastern Time
💻 Zoom Meeting
🔗 Join Zoom: Justice for Flourishing Meeting
Participants are encouraged to watch the approximately 42-minute documentary before the meeting. The film, discussion guide, and additional information about Judge Buergenthal are available through the Google Classroom created for this event.
🎬 Film & Resources: Google Classroom Access The classroom includes:
- The Before Flourishing documentary
- Background information about Thomas Buergenthal
- Reflection and discussion questions
- Additional resources related to justice, resilience, and human flourishing Whether your interests lie in human rights, healthcare, education, ethics, leadership, resilience, Holocaust education, or human flourishing, I hope you will consider joining us. Tom’s life reminds us that flourishing does not begin with comfort. It begins with dignity, justice, and our commitment to one another.
I would be delighted to have you join this conversation!
