Varda Yoran

Varda Yoran, born in China to Jewish parents from Russia, was ex-posed to a conglomerate of languages and cultures all her life. She lived in China through the Japanese occupation of China, World War II, the Holo-caust, the communist regime takeover, and the independence and growth of Israel. She has lived in China, Israel, London, and currently lives in the U.S. These experiences impacted her work as a sculptor. Varda translated, polished, and edited "The Defiant," the memoirs that her husband...See more

Varda Yoran, born in China to Jewish parents from Russia, was ex-posed to a conglomerate of languages and cultures all her life. She lived in China through the Japanese occupation of China, World War II, the Holo-caust, the communist regime takeover, and the independence and growth of Israel. She has lived in China, Israel, London, and currently lives in the U.S. These experiences impacted her work as a sculptor. Varda translated, polished, and edited "The Defiant," the memoirs that her husband had written in Polish about his experiences for seven years during the Holocaust. From the age of 17, he fought actively as a partisan against the Nazis in the forests of Eastern Europe. This book was translated into Hebrew, Chinese, and Russian. Shalom worked closely with Al Schwimmer for 22 years and a warm friend-ship developed. The friendship between the Yorans and the Schwimmers continued, even after both Shalom and Al had retired. When Al passed away, Rina asked Varda to write about him using the material and the memories that Rina provided. The book is a tribute to a remarkable person who showed how one person following his dream can change the course of history. See less