By Sandra Scheller
POWAY, California — Saturday evening’s showing of The Stamp Thief played to a packed house filled with congregants, stamp collectors, and those eager to uncover the truth in history. The screening was met with nothing less than a warm and heartfelt reception.
As I watched the audience, I noticed that no one moved—everyone was completely captivated. The film evoked every emotion imaginable: sadness, anticipation, and yes, even laughter—something rarely experienced when viewing stories connected to the Holocaust.
Following the screening, a thought-provoking Q&A session took place. The Stamp Thief follows a powerful journey to locate rare stamps stolen by the Nazis, hidden away for decades, and rumored to lie somewhere in a basement in Poland.
The evening was both moving and memorable—an experience that connected history, hope, and humanity in a deeply meaningful way.
The Stamp Thief will be touring various film festivals, and just as Temple Adat Shalom hosted a special showing, others can do the same by contacting the filmmakers at thestampthief.com . The project, created by Dan Sturman and Gary Gilbert, began with a simple “Did you know that?” moment—and evolved into a remarkable quest to uncover rare, stolen stamps and the stories they carry.
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Sandy Scheller is curator of the Remember Us The Holocaust exhibit currently at the La Jolla branch of the San Diego Public Library.