The Zekelman Holocaust Center

Thank you to our friends at Premier Creative Group for helping us create a beautiful experience for our guests at the 40th Anniversary Benefit earlier this month.

We are thrilled to share this news! Jamie Wise and Dr. Katie Chaka Parks, our incredible Education team members, helped The HC achieve this significant milestone. #HolocaustEducation #PublicSafety

Our short film, "What Can I Do? Holocaust Education That Inspires Action," is a poignant reminder of the tremendous impact your support has on Michigan's students, educators, business leaders, and community members. In addition, the film showcases many ways to make positive changes in your everyday life. From continuing to share the stories of Holocaust survivors to standing against hatred and antisemitism when it arises, we can make the world a better place by coming together. We hope this short film empowers you to ask, "What can I do?" The Zekelman Holocaust Center's important work would not be possible without you! Charles Son | Todd Sachse | Sachse Construction | Daniel Baum | Richard Brodsky | Jones Day | Samuel Molnar | Irene Miller | Katie Chaka Parks, Ph.D. | #HolocaustEducation #Nonprofit #WhatCanIDo

It was a profound honor to have Paul N. Whelan with us at The Zekelman Holocaust Center’s recent Benefit. His story—and the courage it reveals—stands as a powerful reminder of the impact Holocaust education can have on every human life. Paul wrote to us upon his return to the U.S., reflecting on his time in detention and how he drew strength from Holocaust survivors, saying, "While I was in the hands of the FSB, I thought about the survivors of the Shoah and used their memories to survive my wrongful detention... Even the labor camp I was in could never be compared with the German camps, but the concept was certainly the same. I thought about the museum... I have been through the museum many times with friends and relatives as they visit, reading and learning, but I never thought that education would ensure my survival." ? Paul’s resilience—how he maintained his personhood, hope, and values even in the most trying circumstances—moved all of us deeply. His letter serves as a powerful example of Victor Frankl’s belief that “human beings are greater than the things we endure.” Honoring Paul’s humanity was a highlight of the evening, earning a standing ovation and a place in our memories as one of the night’s most moving moments. ? Occasions like this, and even more so our daily work welcoming visitors to the museum, remind me of my own good fortune to lead The HC. Every day, we see firsthand the profound and lasting impact Holocaust education can have on the lives of those who visit, bringing our community together in resilience, empathy, and understanding. Thank you, Paul, for sharing your journey with us and for reinforcing the vital importance of our mission. ?

We look forward to welcoming guests this Sunday for our 40th Anniversary Benefit, which will honor Marcie and Rob Orley and feature Mitch Albom as our Keynote Speaker. This is a night to celebrate accomplishments of the past year, reconnect with close friends and community members, honor those who help us educate thousands of Michiganders, and look ahead to the future of The HC. #Philanthropy #HolocaustEducation #Michiganders #AnnualBenefit

Thank you to our friends at the Michigan Museums Association for hosting an incredible conference! We can't wait to hear about the new resources, knowledge, and experiences our staff members gained. #MichiganMuseums #HolocaustEducation

Thank you, Patience, for sharing your experience at this year's Michigan Museums Association conference on Navigating Changing Landscapes. We are proud to support professional development opportunities for The HC's staff to hone their craft and network with our friends in the museum space. #HolocaustEducation #Museums #ProfessionalDevelopment

We were saddened to learn of the death of Professor Yehuda Bauer, a pioneer and giant in the field of Holocaust education. A remarkable historian and prolific author, he influenced the way Holocaust education is taught today, elevating the use of oral testimony as evidence, and championing even the unlikeliest acts of resistance - from sharing a morsel of bread with another to maintaining cultural traditions against all odds. ? Beyond those contributions, he illuminated the connection between the past and the present, reminding us to fight modern-day manifestations of antisemitism that are rampant today - from Holocaust denial to stereotypes about the collective power of Jews to denying the Jewish state the right to self-determination. ? Antisemitism, Bauer taught, “is an irrational response to rational challenges.” We are now living in a perilous time, and Bauer’s words continue to reverberate. May they also inspire us to strengthen the fabric of our society and use our abilities to serve others. Together, we must all recognize and combat antisemitism wherever it appears. ? May his memory be a blessing. Photo courtesy of Stephan R?hl?

Today marks one year since the devastating attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which claimed the lives of 1,195 people, including Holocaust survivors. We continue to mourn these victims and pray for the safe return of those taken hostage. This brutal act of antisemitism has painfully reminded us of the long history and continuation of hatred against the Jewish people.? ? We renew our promise to educate about the dangers of antisemitism and its horrific consequences. Our goal always is to foster a compassionate society where people take responsibility for one another.

As #BannedBooksWeek wraps up, we wanted to share some of the most well-known books about the Holocaust, the experiences of survivors, and Jewish stories. From first-hand documentation like The Diary of Anne Frank to illustrated depictions like Maus, fiction and nonfiction literature are common entry points for readers to explore and develop an interest in Holocaust history. As part of our commitment to #HolocaustEducation, we are proud to have the following banned or challenged books in our Doris and Eric Billes Museum Shop: ?? Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank? ?? The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen ?? Number the Stars by Lois Lowry ?? Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi ?? Night by Elie Wiesel ?? Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl ?? Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman ?? Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation by Ari Folman (Adaptor) and David Polonsky (Illustrator)