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December 2019 Newsletter

Scenes from our Grand Opening Event!

Ribbon-cutting Ceremony with Janet G. Cohen and Board Chairman Steve Strome (center) doing the honors. They are surrounded by Holocaust Survivors, Museum Founders and Chamber of Commerce President Michael Dalby.

Museum President & CEO Susan Suarez addressing Major Donors attending special pre-Grand Opening "thank you" event and tour.

View under the tent during Grand Opening event. Many other guests were standing around the tent in the parking lot and alongside the Boxcar Exhibit and on the sidewalk.

Following the ceremony, guests lined up to tour the new Museum and speak with Survivors.

Steve and Perri (lower left) and Linda Mayer attended on behalf of the late Lorie Mayer, Founding Curator.

The Naples Klezmer Band provided lively musical entertainment following the ceremony.

Message from President & CEO Susan Suarez ... Many thanks to all who participated in our Grand Opening! A crowd of close to 1,000 people of all ages were on hand to witness Janet G. Cohen cut the ribbon to officially open the new Museum. As you know, the new building is named in honor of Janet and her late husband, Harvey D. Cohen. Distinguished guests participating in the opening ceremony included local and state officials, clergy, as well as Holocaust Survivors and their families. We were also pleased to have teacher Michelle Lee with us. Michelle and fellow Golden Gate Middle School teacher David Bell and their 7th grade class created the "Out of the Ashes" Holocaust project which inspired the founding of our Museum in 2001. Attendance at the new Museum continues to grow. In addition to members of the public, we are hosting many school groups and private group tours as well! The Boxcar Exhibit, which formerly traveled across SWFL, is now on display in front of the Museum. This is attracting quite a bit of visitor traffic, as are the newly placed signs on both northbound and southbound sides of 41 near the Imperial Shopping Center light to indicate the Museum's new location! Please note - the Museum's domain name has been shortened to "HMCEC.org", so our website address is now " www.HMCEC.org " and our e-mails will end with "@HMCEC.org". Should you happen to use the old addresses, don't worry - they will be automatically redirected to the new name. Our current temporary exhibit in The Estelle and Stuart Price Gallery is titled The Holodomor . On display through December 17th, The Holodomor highlights the little-known genocide which happened on the eve of World War II in Soviet Ukraine. In 1932-1933, millions of ethnic Ukrainians and other residents died during the man-made famine ordered by Josef Stalin. See "Current Temporary Exhibit" section below for additional details. The special year-long "Butterflies of Hope and Remembrance" program has begun. Created to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of concentration camps and the end of World War II, the program is co-sponsored by a number of SWFL organizations. Butterflies are seen as symbols of rebirth, and the theme of hope and remembrance has a special resonance with regard to the Holocaust. As part of our Education program activities, students will be decorating butterfly cutouts for display in our classroom and at the other venues hosting the special events scheduled this year. With 2019 winding down, people are planning their charitable donations before year-end. I hope you will consider a gift to the Museum. There are many ways to support to the Museum. One example is through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA if you are 70 1/2 year of age and older. Please consult your Financial Advisor for more information on this. For other options available to support the Museum, please contact me at Susan@HMCEC.org or call 239-263-9200.  Wishing you and your families a happy and safe holiday season. We thank you for your support as the Museum enters a new chapter, and hope to see you soon! Susan Suarez President & CEO

Save the Dates for These Special Museum Events: Please mark your calendars and join us for the special events shown below. More information is available on our website: Thursday, December 12, 2019 11:30am -1:30pm The Luncheon with Music of Hope and Remembrance at the Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort, Naples 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, FL 34108 Join us for the premier early winter event in Naples. The talented Voices of Naples choral group will perform a selection of songs inspired by the 1944 performance of Verdi's opera Requiem by prisoners at Theresienstadt Concentration Camp. For more information on tickets and Patron and Sponsorship opportunities, please click here . Monday, March 2, 2020 5:00pm - 6:00pm Patron Reception 6:00pm - 8:00pm Dinner and Program Triumph 2020 at Grey Oaks Country Club 2400 Grey Oaks Drive North, Naples, FL 34105 Our annual fundraiser benefits the Museum's Education programs. This year's special guest is Holocaust Survivor and well-known personality Dr. Ruth Westheimer . As a child, Dr. Ruth's parents sent her to safety on a Kindertransport. Join us to learn more about her remarkable life. Invitations for Triumph 2020 will be available in January. Please note Patron and Sponsorship opportunities will be available for this event. For more information on the new Museum and its upcoming programs, as well as the variety of opportunities available to support our mission, please contact me at 239-263-9200 or e-mail Susan@HMCEC.org .

Upcoming Events of Interest ... January 2 - March 30 New Temporary Exhibit opens in The Estelle and Stuart Price Gallery: Art & Propaganda In Nazi Occupied Holland; presented in conjunction with the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect in New York City The exhibit will feature examples of Dutch resistance art and official propaganda selected from the collections archives of the Anne Frank Center in New York ( www.annefrank.com .) Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020 - Screening of “The Boys of Terezin,” with musical performance and special guest. Temple Shalom, 4630 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, 34119 at 2 pm. Free and open to the public - RSVP required to HMCEC.org. “The Boys of Terezin” shows how five Holocaust Survivors, a boys choir and a chamber music group unite to tell the story of the creation of Vedem - the secret weekly concentration camp journal created by teenage boys imprisoned in Terezin. After the screening, a selection of music featured in the film will be performed, and a very special guest is scheduled to appear. This program is free and open to the public. Monday, Jan. 27, 2020 - International Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration Screening of “Defiant Requiem" at the Museum in the Maureen and Arnold Lerner Classroom at 2 pm. Free and open to the public. RSVP required to HMCEC.org. “Defiant Requiem” chronicles a trip by modern American conductor Murry Sidlin and a chorus to the site of the June, 1944 performance of Verdi’s Requiem . Performed by the prisoners of the Theresienstadt (Terezin) concentration camp for their captors and inspectors from the International Red Cross it was part of the propaganda effort meant to show how well the Germans treated their prisoners. Czech conductor Rafael Schachter taught his fellow prisoners in the camp to perform Requiem in Latin. For many including Schachter, it their last performance before being sent to their deaths in Auschwitz. In this documentary Sidlin and his chorus recreate the Schachter performance highlighting this story of the courage and resilience of the human spirit. This program is free and open to the public. Tuesday, February 11, 2020 - Memorial de la Shoah Archival Team Visit - by appointment only for Holocaust Survivors and their families. Archivists will be here to scan family documents and photographs related to pre-war life and the Holocaust.The scanned images will become a part of the permanent archival collection in Paris, accessible onsite and/or online, according to the wishes of those who permit the items to be scanned. Please contact Susan Suarez for available appointments - Susan@HMCEC.org .

Education News ... Upcoming Teacher Workshop ... "Holodomor in the Ukraine" - A Teacher’s Workshop When :   Sunday, December 15th Time : 10:00am - 1:00pm Where : Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center 975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Suite 108, Naples, FL 34110 Who : Teachers in Collier, Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, Lee, and southern Sarasota from public, private, religious, or home-schools. Teachers with connections to art, social studies, history, family/consumer sciences, language arts, and more! Agenda : Museum Tour;                 Tour of "The Holodomor" exhibit;                 Screening of short documentary Holodomor, Stalin’s Secret Genocide;                  Learn about lesson plans, class projects, assignments, worksheets and rubrics; participate in examples of activities which can easily be replicated in your classroom.         There is no charge to attend this workshop, and lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Director of Operations/Education Specialist Sam Parish at Sam@HMCEC.org. The Museum is a Designated Site of the Florida Department of Education Commissioner's Task Force on Holocaust Education. During the 2019-2020 school year we will hold Teacher Education workshops, exhibit previews, lectures and more to help teachers fulfill the state mandate to teach about the Holocaust. Thanks to a generous Legacy gift, the Museum's Merrill Kuller Teacher Education Series is offered free of charge to area teachers. To be notified of upcoming workshops, please email your contact info to Sam@HMCEC.org .

New Course Catalog Available ... A new and updated Museum Education Programs Course Catalog was mailed this Summer to all the SWFL teachers currently on our contact list. This includes information on our popular "5-8 + Program, which we have renamed this year because we do so much more than just 5 th and 8 th grades (6&7 th grades, colleges, etc)  . If you or another active teacher you know would like a catalog, please contact Sam Parish, Director of Operations/Education Specialist at 239-263-9200 or Sam@HMCEC.org . Public, private, charter, alternative and home schools groups are welcome to inquire about scheduling a program for their students. You have the option of coming to the Museum or hosting Museum Educators at your location. Programs are offered for students in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry, Glades and Sarasota counties.

Schedule your School Trip Today ... Our calendar is filling up both with Museum Educator trips to schools as well as Field Trips to the Museum. If you are interested in participating in one of our Education programs, please contact Director of Operations/Education Specialist Sam Parish at Sam@HMCEC.org . As noted above, we have a variety of age-appropriate programs available.

Holocaust Survivor Ben Alalouf sharing his story with students from St. Elizabeth Seton School

Student group from St. Elizabeth Seton School in Naples toured the Museum.

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Host a "Pop-Up" Museum! ...

Interested in hosting a "Pop-Up" Museum for your students or organization? If you can't easily get to the Museum, we can bring the Museum to you! An orientation session is provided so you will have the necessary information to host your exhibit. You will receive Holocaust overview Museum panels, easels, a sampling of artifacts, documents and the history behind them. These items can be tailored to your lesson plans or interests. Installation and de-installation is done by Museum Staff. Please contact Sam Parish at 239-263-9200 or Sam@HMCEC.org to schedule. Pop-up Museum Program Sponsorships are also available. For more information please contact Susan Suarez, President and CEO of the Museum, at Susan@HMCEC.org or 239-263-9200.

Boxcar News ...

The Boxcar Exhibit is now parked in front of the new Museum. As you can see from the photos below, it is attracting attention. Quite often people will park and walk up to have a closer look at it. The Boxcar is on loan to the Museum from Jack and F.E. Nortman and The Boxcar Foundation.

Current Temporary Exhibit ... The Holodomor September through December 17, 2019 The Ukrainian word "holodomor" translates to "death by starvation." The Holodomor exhibit provides an overview of the genocide created by Josef Stalin in 1932-1933 in the Ukraine. Millions died as a result of the artificial famine his draconian agricultural quotas created. Traditionally known as "the breadbasket of Europe", the Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union and as such its farming villages were expected to meet strict quotas on grain contributions to the Soviet state. Stalin was annoyed at the resistance coming from Ukrainian farmers who were reluctant to cede control over their crop yields from farms which had been in their families for generations. In addition to steadily increasing their quotas, Stalin also ordered that seed stocks used for the following year's plantings be confiscated. Fines were imposed for not meeting quotas, and he instructed that payment was to be made in the form of foodstuffs. Local authorities were empowered to raid farms and seize what they could to satisfy the fines, leaving families with little or nothing to eat. The exhibit is presented in partnership with the Ukrainian Women's League of North America SWFL Chapter, and developed with assistance from the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies' Holodomor Research and Education Consortium. 

Painting by Luba Drahosz

Special Guests at the New Museum .. . Earlier this Fall, the Museum hosted two special guests - Daniella Tobias from Germany and the Rev. John Rutsindintwarane from Rwanda. Ms. Tobias is the Director of the new Stolpersteine Memorial Site in Solingen, Germany. She gave a presentation about the Stolpersteine (“Stumbling Stone”) Memorial project These are brass pavement markers being placed in the sidewalk outside the former homes of Nazi victims. The stones are part of a large commemorative project created by artist Gunter Demning honoring the memory of victims of Nazi persecution. The markers are placed outside victims' former residences, and lists their names, dates of occupancy, and dates and locations of where they were murdered. The Memorial Site in Solingen is housed in the former publishing house of the Bergische Arbeiterstimme (“Worker's Voice”). Its publisher, Max Leven, lived and worked in the building. Because of his work and political affiliation, Max had been imprisoned in one of the first concentration camps installed in 1933, which held and tortured communists, socialists and union workers. Solingen was long known as a “red” town, and many of its citizens were persecuted by the Nazis. Daniella also discussed the recent trends among the older German Holocaust museum and memorial organizations to update their exhibits and education programs using new technology and exhibit methods.

Daniella Tobias

A Stolpersteine in local street

Bishop John Rutsindintwarane visited the Museum with Museum supporter Howard Isaacson. Rev. John is CEO of PICO Rwanda, an organization that works in Rwanda to improve communities. He has worked with refugees from the Rwandan genocide, and is himself the child of refugees from that conflict. He discussed how an agreement was finally reached between the two enemies of the conflict - the Hutus and the Tutsis - to move forward so that life could go on after the horrible genocide occurred.

Book A Private Museum Tour for Your Group ...

Group Tour from Shell Point in Ft.Myers with Museum Docent Derek Chorlton

Members of the VFW of Lee County with Museum Docent Gil Rashbaum and Sam Parish

We would love to host your group of 12 or more at our amazing new Museum! The Group Tour calendar is already filling up, so don't delay in making your reservation! Group tours are scheduled in the mornings, before the Museum opens to the public in the afternoon. This allows your group time to look around. Depending on your schedule, you have a number of options in addition to the basic Docent-led Tour. You can add a meal - either light breakfast or light lunch. You can also meet with a Holocaust Survivor who will share the story of their family's experiences during the Holocaust. We work with you to provide your group with a memorable experience they will talk about long after your visit concludes. For more details about scheduling a visit at the new Museum and our special "Summer Tour" rates, please contact Education Assistant David Nelson at 239-263-9200 or David@HMCEC.org .

8th Annual Elliott Katz Lecture Series ... The popular Elliott Katz Lecture Series returns for its 8th year in 2020! Hodges University will again host the series in the White Community Room on its Naples campus. Click here to purchase single lecture tickets now . Location (same as last year): Hodges University Naples Campus, White Community Room 2647 Professional Circle, Naples, FL 34119 Time : 10:00am - 12:00pm Dates/Topics:  Thursday, January 9, 2020 "Hooray for Hollywood and Sieg Heil" Thursday, January 23, 2020 "Executive Order 9066. America's Shame. FDR's Legacy" Thursday, February 6, 2020 "All the News Unfit to Print" Thursday, February 20, 2020 "The Other Triangles: The Pink, the Purple and the Brown" Thursday, March 5, 2020 "The Germans Who Protested and Died; The Women of Valor" Thursday, March 19,2020 "Righteous Among the Nations" Don't delay - click here to purchase your tickets today!

GenShoah SWFL is a group for children of Holocaust Survivors and anyone interested in the mission of GenShoah of SWFL: promotion of Holocaust education and human rights, preservation of history and memories of the Holocaust, and the connection of the Second Generation with one another and support of The Holocaust Museum & Education Center.

The GenShoah program lineup for the 2019-2020 Season is now available. Click here to see the complete 2019-2020 program schedule. We invite you to join us for an exciting season of programming, including very special programs to mark the 75th Anniversary of the end of WWII and the liberation of the concentration camps. Friday, January 10: Film “Not the Last Butterfly” South Regional Library at 2pm with accompanying art exhibit. 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway, Naples, 34119. RSVP to CollierLibrary.org/events . Wednesday, January 15: Discussion of Alyson Richman’s historical novel “The Lost Wife.” South Regional Library at 2pm. RSVP to at CollierLibrary.org/events . Sunday, January 26: Film Screening of “Boys of Terezin,” with a music performance and special guest appearance following the screening; Temple Shalom, 4630 Pine Ridge Road, Naples,FL 34113 at 2 pm. RSVP at HMCEC.org . Monday, January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day- Film Screening of “Defiant Requiem” Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center, 975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd, Suite 108, Naples. Time TBA. RSVP at HMCEC.org . Wednesday, March 18, Film, “Footsteps of My Father,” followed by presentation by Perry Switzen about his father, a Liberator, and Honoring Liberators, Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center. 6:30 pm. RSVP at HMCEC.org . We invite you to sign up to receive our monthly GenShoah SWFL newsletter with the latest news and events. Send an e-mail with your name and e-mail address to GenShoahSWFL@gmail.com , and we will add you to our mailing list.

Volunteer Spotlight ... We couldn't carry out our mission without the help of our dedicated corps of Volunteers. They come from a variety of interesting backgrounds yet have a singular dedication to that mission - to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire action against bigotry, hatred and violence. We asked our Wednesday afternoon " Guest Relations Volunteer" team to share why they decided to volunteer with the Museum and to tell us a little about themselves:

L-R: Volunteers Jerry Bogo and Andy Karpman

Volunteer Debra Silow

Jerry Bogo "I have always been quite proud that here in Naples we have a Holocaust Museum. When my wife, Rosalee, became a board member of the Museum, I began to learn so much more of the incredible far reaching work it does here in our community, especially with educating the young students about bullying and bigotry. So, another period has been added to my life. Now I am a Guest Relations Volunteer. I learn more about the Holocaust and history of our Jewish people each Wednesday when I am there assisting at the front desk. I look forward to welcoming you to the Museum so you might do the same. A little about me… I served in the U.S. Navy before starting on my career path which led me to Chattanooga. There, we established a diamond importing and jewelry manufacturing business, and then after 30 years sold the business and retired. The best was yet to come. Naples was the perfect place for someone whose love of golf is as strong as mine. It is a wonderful sport which even at my age of 85, each game brings me pleasure." Andy Karpman "After working in high tech sales for over 30 years, I was determined to do volunteer activities that actually meant something. That is something I’ve found at the Museum. Being able to be of assistance to our guests is important to me, and very enjoyable. A little about me… I was born in Bronx, NY, raised in Connecticut. After college in Boston, and then the Army, I lived in Israel for 7 years. My (Australian) wife, two daughters and I lived in New Hampshire for 30+ years before moving to Naples almost 6 years ago." Debra Silow "I was not aware of a Museum until my amazing neighbor, Millie, who was a docent at the time, invited me to attend her tour. The very next day I started my volunteer training to become a receptionist, now known as Guest Relations. I am so glad I made that decision. The Museum is very special to me. Every Wednesday for eight years I have looked forward to staffing the front desk at The Holocaust Museum. I feel it is so important to welcome our guests and have them aware of the Museum's mission. I believe it is also necessary that the horrors and atrocities of the Holocaust are never forgotten. I hope in some small way, my volunteering can contribute to that happening for future generations. Whenever I walk through the front doors I am aware of why we must always remember and never forget! A little about me… I was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, and attended both undergraduate and graduate school at The University of Miami. I enjoyed a very successful and rewarding career in education, health care and business. After living in Philadelphia for many years, my husband Michael made a very wise decision and we relocated to Naples in 2005."

Kriszhaber Grave Marker "Go Fund Me" Campaign Success!

Thank you to all those who contributed to the "Go Fund Me" campaign for the Kurt Krizhaber memorial stone. Because of your support, the financial goal has been met, and Kurt will now be properly honored! Education Assistant David Nelson has been in touch with the Australian authorities regarding the next steps for payment of fees for the creation and placement of the stone. We will keep you posted as to its progress. If you aren't aware of Kurt's story, please click here to find out more about him.

https://www.gofundme.com/kurt-kriszhaber-memorial

Around the Museum ... Part-time Position Available at the Museum ... The Museum is looking to fill a newly-created part-time Administrative Assistant position. The schedule is 15 hours/week and salary is commensurate with experience. Please click here for details. Former Museum Volunteer Sid Kleiner Has Passed Away... We recently received word that former Museum Volunteer Sid Kleiner passed away this summer. Sid was a great help in the early days of the Museum. He also worked with the Oral Visual History Project, processing the videos of the testimonies. Click here to read his obituary. We send our condolences to his wife Trudy and family. He will be missed. New Street Signage ... To mark our new location, the Florida Department of Transportation has placed large brown "Holocaust Museum" street signs to our north and south on U.S. 41 to help people locate the new Museum from whichever direction they are traveling. We thank them for doing so before season gets underway! Just a reminder, our new address is 975 Imperial Golf course Blvd., Suite 108, Naples, Fl 34110.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you and your families safe and happy holidays, and a healthy and prosperous New Year!

The Holocaust Museum & Janet G. and Harvey D.Cohen Education Center 975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Suite 108, Naples, FL 34110 239-263-9200 Info@HMCEC.org www.HMCEC.org