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The Holocaust Museum & Janet G. and Harvey D. Cohen Education Center
975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Suite 108, Naples, FL 34110
Info@HMCEC.org 239-263-9200 www.HMCEC.org
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Students from Good Shepard Lutheran School in front of the
famous quote by Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemoller in Gallery 2
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Message from Susan Suarez, President and CEO ...
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I hope you and your families are well. As Southwest Florida continues to recover from Hurricane Ian, our hearts are with those suffering from its aftermath. We are so grateful to all the first responders and emergency repair personnel from multiple states who are helping us recover from the storm. Most heartening is to see the many acts of kindness - neighbors helping neighbors, strangers helping strangers before, during and after the hurricane. Thank you to everyone helping SWFL communities recover and stay #SWFLSTRONG!
We have a lot of news to cover this month ...
$30,000 Grant Received from Collier Community Foundation ...
We are honored to announce we have received a $30,000 grant from the Collier Community Foundation. The grant is in support of our FY23 Student and Teacher Programs project. Please click here to read the Press Release.
Construction Kick-off Celebration ...
Following our November Board of Directors Meeting, we had a "construction kick-off celebration" with Board Members and teams from PBS Contractors and David Corban Architect. Following a brief toast and some delicious celebration cake, we viewed the huge new space created by demolishing the interiors of three adjoining suites. See below for some photos of the start of this very exciting next phase of the Museum. Naming Opportunities are still available - please contact me for more information - Susan@HMCEC.org or 239-263-9200.
Upcoming November Events ...
Tuesday, November 29 - Join us on for the next David Nelson lecture on "Stories of the Holocaust" highlighting the remarkable life of little-known Holocaust hero, Bill Spira. Originally from Austria, Spira was a cartoonist who forged passports for the Emergency Rescue Committee during the Holocaust. Tickets are $10 and advance reservations are required. Please click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, November 30 - The Museum is sponsoring a Zoom Author Event as part of the 2022-2023 Greater Naples Jewish Book Festival. Daniel Grunfeld will discuss his nonfiction book, By The Grace of the Game. He looks at the role basketball played in helping his Jewish refugee family adjust to life in the U.S. after surviving the Holocaust and then having to flee communist Romania. Household tickets for this Zoom event are $18. Click here to purchase tickets.
The Luncheon Event - Wednesday, December 7 ...
Tickets and Sponsorship Packages are now available for The Luncheon. Our annual winter fundraising event takes place on December 7 at an exclusive Private club in Naples. We hope you'll join us for this special program - complete information is included below. Click here and then click on the ticket or Sponsorship you wish to purchase.
"Movies That Matter" ...
We recently held two of the three 2022 "Movies That Matter - Steve Brazina Memorial Film Series" events. Read below for a recap of "The Best of Enemies" and "Redlining" events. "APART," the third film in the series. which was postponed because of Hurricane Ian, has now been rescheduled for February 15, 2023.
Baker Museum Partnership ...
This Fall, we were honored to work with The Baker Museum at Artis—Naples on programming related to their new exhibit, Envisioning Evil: “The Nazi Drawings” by Mauricio Lasansky. The powerful emotions conveyed in “The Nazi Drawings” represent Lasansky's attempts to deal with the horrors of the Holocaust as the world was watching the Eichmann Trial unfold. We sponsored one of the special lectures associated with the exhibit, “Afterlives of Trauma: Post-Holocaust Art, Writing, and Memory.” Presented by Laura S. Levitt, Ph.D., the lecture explored the continuing impact of the Holocaust on artists, writers, objects and memory. We were very pleased that Dr. Levitt specifically made time to visit our Museum before returning home to Philadelphia. Below you will find photos of the Artis—Naples Fall Preview Reception at the Baker Museum and Dr. Leavitt's visit to the Museum.
Ken Burns Event with WGCU Public Media ...
The Museum and WGCU Public Media co-sponsored the sold-out "An Evening With Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein" at the Hilton-Naples. Mr. Burns and Ms. Botstein joined us via Zoom to discuss their new documentary, "The U.S and the Holocaust," which they co-produced with Lynn Novick. This six-hour documentary aired nationally on PBS over three nights. Read below for more on this event.
Volunteer Welcome Back ...
Our Volunteer Appreciation event on November 7 at the Museum was well attended! It was wonderful to catch up with everyone and thank them for all they do for the Museum. Congratulations to Docent and Education Volunteer Irving Waldman for receiving this month's "Awesome Volunteer" Award. See below for photos from the event.
Veteran's Day ...
We honored Veterans and active duty personnel for their service with complimentary admission on Veteran's Day. Did you know our Oral Visual History Project contains many testimonies of local SWFL Veterans who were Camp Liberators? We invite you to watch their videos, which are found on our website - click here to view. We also remember the families of our Service Men and Women, past and present, for their sacrifices as well.
Human Rights Day - December 10...
As World War II drew to a close, the atrocities committed by the Nazis became more widely known. This knowledge influenced members of the fledgling United Nations to advocate for a stronger support for human rights than that expressed in its original Charter. A UN Committee, representing from many different countries and cultures and chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, drafted the milestone Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Adopted on December 10, 1948, the document included 30 articles covering the basic rights and fundamental freedoms to which every person in the world is entitled. The Universal Declaration is the basis for many subsequent Human Rights Treaties, and has since been translated into over 500 languages.
I wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving, and look forward to seeing you soon at the Museum and our programs!
Susan Suarez
President and CEO
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Recent Tribute and Memorial Gifts to the Museum ...
In Honor of:
In honor of Felicia Anchor’s birthday from Judy Belmont, Peggy Brown, Mimi Cohn, Bronia Ichel, Wendy Israelite, Linda Kurfist, Rochelle Miller, Darlene Muller, Joyce Toub, and Linda Wertheim
In honor of Phyllis Cohen from Patti and Pete Bloom
In honor of Stan Deutsch from Estelle and Stuart Price
In honor of Michael Horowitz from Adela Rotsztain
In honor of Maureen and Arnold Lerner from Patricia and James O'Donnell
In honor of Estelle and Stuart Price from Paula and Ronald Filler
In honor of Fred Roth from Alan Englander
In honor of Carol Stern from Ellen and Alan Englander
In honor of Sam Webb from Patti and Pete Bloom
In Memory of:
In memory of “my good friend Larry” from Howard Agranat
In memory of Irvin Blass from Ellen and Alan Englander
In memory of Murray Hendel from the Gulf Shore Association of Condominiums
In memory of Irene Kubat from the Bob and Noreen Mazzucca Foundation
In memory of Evelyn Welt from Cindy Johnson
To Make an "In Honor of" or an "In Memory of" Donation ...
If you would like to make an "In Honor Of" or an "In Memory Of" donation to remember friends or loved ones, you can easily do so online on our website - just click here. We will send a card with your personal message to the individual/family member you designate, and you will receive a separate acknowledgement of your donation. Thank you to those who have generously made these gifts.
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Here's a Brief Recap of Recent Museum Events ... | |
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Celebrating the Start of Construction on our New North Wing ...
After a long process, we received our permit to move forward with the interior space demolition of Suites 105, 106 and 107. We have just completed this first step in the creation of the Museum's new North Wing.
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Celebration cake in the Museum's
colors of blue and white
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Gathering to celebrate the project start before going to view the new space | |
PBS Contractors Project Team | |
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Architect David Corban
and colleague Kirsten Perez
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Construction Kick-off Party Scenes | |
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PBS Contractors Team, David Corbin Architect Team, Museum Board Members
and Staff in the new space
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The spacious new area created by demolishing the interiors of Suites 105, 106 and 107 | |
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The Museum is pleased to be partnering with
Artis—Naples on programs related to a new Holocaust-themed exhibit, Envisioning Evil:
"The Nazi Drawings by Mauricio Lasansky.
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Envisioning Evil: “The Nazi Drawings” by Mauricio Lasansky
On display at Artis—Naples through February 19, 2023
The Baker Museum, 1st floor
Envisioning Evil is the "first comprehensive presentation in a generation" of the emotional drawings on the subject of the Holocaust made by renowned printmaker Mauricio Lasansky. Born in Argentina in 1914 to Jewish immigrant parents, Lasansky came to the U.S. in 1943 and had a long career as a printmaker and influential teacher. The exhibit notes that Lasansky's "work often explored themes of war and violence. In 1961, coinciding with the televised trial of the Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, he began a series of monumental drawings to grapple with the Holocaust. Confronted with the atrocities, he said, 'I was full of hate, poison, and I wanted to spit it out.' The self-titled series “The Nazi Drawings” is his visceral response to the horrors committed in Nazi concentration camps." Archival media of the Eichmann trial also accompanies the exhibit. The Envisioning Evil exhibit was designed by Rangsook Yoon, Curator of Modern Art at the Baker Museum.
The Museum was pleased to co-sponsor a special lecture at Artis—Naples at the Baker Museum on Thursday, November 3. Laura S. Levitt, Ph.D., Professor of Religion, Jewish Studies and Gender, Temple University presented “Afterlives of Trauma: Post-Holocaust Art, Writing, and Memory." Dr. Leavitt is one of the co-editors of Impossible Images: Contemporary Art after the Holocaust.
We were honored that Dr. Levitt and Curator Yoon made time for a visit to our Museum the day after the lecture. They also joined the Docent Tour led by Dr. Stuart Mest. Following the tour, Dr. Levitt held an impromptu discussion/Q&A with Museum Staff and visitors about the continuing impact of the Holocaust.
A second Lecture by Rachel McGarry, Ph.D., will be held on January 18, 2023 at 2:00pm. Tickets are available through Artis—Naples.
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Museum Board Members with Museum President and CEO Susan Suarez at Artis—Naples Fall Preview Reception; L-R Lorelei Meeker, Hymie Akst, Herb Berkeley, Sandy and Fred Roth, Susan Suarez, Steve and Phyllis Strome, Dr. Stuart Mest
(Photo courtesy of Artis—Naples)
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Curator Cody Rademacher and Docent Dr. Stuart Mest with special guests Dr. Laura Levitt and Baker Museum Curator of Modern Art Rangsoon Yoon. | |
Dr. Stuart Mest, Curator Cody Rademacher and Museum visitors listening to Dr. Laura Levitt discuss the lasting impact of the Holocaust on post-war and contemporary art and literature. | | |
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The 2022
"Movies That Matter SWFL"
Steve Brazina Memorial Film Series ...
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Vincent Keeys, President, Collier County NAACP | |
Rev. Kathy Schillreff, St. Mark's Episcopal Church | |
Julie Katz, American Jewish Committee, Atlanta | |
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Zoom Panel Discussion of "The Best of Enemies", and special thanks to our Panelists - Vincent Keeys, President, Collier County NAACP; The Rev. Kathy Schillreff, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Marco Island, Member of the Diocese of Southwest Florida's Race and Reconciliation Committee; and Julie Katz, Associate Director of the American Jewish Committee in Atlanta - for their contributions to this import conversation on race relations.
If you were unable to attend, here is a link to the Zoom recording. It has also been uploaded to the Museum's YouTube channel.
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"An Evening with Ken Burns and Sara Botstein" | |
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On October 27, the Museum and WGCU Public Media co-sponsored "An Evening With Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein." The sold-out event at the Naples Hilton featured Mr. Burns and Ms. Botstein joining the audience via Zoom to discuss their new documentary, "The U.S and the Holocaust." Co-produced with Lynn Novick, this six-hour documentary reviews the response of the U.S. government and its citizens as news of the discrimination against the Jewish population and the Holocaust in Europe began to emerge in U.S. media. The film aired nationally on PBS over three nights in September.
Jan Larson and Dr. Stuart Mest, Docents and Volunteer Educators at our Museum, joined the discussion in person. WGCU News Staff Member Sandra Viktorova served as the evening's M.C., posing questions audience questions to the participants.
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The audience viewing a brief film on the documentary "The U.S. and the Holocaust" created by WGCU Public Media for this event. | |
Sandra Viktorova, WGCU News Staff Member, served as emcee and interviewer for the evening. | |
Ms. Viktorova speaking with Ken Burns, who was participating via Zoom from his local public television station in New Hampshire. | |
Ms. Viktorova addressing Museum Docents and Volunteer Educators Stuart Mest, M.D. and Janis Larson. | |
Co-producers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein - Ken zoomed in from his home in New Hampshire and Sarah from her home in New York. | |
The sold-out audience at the Hilton Naples listening to the participants discuss the film. | |
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Thank you to all who purchased tickets and to our Event Sponsors:
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Maureen and Arnold Lerner
Estelle and Stuart Price
SILVER SPONSORS
Janet G. Cohen
Florida Gulf Coast University
Marcia and Paul Greenberg
James Hale
History Uncompromised
Siena Lakes
Many thanks to Manager Clark Hill and his staff at the Hilton Naples, and to our event co-sponsor, WGCU Public Media and their staff members for their helping making this a memorable evening:
Corey Lewis, General Manager; Anne Stavely, Community Engagement & Education Manager; Jennifer Denike, Associate General Manager, Development; Michelle Rhinesmith, Director of Membership; Scott Miller, Associate General Manager, Business Partnerships and Corporate Investments, Mary Doscher, Local Sponsorship Account Manager.
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Annual Kristallnacht Community Commemoration Service ... | |
Guest Speaker Dr. Suzanne Brown-Fleming addressing the large audience at Temple Shalom during the Annual Community Commemoration of Kristallnacht | The Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County recently held its Annual Community Commemoration of Kristallnacht on Sunday, November 6th at Temple Shalom in Naples. The event, marking the 84th anniversary of the date considered the beginning of the Holocaust, was attended by the largest crowd seen in many years. | |
Upcoming Events - November and December ... | | |
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Tuesday, November 29
11:00am-12:00pm at the Museum
Join us on for the next David Nelson lecture on "Stories of the Holocaust" highlighting the remarkable life of little-known Holocaust hero, Bill Spira. Originally from Austria, Spira was a cartoonist who forged passports for the Emergency Rescue Committee during the Holocaust. Tickets are $10 and advance reservations are required. Please click here to RSVP.
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Wednesday, November 30
12:00pm - 1:00pm Eastern Time (U.S. and Canada) via Zoom
The Museum is sponsoring a Zoom Author Event as part of the 2022-2023 Greater Naples Jewish Book Festival. Daniel Grunfeld will discuss his nonfiction book, By The Grace of the Game. He looks at the role basketball played in helping his Jewish refugee family adjust to life in the U.S. after surviving the Holocaust and then having to flee communist Romania. Household tickets for this Zoom event are $18. Click here to purchase tickets.
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Join Us for The Luncheon ...
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
11:30am - 2:00pm
At an Exclusive Private Club in Naples
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Please join us for this exciting event! Author/playwright Tom Dugan will join us and perform excerpts from his one-man play, Wiesenthal, based on the life of Simon Wiesenthal. Tickets are $150, and Sponsorship Packages are available. Please click the button for details. Proceeds benefit the Museum's Education programs. We hope to see you there! | |
Thank you to our Luncheon Sponsors as of 11/16/22:
Testimony Sponsor: Maureen and Arnold Lerner
Hope Sponsor: Suzanne and Norman Cohn, Rissa Grossman,
Fran and Rob Nossen, Estelle and Stuart Price, Nancy White
Inspire Sponsor: Silvie and Herb Berkeley, Goldie and Lou Bertone,
Diane and Ron McGinty, Susan and Nathaniel Ritter, Sandy and Fred Roth
Patron Sponsor: Shirley and Marshall Besikof, David Bupp, Shelli Halper,
Janis Larson, Ellaine and Richard Rosen, Phyllis and Stephen Strome
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Tuesday, December 13
11:00am-12:00pm at the Museum
Join us for the final lecture in the David Nelson series, "Stories of the Holocaust. " This lecture will discuss the remarkable Varian Fry, an American journalist who ran a rescue network in Vichy France. The network was responsible for saving the lives of Jewish refugees and anti-Nazi activists. Tickets are $10 and advance reservations are required. Please click here to RSVP.
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Sunday, December 18
Annual Potluck Dinner
GenShoah members are invited to gather again for the annual Potluck Dinner. Details will be available in the next GenShoah newsletter.
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Upcoming 2023 Events ...
Click the button below to "save the dates" for many exciting exhibits and programs coming up in 2023!
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Education Department News ... | |
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Education Specialist David Nelson Attends USHMM Education Seminar ...
Museum Education Specialist David Nelson recently participated in a special Holocaust Education seminar in Washington, D.C. It was held by the Conference for Holocaust Education Centers at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM.) Here is his overview of the experience:
"Established in 2014, the Conference for Holocaust Education Centers - CHEC - has created a network of partners across the country. Every two years the CHEC brings education staff members from Holocaust organizations to the USHMM to learn about museum resources, teaching guidelines and pedagogical models.
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Lely High School Students Visit the Museum ... | |
We recently had two large groups of students from Lely High School. They were learning about the history of Genocide in their class on Criminal Justice. Their teacher felt it was important for them to visit and learn the historical facts about the Holocaust and the personal stories of SWFL residents who had experienced it. She noted that several of the students expressed an interest in revisiting the Museum when they had more time to look at the exhibits. | |
Education Specialist David Nelson shows students how a "primary" historical document can be used in researching history - in this case, a WWII Draft card. | |
Education Assistant Katie Butte explains how the Third Reich determined who was and was not Jewish based on a person's heredity . | |
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Teachers' Corner ...
Schedule A Holocaust Education Program Now ...
Our Education Department's calendar is filling up with reservations for Holocaust Education programming, Museum Field Trips, PopUp Museums and hosting the Boxcar Exhibit. Please contact Education Specialist David Nelson (David@hmcec.org) for more information.
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2022-2023 Catalog of Museum Education Programs ... | |
Have you seen our updated Holocaust Education Programming catalog?
We work primarily with Middle School through High School classes, but also offer programs for Elementary School and College/University grades. Programs are available both on campus or at the Museum. To review the catalog, click here.
For questions and to schedule a program, please contact Education Specialist David Nelson at David@hmcec.org or 239-263-9022, ext. 205.
We look forward to working with you this school year!
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Schedule a Performance for Your School of Remember - The Story of Abe Price ...
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Gulfshore Playhouse Cast members portraying Abe Price and his Family | |
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Now you can bring the original Gulfshore Playhouse production of Remember - The Story of Abe Price by Jeffrey Binder to your school. School performances may be scheduled for the performance only or with the full 3-day educational experience:
- Day 1 - A pre-show lesson about Holocaust history from Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center Education Staff
- Day 2 - The 45-minute performance of "Remember" plus a post-show talk-back with the cast
- Day 3 - A post-performance activity designed to encourage students to reflect and discuss content, themes, and their response to the play.
The performance is suitable for 6th - 12th Grades in the subject areas of Holocaust Studies, Social Studies, Language Arts and Theatre. The play can be performed in a classroom or as an Assembly Performance for up to 200 students. Both options include the show and cast talkback.
Please note - the play Remember can also be offered on its own, or with the pre- and/or post-performance educational activities. For more information, please click here for a flyer.
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Curatorial Department News ... | |
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In addition to safeguarding the Museum’s on-site collections ahead of Hurricane Ian, the biggest (literally and figuratively) concern for Curator Cody Rademacher lay outside the walls of the Museum.
The Boxcar Exhibit had been on display at the Naples Depot Museum in downtown Naples since the September 17th "Smithsonian National Museum Day" celebration. It was to remain there until it was time for its next move - to the Fort Myers Beach Public Library on October 1.
As the hurricane warnings increased, Cody went to the Depot Museum to secure the Boxcar stairs on the back of its flatbed trailer, and photograph the Boxcar's pre-storm condition for our records.
On September 28, downtown Naples was severely impacted by Hurricane Ian and its storm surge. Several feet of water pushed through the area with enormous speed and force, depositing mud, sand and storm debris all over. Many buildings had severe first floor damage because of the water, including unfortunately, the Naples Depot Museum.
When able to check on the Boxcar, Cody was greatly relieved to find it in good condition. When you compare the photos from September 17 and September 28, you can see just how high the waters rose around the Boxcar, covering its flatbed trailer.
If the Boxcar Exhibit move had been scheduled just few days earlier, it would have been caught up in the devastation suffered by the citizens and City of Fort Myers Beach area that was devastated by Hurricane Ian.
Unfortunately, the Depot Museum and its grounds did not fare so well. As Cody was completing his post-storm inspection, the Depot Museum team was onsite with their colleagues from other County Museums assessing the extensive flooding damage to their location. Since cultural institutions are all in this together during events like this, Cody went over and offered his assistance with recovery, remaining as long as he could that day. We wish them the very best as they continue the cleanup and care of their collections.
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9-17-22
The Boxcar on display at Naples Depot Museum for Smithsonian Museum Day
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9-28-22 3:08pm
Naples Depot Museum camera showing the storm surge surrounding the Boxcar
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11-4-22
The Boxcar Exhibition display at De LaSalle Academy in Fort Myers
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Volunteer Appreciation/Welcome Back Event ... | |
We had a great crowd at the recent Volunteer Appreciation/Welcome Back Event on November 7th. It was so nice to be with everyone after the experience of Hurricane Ian.
Joining us for the get-together were Board Chair Stuart Price, Vice Chair Fred Roth and Board Member Lorelei Meeker. Stuart welcomed and thanked the Volunteers for all they do. Museum President and CEO Susan Suarez shared an update on the Museum and the new exciting North Wing construction project which began this week.
We couldn't fulfill our mission - to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire action against bigotry, hatred and violence - without the time and talents our Volunteers share with us. Please join us in thanking them for their dedication to the Museum!
If you are interested in volunteering, please e-mail Tim@hmcec.org for more information on Volunteer opportunities.
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"Awesome Volunteer" Award ... | |
Our "Awesome Volunteer this month is Irving Waldman. A long-time Museum Docent, Irving has been with the Museum "longer than I can remember." In addition, Irving also serves as a Volunteer Educator working with students who visit us on Fields Trips. Whether he is leading tours for the public or students, Irving always shares with his audience the personal story of the late Dr. Fred Flatau, a close friend from SWFL who was a Holocaust Survivor. Thank you, Irving, for your many years of service to the Museum, and we look forward to many more! | |
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Current Exhibit in the Estelle and Stuart Price Gallery …
The Holocaust on World Stamps
September 1 - December 19, 2022
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The exhibit in the Estelle and Stuart Price Gallery looks at the Holocaust through the lens of international commemorative stamps. This exhibit was created by Education Specialist David Nelson. These stamps were issued by a variety of nations - from Albania to Yemen - to honor Holocaust victims, Rescuers, Resistors, Diplomats who saved Jewish people and Liberators. Stamps portraying Camps and Ghettos are also included.
David also created a series of short videos on this subject, which can be found on the Museum's YouTube channel.
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This month we feature the story “When Rachel Met Chaim” by Leona Wreschner. Click here to read. Story is about ...
We are grateful to the members of GenShoah of SWFL who have generously shared their family's experiences during the Holocaust for the "Portraits of Remembrance" project. The stories and photos they have submitted will be shared with local SWFL students as they learn the personal stories of the Holocaust. We thank Ida Margolis and Shelley Lieb for their leadership on this project.
GenShoah Potluck - December 18, 2022 ..
This year's GenShoah Potluck Dinner will be held at GenShoah member Yvonne Holtzman's home. Additional details will be provided in the next GenShoah newsletter.
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We offer a variety of ways to tour the Museum to accommodate our Guests' schedules and interests. Read below for more information ... | | |
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Docent-led Tours ...
We offer a complimentary 1:30 Docent-led tour Wednesday through Sunday. No reservation required - it is first come first served up to a limit of 16 people. Tours are subject to Docent availability - you can call to confirm the Docent will be here on the day of your visit.
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Self-guided Walking and Audio Tours ...
You can tour the Museum at your own pace using our illustrated Gallery Guide map. We also offer a self-guided Audio Tour. Museum tablets and disposable, single-use Ear Buds are provided. You are also welcome to use your own phone and ear buds/headphones and download our Audio Tour App.
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Private Group Tours ...
Looking for an interesting activity for your community group, organization, family members or out-of-town guests? Book a Private Group of the Museum for 10-25 people. Group Tours are available Monday-Friday mornings when we're closed to the public, so you have the Museum to yourselves. In addition to a Docent-led tour, your Tour may also include a Survivor presentation (subject to their availability.) A light breakfast or lunch for your group can be ordered. For more information please contact Education Specialist David Nelson at David@hmcec.org or call 239-263-9200, ext. 205.
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Student Field Trips ...
A main feature of our Education mission - to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire action against bigotry, hatred and violence - is to bring local middle school and high school students and teachers into the Museum. Here they learn not only the history of the Holocaust, but the personal stories of local SWFL Survivors and Liberators as well. In addition to touring the Museum, students also participate in an educational activity tied into their Holocaust Education studies. Student Field Trips are conducted in the mornings when the Museum is closed to the public. For more information on scheduling a Student Field Trip, please contact Education Specialist David Nelson at David@hmcec.org or call 239-263-9200, ext. 205.
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Thank you to Our Legacy Society Members for
Their Generous Support of Our Mission ...
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The Legacy Society has been created to honor friends who affirm their commitment to our Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center through their will or other planned gift. Participation in the Legacy Society represents an investment in the future of our Museum and its mission – to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire action against bigotry, hatred and violence.
Anonymous
Hymie Akst
Carla Benninga
Howard and Dorothy Berger
Herb Berkeley
Irving Berzon*
Patti and Pete Bloom
Rosalee and Jerry Bogo
Joyce Rogol Feldstein *
Richard and Barbara Glowacki
Shelli Halper
Homer Helter *
Merrill Kuller *
Maureen Lerner
Suzanne C. Low
Daniel and Jean Mann
Candace Patton
Estelle and Stuart Price
Frederic Roth
Michael Seaman *
Stephen Strome
Peter Thomas *
* deceased
Gifts from Legacy Society members provide ongoing support to create and host special exhibits, educational programs, artifact conservation, Museum admission costs for students and more.
You can become a member of the Legacy Society by taking any of the following steps:
- Name the Museum as a beneficiary in your will or trust
- Name the Museum as a beneficiary of your retirement plan or life insurance policy
- Make a gift to the Museum that provides you, or someone you name, with income for life
- Make a gift to the Museum through a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust
Just include the full name and address of the Museum in your will or gift documents: The Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center, 975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Suite 108, Naples, FL 34110.
Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Legacy Society members will be honored in our newsletter (unless you prefer anonymity) and at a special gathering each year. For more information, please contact Museum President and CEO Susan Suarez at 239-263-9200 or Susan@hmcec.org.
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Several of the local Holocaust Survivors we have worked with over the years have very generously donated their books to help raise funds for the Museum's Education Programs. Each book is an amazing testament to what our Survivors and their family members experienced during the Holocaust. Copies are available here at the Museum or can be mailed for a small shipping fee. Please contact Tim@hmcec.org if you wish to have copies mailed. Here are the titles available: | |
Imperfect Memories - A Memoir of Escape from the Holocaust by Michael Eisenstadt
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Not A Trace of Smoke by Cesare Frustaci
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Memoirs of a Survivor: My Life Under Nazi Occupation by Abe Price (Abram Piasecki)
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Holocaust Survival of Hella and Heinz Heinz Wartski by Hella and Heinz Wartski
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75th Anniversary Special Edition Diary of a Young Girl from Penguin Random House is now available ...
June marks the 75th anniversary of the original Dutch publication of Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl, a remarkable book that has become a world classic. To mark the anniversary, there is a new edition being published which includes an introduction written by Nadia Murad, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, UNODC Goodwill Ambassador, and human rights activist. Pick up a copy from your favorite bookseller!
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This Month in Holocaust History ... | |
Here are the important Holocaust History dates for November: | |
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Visitor Comments ...
What did you like best about your visit?
"It is an outstanding museum - nothing to improve!"
"I will be back and bring all our visitors."
"Thank you for your work in preserving this history and educating all who come - this is important."
"Very informative ... videos of Survivors telling their story."
"Informative Tour Guide"
"Dr. Mest was so knowledgeable."
"The speaker was awesome."
"Just thank you for providing this Museum."
Historic Sanibel Torah Rescued from Hurricane Ian ...
As Hurricane Ian was approaching SWFL, quick thinking on the part of congregants from Bat Yam Temple on Sanibel Island helped preserve a 19th century Torah which had survived the Holocaust. Click on the first link below to learn more about their courageous rescue efforts, and on the second link to view the NBC News story of the Torah's return to Sanibel.
Holocaust Torah Survives Hurricane Ian | Times of the Islands Magazine
Watch NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt Excerpt: Residents’ emotional return to Sanibel Island synagogue after Hurricane Ian - NBC.com
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Visiting the Museum ...
Hours of Operation ...
The Museum is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. The last guests are admitted at 3:00pm.
Admission ...
We suggest you pre-purchase your ticket on our website. This will guarantee your admission on the date/time you prefer. You will also receive a $2 discount on an Adult Admission ticket for doing so.
COVID Precautions Have Been Lifted ...
We have now lifted all COVID precautions. Timed-entry admission procedures will continue to ensure a more enjoyable guest experience.
Health and safety measures continue to be followed, such as the availability of hand-sanitizing stations. We continue to suggest wearing a mask for the protection of our Staff and your fellow guests. If you wish to wear a mask and need one, we have them available at no charge at the Front Desk.
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Thank Your For Supporting Our Mission ...
"To teach the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire action against bigotry, hatred and violence"
Since our founding, your generous support has allowed us to impact over half a million SWFL school children, teachers and the public. Each one has learned about the importance of respect and empathy for others.
Because of your engagement with our mission, we've been able to offer the SWFL community a wide variety of age-appropriate Holocaust Education Outreach programs.
Whether you have donated financial resources, become a Museum Member and Volunteer, together we will make our next 20 years even better!
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Thank You to the following organizations for sponsoring Museum Programming and Events ... | | |
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Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Funding has been provided to the Holocaust Museum & Janet G. and Harvey D. Cohen Education Center from Florida Humanities through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. NEH is committed to Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by the Holocaust Museum & Janet G. and Harvey D. Cohen Education Center, do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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We are honored to have received the awards below as a result of our visitors sharing their experience on review sites. Thank you so much for spreading the word about our Museum and work!
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The Guidestar Gold Transparency Seal signifies to potential Donors that an organization is in good standing and worthy of their support. We are honored to have received this distinction.
For more information on how you can support the Museum's mission, please contact Museum President and CEO Susan Suarez at Susan@HMCEC.org or call 239-263-9200, ext. 203.
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