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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Please note:
The Museum is closed to the public
until approximately August 9th
as we complete construction and installation of
exhibits and displays in our new North Wing.
During this time, Staff can be reached by email. For general questions, please contact us at
Please watch our website for updates on re-opening!
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Message from Susan Suarez, President and CEO ... |
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I often think of how fortunate we are to live here in SWFL. We have wonderful communities with great schools and universities for our children, and amazing unique cultural and charitable organizations which enrich our lives and help neighbors in need. We have daily unlimited access to wonderful natural resources which other people travel from across the nation and the world to be able to visit just for a short time. When challenges face SWFL, we are resilient. We pull together and help each other, as evidenced by our actions during the pandemic and recent hurricanes. We are truly lucky because we know that despite our different circumstances, we can count on each other.
Yet, we don't live in a protective "bubble." Unfortunately, the crime, violence and hatred of the outside world intrudes here, too, always co-existing with all the good around us. The national increase in hate crimes and violence seen across the nation is now being reflected in SWFL statistics.
For more than 20 years, our Education programs have shared the important lessons of the Holocaust with SWFL schools and communities. We provide the historical facts of the buildup to the genocide, along with the riveting personal stories of those impacted, to illustrate a very powerful point. During that time, overt acts of hate and bigotry were allowed to grow, resulting in the unopposed vast deportation, imprisonment and murder of 6 million Jews and 5 million others … men, women and children.
Now is the time for us to act against the increased incidents of bigotry and hate right here in our SWFL community. Just as we have stood together after the wrath of hurricanes, let us stand together against this rising tide of hate. We have more in common than what divides us. Let's reach across our differences and celebrate our common humanity. Let us not be silent bystanders while hatred spreads.
We must realize that no matter how we identify ourselves, we could all be considered as "other." Wouldn't you welcome and hope someone would step up and speak on your behalf if you were being targeted as "different?" Think about it - should history repeat itself, you do not want to be in the same position as Pastor Martin Niemöller was, as he noted in the last line of his famous Holocaust-era statement. He starts by mentioning all the groups he didn’t speak out for when they were targeted for roundup by the Nazis. The last line reads “Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.”
There are many local and national initiatives with helpful information on how we as individuals and communities can address this pressing issue. Please click here to read the recent statement issued by the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples about antisemitic incidents in Collier and Lee Counties.
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Thank You for Your Support in 2022-2023 ...
I sincerely thank you for your unwavering support of our Holocaust Education mission this past year. Because of your generous financial assistance, and donation of your time and talents, our programs impacted thousands of people, inspiring each one to stand up against bigotry and hatred in our schools, communities and beyond. Your support has a tremendous impact and ripple effect on making our world a better place for all. The Museum Board, Staff and I look forward to working with you in the coming year. We can’t wait to show you our new North Wing! Please click button below for a brief film with highlights from this past year at the Museum.
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Museum Update ...
Although the Museum itself is temporarily closed to visitors, the Staff continues to work behind the scenes on a variety of fronts. We've just finished unpacking all the items we stored off-site prior to the start of construction - two shipping pods and the contents of a moving truck. Thankfully everything was returned in great condition!
We are finalizing many exciting programs, events, exhibits and activities to be presented in 2023-202. There will be three new special exhibits and two new special lecture series, special events and a continuation of some popular programs. More information will be available as we get closer to season.
The construction phase of the North Wing is coming to an end. The space now includes an expanded classroom and adjustable-size meeting room, new gallery space a catering kitchen for events, restrooms, large storage room, and Education Department Staff offices. Our sincere thanks to our architect, David Corban, and the team at PBS Contractors. They began our project facing the toughest of conditions, just as SWFL began to recover from Hurricane Ian. Despite the storm-related labor shortages, scarcity of materials and major delivery delays, they are completing the project on time.
Later this month and next, the project moves into its last phase - creation and installation of new exhibits and displays. Capitol Museum Services (CMS), which created and installed the displays for the current Museum, will oversee the work. You'll find the CMS design seamlessly transitions visitors from the Museum to the North Wing. CMS has incorporated several interactive displays designed to further engage visitors as they learn about the personal stories, history and lessons of the Holocaust.
We hope to re-open by approximately August 9 - please check our website (hmcec.org) for updates. We'll hold an official “Grand Re-Opening” series of events in early November 2023. More information will be available soon. We hope you’ll be able to join us for these special events!
A few naming opportunities are still available. Please contact me for details - Susan@hmcec.org or call 239-263-9200.
We look forward to showing you the North Wing. In the meantime, enjoy the summer, and Happy Father's Day to everyone who celebrates!
Susan
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Recent Tribute and Memorial Gifts to the Museum ...
In Honor of:
In honor of Robert Subin from Gracia Kuller
In Memory of:
In memory of Steve Brazina from Merry Korn
In memory of Paul Longo from Patti Bloom
In memory of Walter Porges from Chris Curle
In memory of Louise Warshauer from Gracia Kuller
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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Thank you to Our Legacy Society Members for
Their Generous Support of Our Mission ...
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
Sandra and Fredric 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 are honored in our newsletters (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, ext. 203 or e-mail Susan@hmcec.org.
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Construction Progress ... |
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PBS workers silhouetted in entryway
to new Special Exhibit Gallery
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PBS workers working on entryway
leading into new Auschwitz Gallery
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New enlarged storage area in the North Wing saves the cost of offsite materials storage and frees up space used for storage in offices |
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View from new Special Exhibit Gallery through to classroom/meeting room (adjustable wall seen on right which can tailor room size) and Education offices |
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Museum President Spoke at Collier County School Board Meeting ...
Museum President and CEO Susan Suarez spoke at the May 2023 Collier County School Board Meeting. Recently-elected Board Members and the new CCPS Superintendent, Dr. Leslie Ricciardelli, were in attendance. Susan updated the group on the variety of Museum Holocaust Education programs provided at no charge to CCPS, through the generosity of our Museum supporters. Susan also noted the Museum's 20+ years partnership helping CCPS educators meet the Florida State Standards on teaching the Holocaust, through Field Trips to the Museum, in-class programs and Survivor Talks, the traveling Boxcar Exhibit, PopUp Museums, and sharing the personal stories of local Holocaust Survivors and Liberators. Museum programs help teachers initiate engaging classroom discussions about the impact and aftermath of the Holocaust, and inspire students to recognize and act against hate and bigotry.
Susan highlighted the facts that dozens of CCPS schools and thousands of students and teachers benefited this year from our free programs. And, our new expansion will enable us to serve even more students in the 2023-2024 school year. She closed her remarks by inviting the Board and Superintendent to visit the expanded Museum, and expressing appreciation for the partnership the Museum has had since 2001 with CCPS, and the generosity of our community that helps make these programs available free of charge.
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Preview of Upcoming Exhibits and Events ... |
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We will kick off a new year of programming in August - read below for a preview of these exciting exhibits:
Forgeries and the Holocaust features artifacts drawn from the Museum’s collections of over 1,000 items. All were donated to us in good faith, as authentic artifacts with true historical value. As a donated item is processed and catalogued into our Archives, our Curatorial Department researches it and sometimes finds forgeries.
Often, these items were items were found to have been specifically created to make an easy profit by deceiving buyers. This exhibit will provide examples throughout the Holocaust Era and beyond and even compare genuine vs. false items. With this knowledge, we hope you can be aware of forged items and learn about their impact on understanding the Holocaust.
Forgeries and the Holocaust is being created in-house, and will be on display from August through December, 2023.
The second exhibit will be Stitching History from the Holocaust will be on loan from the Jewish Museum Milwaukee. This unique exhibit will include delicate fabric artifacts, and be on display January - March, 2023.
The final exhibit for the year will be Lawyers without Rights: Jewish Lawyers in Germany under the Third Reich. It will be on loan from the American Bar Association, and on display from April through October, 2024.
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SAVE THE DATE FOR "MOVIES THAT MATTER" THIS FALL
October 18 via Zoom Discussion/Q&A
2:00pm-3:00pm Eastern Time
October 25 Film/Q&A at Paragon Pavilions Theater, Naples
6:30pm - 8:30pm
November 1 via Zoom Discussion/Q&A
2:00pm-3:00pm Eastern Time
More information on films, panelists, tickets and Sponsorships will
be available in the coming months. We hope you'll join us next season!
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Education Department News ... |
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The Education Staff is busy planning programming for the 2023-2024 school year, which will start in early August.
In additional to programs at the Museum and in classrooms, they are also taking reservations for the Boxcar Exhibit and PopUp Museums. These exhibits are available for schools and community organizations. Please contact Education Specialist David Nelson for more information - David@hmcec.org.
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Teachers Discounts ...
Did you know one of the perks of being an educator is you are entitled to discounts at certain companies? Here is an article detailing a variety of discounts teachers eligible to use all year - click here to read the list!
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The Race Against Time ...
A recent article noted time is running out to preserve the important Holocaust eyewitness testimonies of Survivors and Liberators. It is estimated that less than 50,000 Holocaust Survivors now reside in the U.S., and less than 160,000 World War II Veterans are still alive. Their unique personal stories are valuable historical sources, important not only for future generations, but for us as well. It seems that the lessons of the Holocaust have been ignored, as antisemitic and hate crimes continue to increase across our country. According to the Anti-Defamation League's annual survey, "antisemitic incidents in the U.S. jumped to a record level in 2022, up 36% from the year before." It appears this trend will continue in 2023.
Major libraries and institutions have been working to add new eyewitness testimonies and documentation before the Survivors pass away. They are also digitizing their current collection materials to preserve them for the future.
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The Museum's Oral Visual History Project ...
We are so grateful to the local Holocaust Survivors and Camp Liberators who shared their testimonies with us for future generations. Our Oral Visual History Project archives have over 100 videos of Survivors, Hidden Children, Camp Liberators, Rescuers and Witnesses sharing their experiences. As we listen to them relating the impact of a historical event on themselves, their families and friends, we connect with them and understand why we must stand up to bigotry and hatred and not let it go unchecked to destroy more families and lives.
Click here to see Survivor Testimony clips from the project, and click here for Liberator Testimony clips.
We are also in the process of digitizing our archives of their personal photographs, documents and artifacts to further preserve these important historical resources for the future.
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SWFL Holocaust Survivor Memoirs ...
We have been honored to work with many Holocaust Survivors over the years. They have generously given of their time as Education Volunteers, speaking to students at the Museum and in schools, as Museum Speakers at community organization events, and as Docents and Volunteers at the Museum. Each one has made a lasting impact on others by sharing their family's experiences during the Holocaust.
Several Survivors have written their memoirs and donated copies to the Museum to help raise funds for our Holocaust Education Programs. Copies are available in our Lobby or can be mailed for a small shipping fee. Please contact Info@hmcec.org if you wish to have copies mailed. Current titles available are:
Imperfect Memories - A Memoir of Escape from the Holocaust
by Michael Eisenstadt
Not A Trace of Smoke
by Cesare Frustaci
Memoirs of a Survivor: My Life Under Nazi Occupation
by Abe Price (Abram Piasecki)
Holocaust Survival of Hella and Heinz Heinz Wartski
by Hella and Heinz Wartski
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The Boxcar Exhibit will be on display in the our Museum's parking lot during June, July and August.
The Boxcar Exhibit is on loan to the Museum from F.E. and Jack Nortman and The Boxcar Foundation. To schedule a Boxcar visit to your school, library or organization, please contact Education Specialist David Nelson at 239-263-9200 or David@hmcec.org.
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GenShoah SWFL News ...
GenShoah SWFL is currently planning programming for the 2023-2024 season. This will include films, book discussions and GenShoah SWFL member events. If you have any suggestions, please contact genshoahswfl@hmcec.org
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2G Story by GenShoah SWFL Member Sam Varsano ...
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GenShoah SWFL member Sam Varsano shared his family's experiences in Greece duringworld War II. Click here to read "My Family's Holocaust Experience."
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2G Stories: "Portraits of Remembrance" Project ...
The above is an example of stories created by GenShoah SWFL members for the "Portraits of Remembrance" Project. Written to be shared with SWFL students in our Education programs, the stories share and preserve the important personal stories of families affected by the Holocaust.
If you are interested in submitting a story about your family's Holocaust experiences,
e-mail genshoahswfl@hmcec.org for more information. The writing should be for a middle school-age audience, and be approximately 500-700 words in length. We request you also include appropriate geographical and accurate historical references, a personal highlight and photograph. We have posted the stories on our website under the "Education - Resources" tab.
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Information about GenShoah of SWFL ...
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
· the connection of the Second Generation with one another
· support of the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center
For more information about GenShoah SWFL, please contact genshoahswfl@hmcec.org. GenShoah SWFL Co-Chairs are Shelley Lieb and Ida Margolis.
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WGCU FM Report on Antisemitism ...
Last month, WGCU Public Media ran a half-hour segment on its Gulf Coast Life radio program about antisemitism.
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Around the Museum ...
Shelli Halper, a long-time supporter of the Museum and its mission, is the Creative Marketing Director for Naples Transportation & Tours (NT&T) in Naples. NT&T owns the fun open-air trolley you see taking visitors and residents around town. The company also offers a variety of year-round transportation services for residents and visitors to Southwest Florida. NT&T is a division of The Hoffman Companies, a Naples-based organization. Shelli recently sent out the wonderful list of suggestions below for post-season exploration in Collier and Lee Counties. With her permission, we are sharing it with all of our newsletter readers. Click here to read it. Thank you, Shelli, for including our Museum at the top of your list!
Collier County Turns 100 ...
2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of Collier County. The Collier County Museum at Government Center is presenting a special exhibit 1923: Exploring Collier County's Founding Year. The exhibit is accompanied by a series of "Centennial Lectures" which are free to attend. The Lectures are hosted by Museum Manager Stephanie Long, the Exhibit's Curator. The Museum is located at 3331 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL, 34112. Here are the upcoming lectures, which are held the second Tuesday of the month at 2:00pm. For more information, visit colliermuseums.com.
June 13, 2023 Wild and Weird Headlines of 1923
July 11, 2023 It's the Cat's Pajamas: Fashion, Art, and Style in the 1920s
August 8, 2023 The 1920s Home
Visitor Comments:
What did you like best about your visit?
"Everything - guide was amazing with all the history."
"Please just keep going teaching the Holocaust - we must never forget."
"Narration was excellent"
"Thank you for a great experience."
"Wonderful - continue enlightenment."
"Very educational."
"The speaker - everything was good."
"The tour guide was wonderful."
"It was very informative."
"Hearing from survivors was powerful."
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Thank You to the following organizations for sponsoring
Museum Programming and Events ...
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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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Public Recognition Awards ... |
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We are honored to have received these awards as a result of Museum 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.
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For more information on how you can support the Museum's Education mission, please contact Museum President and CEO Susan Suarez at 239-263-9200, ext. 203, or e-mail Susan@hmcec.org. Thank you!
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