Using the history and lessons of the Holocaust, the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center envisions a world where hatred and indifference are transformed into understanding and compassion, where all people are treated with dignitiy and respect.
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Harry Burger, Vienna, Austria, 1929. Harry survived the Holocaust in hiding with his mother. Toward the end of the war, he fought against the Nazis in the Italian Resistance. His sister, Edith, survived as a refugee in Cuba. His father, Elias, was deported and murdered in Auschwitz.
The Museum is closed
on Fridays at 4pm for Shabbos.
The museum is not open on Saturdays.
Please Note: The Museum Will Be Closed at 3p.m.on Tuesday, May 14th and All Day on Wednesday, May 15th and Thursday, May 16th for the Shavuot Holiday.
The Winners of the 2013 Art and Writing Contest is Now on View in the HMLC Theater
On Monday, May 6th students, their family and friends attended our 10th Annual Art and Writing Contest Ceremony. Students from all over the region were recognized for their exceptional art and poetry and prose submissions showcasing their refelctions about the Holocaust. For a list of the winners please go to our events page.
Capacity Crowd atOne Holocaust Survivor's Journey on Sunday, April 21
Rabbi Philip Lazowski spoke to approximately 140 attendees in the Museum Theater on Sunday, April 21st. Rabbi Lazowski was born in 1930 near Vilna in Bielice, Poland (now Belarus), survived the Holocaust by hiding for almost three years in White Russian forests.
After immigrating to the United States in 1947, Rabbi Lazowski earned numerous degrees, including a Master of Science Degree from Yeshiva University's Graduate School of Education, ordination as Rabbi by the Academy of Higher Jewish Learning, a Doctorate in Jewish Literature from Jewish Teacher's Seminary and People's University.
Rabbi Lazowski was on hand to sign two of the seven books authored including his most recent publication, Power of Faith. He and his wife Ruth, also a Holocaust Survivor.
Dr. Susan Feigenbaum and Dr. Jay Pepose graciously underwrote this event.
More Than 800 People Attend the Community Annual Yom HaShoah Commemoration on Sunday, April 7th.
More than 800 people attended the annual Community Yom HaShoah Commemoration on Sunday, April 7 at Congregation B'nai Amoona. The synagogue was at capacity and many attendees were standing in the ailses. This year the event was entitled Voices from the Holocaust. The event featured three testimonies from Holocaust survivors Ben Fainer, as told by his granddaughter Christina, Sara Wolf, as told by her son Harvey,and Sara Moses, and liberator Sanford "Buddy" Lebman. The program included the traditional candle-lighting ceremoney, Holocaust Torah procession and liturgical reading and prayers, as well as recognition of the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising.
Approximately 30 students from Cultural Leadership attended. This is an organization that promotes understanding through the African-American and Jewish Experience. HMLC was fortunate to host Class 9 and several young Jews and African-Americans were in attendance for the first time. Check out the story on KSDK VTS_01_1.
Change Begins with Me Exhibition Now Open to the Public.
HMLC will open its first new exhibition in ten years. The exhibition entitled Change Begins with Me - Confronting Hate, Discrimination and Ethnic Conflict, deals with issues related to post-Holocaust genocide, hate and discrimination in today's world.
The exhibition is technology based and has a touch screen monitor that allows visitors to access information about contemporary issues. A great feature of the exhibition is that the viewer can e-mail any narratives or other information to their home or the classroom to conduct further discussions about what they've learned.
The exhibition also houses three small computers that allow visitors to do further reasearch on any of the subjects they've learned during their visit. The new exhibit is a permanent installation and stories will be updated and changed throughout the year.
Listen to the St. Louis On The Air inteview with Don Marsh about this new exhibition. Professors Warren Rosenblum and Mike Hulsizer of Webster University and Director Jean Cavender talk about how the new exhibition evolved.
Standing For Justice, 1930-1950 Exhibitionto Open at HMLC on View Through the End of April.
Standing For Justice, 1930-1950: Documentation From The St. Louis Jewish Community Archives will be on view through the end of February.
This exhibition, including documents and artifacts, illustrates the St. Louis Jewish community response to discrimination in general and anti-Semitism in particular. Selected documentation drawn from the 1930s through the 1940s reveals the varied actions and reactions to wartime concerns, post-war discrimination, religious and political extremism and the Communist "Red Scare".
A special thanks to our sponsors Brodsky Jewish Community Library, Jewish Community Relations Council, Regional Arts Commission, Ken and Nancy Kranzberg, Lawrence and Hannah Langsam and Marvin and Harlene Wool.
HMLC Honors Leo and Sara Wolf to "Sustain Their Dream" of a Holocaust Museum in St. Louis.
HMLC honored Leo and Sara Wolf for the years of work they put into establishing a Holocaust Museum in St. Louis at a special dinner on Sunday, August 5th at the Mariott Maryville West Hotel. According to Director Jean Cavender "Leo was knocking on doors in the 1980s talking about the need for a Museum fifteen years before this institution was built." Leo was building his business and devoting a large portion of his free time to raising money so the Museum could become a reality. Sara was a grounding force for him during this time by believing and encouraging his dream while maintaining a loving home for their three boys.
Special guests in attendance of the event were the Honorable Jay Nixon and First Lady Georgianne Nixon. Attorney General Rich Koster also joined the celebration honoring the Wolfs.
Governor Nixon gave an especially moving speech about the tenacity of the Wolfs in building a business and a family in the St. Louis community. Reciting the word "Dyanu"- the Hebrew word meaning it would have been enough - after each of their accomplishments resonated well with those in attendance.
However, the Wolfs forged on to build the Museum after their own business and family triumphs in order to remember all those who perished during the Holocaust. Cavender went on to say in her remarks, "Leo and Sara, without you there would be no us."
They have been extremely generous to the Museum, now in its seventeenth year of operation, and have been wonderful ambassadors to the community on its behalf. Funds raised at the dinner will be contributed to the Leo an Sara Wolf Museum Fund to ensure its existence for future generations.
We are grateful to the Ladue News and KWMU our media sponsors for this event. Their promotion resulted in a sold out event.
Rosenberg Film Series
Sunday June 30th
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days
Directed by Marc Rothemund
Germany, 2005, 120 minutes
German and English subtitles
This powerful film tells the true story of the last days of Sophie Scholl, part of the group, "The White Rose," who resisted the Nazis as a university student in Germany. Using historical records, this film graphically recreates her incarceration and interrogation, leading to her heroic death.
Introductory remarks given by the Warren Rosenblum, Associate Professor in the Department of History Politics and International Relations, Webster University. His most recent book, Beyond the Prison Gates: Punishment and Welfare in Germany, 1850-1933 was published in 2009.
Create a Jewish Legacy and Help Ensure the Lessons of the Holocaust are Learned
Whether you're adjusting to retirement or starting a family of your own, you can provide a promising future for generations to come. Your legacy gift can help safeguard your values and ensure that the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center and its programs are sustained for many years ahead.
Planning a bequest to the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center is easy and may provide tax benefits for your estate. There is no wrong stage in your life to make provisions that will impact the future of our community. Begin planning your legacy to the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center today. Call Director Jean Cavender at 314-442-3715 or visit jewishinstlouis.org/JCF.
HMLC is working with the Jewish Community Foundation of St. Louis to create legacy funds for the Museum. Remember anyone can bephilanthropist and a gift of any size can create a Jewish Legacy.
Excerpts From A Letter from Danielle of Truman State University to Holocaust Survivor Jerry Koenig
Dear Mr. Koenig.
As one of very few Jewish people at Truman State and one of seven members of University Hillel, I am so glad that we received funding to bring you here to raise awareness about the horrors of the Holocaust... I was so glad to see so many of my classmates who are not Jewish show up to learn your story and about the history of my culture...
Your speech inspired me in so many ways and really gave me a new outlook on life. I always worry about every little thing and get so upset if I do something as small as get one bad grade on a test. From listening to your speech, I've learned not to sweat the small stuff and to appreciate life and family since one day it could all be gone. You have no idea how you've inspired me after your speech and I cannot express my gratitude enough for you to have such courage to talk about your experiences...
Thank you so much for coming to my school. I know I will always carry your story with me and can't wait to read your brother's book.
Sincerely,
Danielle C.
Find out about our self guided tour on our Events pages.
12 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis MO 63146
Telephone 314 432-0020 | Fax 314 432-1277
