Jan. 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day of reflection and remembrance for those that were persecuted and killed during the Holocaust. For students that wish to reflect on this or learn more about the Holocaust and what people went through during that time period, the Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Reflection and Resource Center, located in the Alvin Sherman Library, features many exhibits and resources that students can learn from.
According to Craig Weiner, president of the Holocaust Learning and Education Fund, “The Holocaust Center is open to all NSU students, as well as the students of the University School, the general community and essentially all schools, whether they be public schools or private schools. The students upon entering the Holocaust Center on campus will be able to use QR codes to get a full explanation of images that reflect the history of the Holocaust, both pre-1939 as well as the time of liberation.”
Over 250 artifacts are a part of the permanent collection, including items from concentration camps and World War II.
“We have an original sign in German that in English translates to, ‘Jews will not be served here.’ We also have a Jewish violin that survived the Holocaust. Students spend a lot of time looking at that. We have family documents, we have [original telegrams] from the Commandant of Auschwitz, that in English translates to, in one sentence, ‘Your husband died.’ Students see that and I try to ask them, how do you think your mother would have felt to receive this?” said Weiner.
Aside from what is currently available at Holocaust Reflection and Resource Center, students that wish to learn more about this time period should listen to the testimonies of Holocaust survivors.
“Look at survivor testimonies, testimonies of Holocaust survivors. There are thousands and thousands of them on the internet, and if a student looks at them and just listens to that person and starts to think ‘that could have been my mother,’ ‘that could have been my father.’ Because remember — the Holocaust didn’t happen that long ago. There are many students that think of the Holocaust as happening in ancient history, when in fact, the Holocaust happened 75, 76 years ago. This is a relatively recent history. The victims could have been your grandparents. So, it’s important for students to look at survivor testimonies and listen to what the survivors have to say. Then, they’ll realize how important it is that we all take a stand against hate.”
In March, the Holocaust Reflection and Resource Center will include a new system, the Dimensions and Testimony Educational System, that offers an interactive exhibit with recordings of Holocaust survivors talking about their experiences.
