PHOTO VIA THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL RESOURCE AND EDUCATION CENTER OF FLORIDA
The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida (Website) has opened Hope & Humanity, a redesigned exhibition that presents the Holocaust through the firsthand experiences of local survivors. The exhibition opened on Sunday and also serves as a preview of the much-touted “storytelling approach” planned for the future Holocaust Museum for Hope & Humanity in Ivanhoe Village.
The exhibition shares the stories of ten Central Florida Holocaust survivors: Suzanne Szmajuk Schneider, Henri Landwirth, Tess Goldberg Wise, Oswald “Valdik” Holzer, Harry Lowenstein, Albert Hess, Helen Garfinkel Greenspun, Felicia Deutscher Friedman, and brothers Stevan and Eric Simon. It reflects on a range of Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust, and its long-term impact.
The exhibition includes interactive elements that encourage visitors to reflect on how prejudice develops and how individuals respond to injustice. Organizers say the goal is to connect historical events to present-day ethical choices.
Admission to Hope & Humanity is free but requires a reservation. The self-guided experience takes about one hour. Reservations are available HERE.
