Escaping Genocide: Jewish Refugees During the Holocaust
May 27 at 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
During the Holocaust, thousands of Jewish refugees attempted to flee from Nazi-occupied Europe, hoping to find freedom and safety across the borders. Immigration was often made extremely difficult by political and practical obstacles. Learn about several Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Michigan to rebuild their lives during and after the war. We will also share stories of many heroic people who risked their lives to help refugees escape. Registration encouraged.
This community event is part of the “Learn the Story” series we are hosting in partnership with the Westland Public Library. Registration opens one month before each event date below:
- January 28: Understanding the Holocaust: The Escalation to Genocide
- March 25: Women and the Holocaust: Spotlighting Underrepresented Histories
- April 15: Spreading Hate: Propaganda and the Holocaust
- May 27: Escaping Genocide: Jewish Refugees During the Holocaust
- June 23: Life after the Holocaust: Postwar Survivor Experiences
More Events
Educator Workshop: Next Generation Speaker Talk With Roz Leiser
Hear from Roz Leiser, a child of a Holocaust survivor and docent at The HC. The Next Generation Speaker Series will be a monthly, virtual opportunity for educators to hear from a child or grandchild of a Holocaust survivor. In their talks, these incredible Next Generation Speakers share stories of their family during the Holocaust and what it was like to grow up with a loved one who has gone through that experience.
Life after the Holocaust: Postwar Survivor Experiences
The effects of the Holocaust lasted long after the end of World War II. Survivors had to find ways to cope with their experiences and rebuild their lives and families. We will highlight survivor experiences after liberation, including life in Displaced Persons (DP) camps and life-long efforts to persevere and remember. Using artifacts and testimony from survivors in our Michigan community, we will discuss the ongoing process of returning to life after the Holocaust and the importance of learning from…
Spreading Hate: Propaganda and the Holocaust
Many people chose to support the Nazi regime during the Holocaust, and propaganda played a significant role in their thinking. Propaganda is false or biased information used to mold the opinions and actions of an audience to promote a particular objective. During the Holocaust, that objective was the attempted annihilation of the Jews. You will learn about the dangerous consequences of propaganda and antisemitism through The Holocaust Center’s artifacts and survivor testimonies. Registration encouraged. This community event is part of…
Women and the Holocaust: Spotlighting Underrepresented Histories
The Holocaust was not a gender-neutral genocide. Women experienced the Holocaust differently and were targeted specifically as women. Explore women’s particular experiences under Nazi control through the stories of Jewish victims and survivors of the Holocaust, and learn about women who risked their lives to resist hatred and help others. By centering women’s experiences, you will gain a more nuanced understanding of the Holocaust and its impact. Registration encouraged. This community event is part of the “Learn the Story” series…
Understanding the Holocaust: The Escalation to Genocide
The Holocaust was one of the darkest times in human history, and many wonder how it could have happened. The Holocaust was the culmination of a decade-long, government-sponsored campaign of antisemitic propaganda. This evolved into legalized segregation, physical violence, and, ultimately, to genocide. Using artifacts and victim/survivor perspectives, we will discuss the escalation of hate from biased attitudes to bias-motivated violence during the Holocaust. Registration encouraged. This community event is part of the “Learn the Story” series we are hosting…
Special Next Generation Speaker: Dr. Charles Silow, Child of Survivors
The HC proudly hosts a Next Generation Speaker program, inviting descendants of Holocaust survivors to tell the personal stories of their families during the Holocaust. This speaker program also shines a light on the intergenerational impact of survivor experiences. Please join us to listen to Dr. Charles Silow share the story of his parents.
Special Sunday Talk: Jeff Cymerint, Son of a Survivor
The HC proudly hosts a Next Generation Speaker program, inviting descendants of Holocaust survivors to tell the personal stories of their families during the Holocaust. This speaker program also shines a light on the intergenerational impact of survivor experiences. Please join us on Sunday to listen to Jeff Cymerint tell the story of his father, Harry Cymerint.
Survivor Talk Sundays: Dr. Irene Miller
Every survivor’s story is unique and provides a special, first-hand account of life before, during, and after the Holocaust. Hearing from local Michigan survivors helps us see all the victims of the Holocaust as real people who had–and lost–family, friends, and communities. Please join us on Sundays to listen to a survivor speaker. Dr. Irene Miller Dr. Irene Miller was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1932. When Germany invaded Poland, Irene’s family tried to flee to the Soviet Union and…
Farmington Hills International Holocaust Remembrance Day Program
We are proud to partner with the city of Farmington Hills for an International Holocaust Remembrance Day program. Dr. Katie Chaka Parks, our Director of Education, will share largely untold stories of women during the Holocaust and how we can continue carrying on their legacies. The Cultural Arts Division invites you to join us for an evening of reflection, education, and community building, as we honor the past and look forward to a brighter future. The Cultural Arts Lecture Series…
VILNA: A RESISTANCE STORY
Exclusive Free Event for Members “Vilna: A Resistance Story” is a new musical that brings to life the extraordinary true story of Vitka Kempner, a 19-year-old Jewish woman who helped inspire the Jewish resistance movement in the Vilna Ghetto during the Holocaust. After the Nazis invade Poland, a fierce and fearless Vitka escapes to the free-spirited city of Vilna, Lithuania, where she joins a group of young artists and galvanizes them to take a stand against Nazi oppression. Vilna tells…