Voice of the Museum

On January 26, we gathered at Illinois Holocaust Museum for a powerful keynote by Tracy Perrelli, Acting Deputy Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues at the U.S. Department of State. Reflecting on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Perrelli discussed the importance of Holocaust issues on U.S. foreign policy, and the Department of State… Read More

The following is a joint statement issued by The Florida Holocaust Museum, Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, The Zekelman Holocaust Center, Holocaust Center for Humanity, Holocaust & Humanity Center, and Holocaust Museum L.A. in response to the vandalism at Seattle’s Holocaust Center for… Read More

We are concerned about the latest reports of increasing verbal harassment and physical violence targeting Jewish students on college campuses. It is all the more alarming that some of the harassment uses references to the Holocaust. Jewish Americans hold a wealth of political viewpoints, backgrounds, and identities. It is antisemitic to assume that, by being… Read More

As the world watches the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, moments like this reverberate with many Holocaust Survivors. Today, on the 85th anniversary of “Kristallnacht,” several Survivors have come together to share a message with the world.  Our hearts are broken – but now is not the time to give up. Over 80 years ago… Read More

Resolution of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors WHEREAS: We – the community of Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center – mourn the murder and wounding of hundreds of soldiers and innocent Israeli civilians during an unprovoked attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists, which is known to have resulted in more than 1,300… Read More

Prior to Nazi Germany, in a period known as the Weimar Republic, queer people lived openly in a society that allowed LGBTQ+ spaces to exist to such an extent that Berlin was considered the queer capital of the world. In these spaces queer people found freedom, community, and joy living openly as their authentic selves…. Read More

The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center is proud to announce the appointment of national nonprofit leader Bernard Cherkasov as the Museum’s Chief Executive Officer. Cherkasov joins the Museum during an incredible moment in its history. In 2022, the Museum saw record-high attendance and gained international attention for its groundbreaking virtual reality exhibition, leadership combating… Read More

Museums are bearers of history. By housing the artifacts and documents of the past, we ensure that the truth, both noble and horrific, of what humanity has done remains shared and accessible. We at Holocaust museums around the world have a particular mission. The stories we tell are ones of destruction and pain, and of… Read More

This week, legislation was passed in Florida that restricts elementary school teachers from addressing gender and sexuality in the classroom. But cisgender and heterosexual identities are implicitly addressed in classroom settings every day. This bill is targeting LGBTQ+ kids and LGBTQ+ families. The “Don’t Say Gay” (HB 1557) bill is part of a larger effort… Read More