HMH Bearing Witness - December 2017

NEWS

NEWS

Lights of Hope for the Future

Messages of hope on an interactive mural

Bill Orlin gives his testimony

Children color in a chalk butterfly

Celebration of Hope and Closing Ceremony

Mallory Mincberg, Edith Mincberg

Benjamin Warren, Heidi Gerger

Martin Fein, Gary Markowitz

Mezuzah and began the ceremonial passing of the light from generation to generation to close out a chapter of HMH’s history. Two weeks later, HMH staff arrived at the museum’s temporary location and began unpacking. The museum reopened to the public at 9220 Kirby Drive on Friday, October 20, with two new changing exhibits. Left to Right: 1. Chalk art by Via Colori Team RussKell 2. Local musician Madeline Edwards performs live 3. Visitors tour the Museum 4. Holocaust survivor Rosine Chappell leads a tour

Ahead of HMH’s closure and temporary move to 9220 Kirby Drive, the museum welcomed the last patrons of its current footprint. All of Houston was invited to visit the building and its exhibits one last time, free of charge. The closing weekend was bittersweet. While it celebrated the museum’s upcoming major expansion and the opportunity to teach the next generation about the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy, it was also the end of an era. HMH’s Celebration of Hope brought 1,200 visitors to the museum,

The family-friendly affair featured testimonies from Holocaust survivors Dr. Anna Steinberger and Bill Orlin, live music, poetry readings from students and former Houston Poet Laureate Dr. Robin Davidson, food trucks, live demonstrations by Via Colori chalk artists and murals by student artists with messages of hope. HMH community partners Asia Society Texas, American Civil Liberties Union, Barnes and Noble, Center for Healing of Racism and the Japanese American Citizen League provided interactive activities for all ages. The following evening, HMH welcomed Holocaust survivors, museum founders and loyal supporters to the Lights of Hope for the Future closing ceremony. Founding Board Chair Martin Fein spoke about the importance of remembering our past, followed by current Board Chair Gary Markowitz’s remarks on building our future. Members of the Guild presented the

The Guild begins the ceremonial passing of the light

Jim Getola, Chaja Verveer

many of whom had never been before.

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Wendy Cohen, Bill and Shirley Morgan

Pauline Solnik, Dr. Anna Steinberger

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