HMH Bearing Witness - November 2016

WINTER 2016, NO. 2

FROM THE CHA IR

INS IDE

20th Anniversary Brings New Beginnings

Chief Executive Officer Kelly J. Zúñiga, Ed.D.

Editor Robin Cavanaugh

When we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, we pause to reflect upon the year that has passed and examine our hopes and aspirations for the year ahead. For Holocaust Museum Houston this year marked our 20th anniversary, an opportunity to celebrate all of the tremendous achievements and accomplishments of HMH since its founding in 1996. The anniversary also marked the beginning of my term as Chairman. I was graciously prepared for this responsibility by working with and learning from my predecessor, former Chair, Gail Klein. Despite the stark lessons of history, we live in a world that requires continued reminders of the consequences of hate,

Holocaust Museum Houston Morgan Family Center 5401 Caroline Street | Houston, TX 77004

TEL: 713-942-8000 FAX: 713-942-7953 info@hmh.org

On the Cover The HOPE art is the resulting merger of “what hope looks like” canvases as painted by Board and staff members.

Holocaust Museum Houston is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is a member of the Houston Museum District Association. HMH Bearing Witness is the official newsletter of Holocaust Museum Houston.

© 2016, All rights reserved.

Gary Markowitz

Board of Trustees FY16-17

prejudice, and apathy. It is the mission of HMH to bear witness to those consequences and enlighten our visitors about the lessons of the Holocaust. With the generous support of our community, HMH has welcomed more than 2.1 million visitors and touched the lives of many more through our outreach programs. Our dedicated staff and program committee will continue to curate and present exceptional programs and exhibits in the coming year, while engaging the diversified communities we serve with exciting and innovative offerings. Two of these new programs are particularly noteworthy. As its name implies, “Connections” was created to connect community members with Survivors to help them with daily tasks and create relationships between Survivors and volunteers. This melding of generations is a wonderful learning experience for all involved. The inaugural “Engines of Change” program introduces high school students from the greater Houston area to Holocaust history so they may become ambassadors for HMH. We are proud to have 40 of Houston’s brightest students coming together each month to share their experiences while learning how they can promote hope over hate through outreach in their daily lives. Finally, I’d like to thank all those who attended our Guardian of the Human Spirit Luncheon honoring Ric Campo, Chairman and CEO of Camden Property Trust, and Chairman of the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee. The keynote speaker was Jamey Rootes, President of the Houston Texans, and Chairman of the Greater Houston Partnership; and Luncheon Chairs were Marcia and David Solomon, and Paula and Rick Stein. The Luncheon remains a success each year because generous Houstonians stand behind HMH and its mission. Thank you for all you do to support Holocaust Museum Houston. I look forward to working with each of you as we continue our mission to educate, enlighten and inform the world. Warm regards,

Chair Gary Markowitz

Vice Chairs DEVELOPMENT Heidi Gerger (Co-Chair)

Benjamin Warren (Co-Chair)

FACILITIES Butch Mach EDUCATION Kim Ruth OUTREACH Nancy S. Dinerstein SURVIVOR SERVICES Hyman Penn, M.D.

During the recent Board Retreat, Members of the Board of Trustees along with HMH staff took part in “Painting the Future.” Each participant painted “what hope looks like” to them in a fun and engaging ice breaker exercise.

Secretary Crystal Ashby

Treasurer Daniel P. Gordon

Immediate Past Chair Gail Klein

Engines of Change 08 Holocaust Museum Houston debuts new student ambassador program. Education Director Discusses Naomi Warren’s Legacy 10 Dr. Mary Lee Webeck writes about the passing of her friend and mentor Naomi Warren. GENOCIDE: Man’s Inhumanity to Humankind 15 Holocaust Museum Houston’s first juried exhibition is a huge success.

Ex-Officio Kelly J. Zúñiga, Ed.D. Chief Executive Officer | Holocaust Museum Houston Rick Kaplan Chair | Holocaust Museum Houston Foundation

Trustees Tali Blumrosen

Mark Mucasey Corey F. Powell Jerry Rochman Tracey Shappro Jennifer P. Stockel

Steve Estrin Cheryl Golub Guiillermo Guefen Laura Jaramillo Carl Josehart Nancy Li Jerry Martin Michael Morgan

The Butterfly Project is Headed to the United Nations

Alberta Totz Haya Varon Chaja Verveer Inna Wizig

Since its inception in April of this year, The Butterfly Project and its six display cases have been on view at The Galleria, Hobby and George Bush Intercontinental Airports, fellow museums, synagogues, schools and other public venues throughout Houston. Featuring handmade butterflies made by children from around the world and representing the 1.5 million children who perished during the Holocaust, The Butterfly Project has just confirmed an exhibition in the lobby of the United Nations from January 1 – 31, 2018, in conjunction with the January 27 International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.

Board Chair

Feedback Comments and suggestions are welcome and should be submitted to HMH Bearing Witness to news@hmh.org. Press Requests news@hmh.org

To learn how you can help this project, visit http://butterflies.hmh.org.

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WINTER 2016 3

NEWS

Intensity and Integrity: The 2016 Max M. Kaplan Summer Institute

Curatorial Department

From interactive learning to preservation of oral history artifacts and extending the Museum’s reach across the world, the HMH Curatorial Department achieved several milestones in 2016. The digitization of HMH’s Oral Testimonies at the Shoah Foundation reached a major goal in 2016 with the completion of the digitization of the tapes in the collection. We are now undergoing the next phase – indexing. To date, 225 digital video files have been indexed. We anticipate completion of indexing by the end of 2016. We expect our testimonies to be “live” on Shoah’s Visual History Archive (VHA) by February, 2017!

How did the Max M. Kaplan Summer Institute affect your thinking? How did it not? I found myself continually circling back to stories, people, cultures and experiences that are different than me. This was the closest experience I have had to graduate school. Learning is addictive and this is high quality. I am encouraged to spend more time on context and theory before introducing specific facts. Thank you for this opportunity. I am a better person and educator because of it. I have learned a host of new ways to explain and explore the Holocaust, genocide and current conflicts. This was an amazing week. I’m even more focused on teaching the importance of the individual to history. Thank you for making me a better teacher. This was an intellectually and pedagogically enriching experience. My knowledge has deepened. It is always a moving, inspiring, and motivating learning experience. I will be back next year! This being my first Summer Institute, I was welcomed with open arms and directions. HMH always presents the best seminars! They are very thoughtful and welcoming; the heart beat of this fine institution. Thanks to all involved in planning, teaching and funding. The Education Depart and HMH thank our loyal donors: the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany; the Max M. Kaplan Teacher Education Endowment Fund; the Gerald S. Kaplan Endowment Fund; and the Anna & Emil Steinberger Scholarship for Teacher Education Endowment Fund.

The Max M. Kaplan Summer Institute was a success in 2016, including our second “Holocaust Education 101” session on the first day of the week. The intent of this additional programming, extending the typical four-day institute, is to introduce those new to Holocaust education to the framework for teaching the subject. Forty educators participated this year, including three teachers from Romania. The Gerald S. Kaplan Endowment Lecture was presented by Professor Lawrence R. Douglas, James J. Grosfeld Professor of Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought at Amherst College. He spoke about justice as it is understood after the Holocaust. The following reflections from participants illuminate their experiences: For returning participants, what led you to attend the program this year? There are always amazing speakers who challenge me intellectually; I also appreciate the resources, connections, and networking opportunities provided. For new participants, what motivated you to apply to this program? Being a family with other educators. I heard this would happen, and it did. The moving and transformative experience I was provided during the Warren Fellowship. I am glad to have attended this amazing program.

Excited conversation, Chaz Z.

Alexandra Zapruder.

Several items from HMH’s Permanent Collection will be on exhibit at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. The Bullock Museum is hosting the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s traveling exhibition, “State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda” through January 9, 2017. Museum officials approached HMH requesting materials that could enhance the Bullock’s interpretation of the exhibition. Our contributions will challenge visitors to actively question, analyze and explore the long- term effects of propaganda. The Destroyed Communities interactive learning center reached a milestone on September 23, 2016. The database now offers access to 40 communities, 101 survivors and more than 460 photographs. Utilizing the touchscreen on

Elie Wiesel reading, Day 1.

From the Permanent Collection of Holocaust

Museum Houston; 2011.3.28, “If International Finance Jewry should succeed once more in plunging the peoples into a world war, the result will not be the victory of Jewry, but rather the destruction of the Jewish race in Europe. Adolf Hitler.”

Rosine Chappell with Romanian educators.

display in the Boniuk Library, visitors may now learn about the history of each community displayed on the HMH Memorial Slope, view photos of life before the Holocaust, and read Survivor stories. Members and guests will recall HMH’s medical ethics exhibition “How Healing Becomes Killing” on display in the Mincberg Gallery in 2007. We are excited to announce that a portion of the exhibition will be on permanent display at The Central Museum of Medicine of Ukraine in Kiev. The project could not have been realized without the contribution of Dr. Sheldon Rubenfeld, founder of the Center for Medicine after The Holocaust (CMATH) in Houston. Please contact Carol Manley, HMH Curator for more information.

Holocaust 101 with Dr. Mary Johnson, Facing History and Ourselves.

Max M. Kaplan Summer Institute, Group 2016.

At work.

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WINTER 2016 5

NEWS

NEXTGen Connections

Educator in Motion The HMH Education Department is excited and proud to introduce a new member of our team, Laurie Garcia. Laurie is joining HMH as our new “Educator in Motion.” In this capacity, Laurie will lead our new school and community outreach program as a visiting educator in fifth through twelfth grade classrooms and in community settings throughout the greater Houston area. Funded by generous grants to HMH, Laurie will provide a wide range of education programs free of charge. The “Educator in Motion” program will spotlight seven topics curated by the Education Department to highlight the mission of Holocaust Museum Houston. • “Images of the Holocaust” • “Personal Narratives of the Holocaust” • “The Possibility of Individual Choice: Upstanders During the Holocaust” • “Never Again? Contemporary Genocide”

Holocaust Museum Houston is a gathering place for Holocaust Survivors and members of the community to meet and build meaningful relationships. It is a privilege to know Survivors and hear their stories first hand. To expand the reach of these experiences, Holocaust Museum Houston will launch a new program this fall. “CONNECTIONS” will pair members of the Houston community with Holocaust Survivors to aid and support them when needed and to foster ongoing, dynamic and inspiring relationships. Through “CONNECTIONS” , volunteers will interact with Survivors through a broad range of activities, whether it is playing cards, having lunch or even running an errand. “CONNECTIONS” allows able members of our community to become a resource for our Survivors. It is equally as important that we learn the lessons of the Holocaust and dangers of hate from conversations with Survivors. Their powerful stories have gravity. “CONNECTIONS” seeks to make these experiences possible. Make your connection to “CONNECTIONS” when you contact Steven Hammer at shammer@hmh.org or 713-527-1609.

at Yad Vashem’s International School for Holocaust Studies Seminar for International Educators in Jerusalem. We spent our days in the classroom at Yad Vashem. During the evenings we explored the city of Jerusalem. On the weekends, we toured the length and breadth of Israel. From the Golan Heights to the Red Sea, from the top of Masada to the Dead Sea, we made the most of our excursions outside the classroom. In the classroom, where we spent most of our time we had the opportunity to meet with several Holocaust survivors, including Anne Franks’ childhood friend Hannah Pick, and two survivors who were saved by Oskar Schindler. We learned from such incredible thinkers as Dr. Yehuda Bauer and Nazi hunter Efraim Zuroff, as well as from each other. Everyone in the group brought their unique experiences and teaching styles, providing a remarkably rich experience. I can’t thank the Leibman family enough for providing the opportunity to learn about the Holocaust in such depth, and to experience Israel’s fascinating culture. Girl Scouts The Education Department continues its long association with the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, hosting a variety of workshops for Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts from across the greater Houston area. The Girls regularly come together at the Avrohm I. Weisnberg Multi-Purpose Learning Center to explore the lessons of the Holocaust and how each of them can work to build a more empathetic world. In 2016, Juniors earned the “Inside Government” badge; Cadettes earned their “Finding Common Ground” and “Science of Happiness” badges; Older Girls earned the “Social Innovator” and “Public Policy” badges. Curriculums are developed in coordination with the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, the second largest Girl Scout Council in the nation serving 26 Southeast Texas counties. Troops are welcome to join a pre-scheduled program or they may book their own tours and workshops.

• “All Behaviors Count: Stopping Hate; Starting Here” • “Art Created During the Holocaust: In Response To” • “Art Created Since the Holocaust: In Memory Of”

Laurie is bilingual (Spanish/English) and has a strong background in the Holocaust and genocide studies. In December 2016 she expects to receive her MA in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from Stockton University. The HMH Education Department looks forward to working with Laurie to implement the “Educator in Motion” program that will build connections between diverse Houston communities and the museum.

Laurie Garcia joins the HMH Education team as Educator in Motion.

Educators in Israel

Latino/a Outreach Fall 2016 brings engaging new opportunities to the Hispanic Outreach initiative at Holocaust Museum Houston. Through a grant funded by the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission, the HMH Education Department is translating two important curriculums into Spanish, “All Behaviors Count” and the HMH iBook featured in our Digital Curriculum Trunks. These translations will be used in bilingual and dual language classrooms. In addition to our two new translations, we are also working in concert with partners throughout the greater Houston area to promote the mission of HMH and raise awareness in the Houston Latino/a community. With the guidance and support of the Latino Initiatives Advisory Committee, chaired by Laura Jaramillo, Latino/a Outreach is working with Project Grad Houston, SER Jobs for Progress, and the University of St. Thomas to create new programming.

Mi Familia Vota’s Mario Salinas speaks to the Engines of Change student ambassadors about the importance of Civic Engagement.

Professor Zachary Doleshal, Hanna Pick, Emily Sample.

We are also looking forward to the opening of the Museum’s first bilingual Spanish/English exhibit. “Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program 1942-1964” makes its public debut in December and will run through May 2017. The exhibition will also be the setting for community events, presentations from scholars, and panel discussions during its six month run.

This year, I finally found a good answer to the eternal question: What did you do with your summer vacation? While the word “vacation” doesn’t quite fully describe the experience, it was an extraordinary summer – in Israel. Sam Houston State University Professor Zachary Doleshal and I joined a group of 28 other educators from around the world

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WINTER 2016 7

AROUND HMH

Engines of Change: Holocaust Museum Houston Student Ambassador Program

The Engines of Change Student Ambassadors represent a unique cross-section of the Houston community. Because the 40 students in the program come from 21 different schools across the region, we have encouraged them to host further discussion outside of our monthly meetings in the online sphere. This is a space for the students to share their pictures, questions, ideas and feedback with each other. These students are given this space to host a dialogue not only with one another, but with the greater public, with moderation provided by HMH staff. Please join our Ambassadors with ideas and questions as we create a positive online discussion space. https://enginesofchangeblog.wordpress.com/

What kind of world do you dream about? In September 2016, the HMH Education Department posed this question to 40 high school students in a new, year-long program. As we expected, the answers varied. However, a common theme ran through all the answers: a world where people can live with equality and without fear. Now in its inaugural year, the Engines of Change program is attracting a diverse pool of high school age applicants from across the Houston area. Some students arrive with a long history of involvement with the museum. For other students, HMH is a new and unique experience. Some students have Holocaust survivors in their families. Other students come from families who have only recently settled in the United States. We believe their breadth of experience will allow the group to not only learn together, aided by guest speakers, but also to learn from one another. Engines of Change is an opportunity for students from across the greater Houston area to come together not only to explore the important issues that face society today but also generate ideas for creating a more just and inclusive community. Engines of Change meetings are scheduled for one Sunday evening each month throughout the year. Each gathering features a different discussion topic. Topics include: • The Holocaust and What We Can Learn From it • The Election Process

• Countering the Rhetoric of Hate and Intolerance • Poverty and Related Issues in 21st Century America • Violence in Our Community, the Nation, and the World • Ethics • Education Equity • Genocide in the 20th and 21st Centuries • Social Media and Technology • Equality and Ideals

The inaugural class of Engines of Change Ambassadors, Class of 2017.

Our work around these topics is based on a foundation of knowledge of the Holocaust as we examine the influence of history on how we live and interact today. Each session features an expert to lead the discussion, enhanced by direct connections to the museum and the Houston community. The first session on September 18 began with a group tour of the museum followed by a discussion about what it means to gather in a Holocaust museum to explore current issues. When the participants were asked what drew them to apply to the program, one student replied, “To stand up for people who don’t have a voice and to better inform myself.” Other students voiced concerns about a range of issues from “underrepresentation of minorities” to “equal access to education” and “the manifestation of fear and ignorance as violence.” The students have already proven themselves to be deep thinkers with a heightened awareness of their role in society and society’s future. The HMH Education team looks forward to knowing each of the students and learning with them over the next year. For each gathering, dinner is generously provided by Local Foods.

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WINTER 2016 9

EDUCAT ION

and about being an upstander in a troubled world. Kate Starkes (2009) Oh, my heart is so heavy yet it’s also filled with starstruck appreciation for Naomi’s life’s light that continues to inspire me everyday. Today, I decided to dedicate my teacher education class to Naomi’s memory. I shared her story, her life’s cause and her forever impact on the world of education. She did it again. Her spirit is at work in all of us. I will stay the course. Mara Johnson (2016) I’m sorry to hear of this loss, and I am sending my condolences to the Warren and HMH families. Today marked the beginning of my Holocaust, genocide & human rights unit in my world lit class, and I shared my amazing experiences from the Warren Fellowship. Naomi’s light continues to shine, and it always will. Hillary Williams (2014) Naomi instilled a responsibility in each of us to uphold justice and stand tall. Her spirit was filledwith grace, grit, and tenacity. I am so honored to have known such a strong woman, beautiful soul and role model. Erin Balfour (2003) We celebrate her life not only as a singularly magnificent human being, but also as one who shaped the lives of so many around her. She is the stone dropped in the pond that sent ripples throughout the world. Ripples of peace, love, and hope. Tarah Burris (2004) Naomi Warren shared her story of survival and of building and continuing a beautiful life after the Holocaust. I promised her the day I met her that I would carry her story all the days of my life, and without a doubt I have. She quite simply was the truest example of grace, generosity, and strength. She filled so very many with love and will be missed dearly. Thank you to Naomi and members of the Warren family for what you have created here at Holocaust Museum Houston. There is no greater honor for an educator than for her students to achieve, and achieve the Warren Fellows have. As I reflect on these words, so eloquent, I would like to say to Naomi and members of the Warren Family, that through these stirring words, reflections of Naomi’s life, love, and commitment to education, I pledge to you to continue your work, with dedication and in your memory. We will continue to shine your light after darkness, for you have shown us how.

She was a wonder. She was “absolutely incredible,” a description Naomi used to describe something or someone very special. Many of you have heard her use these words, and it always delighted me to hear the joy in her voice as she did so. I will always hear her. Naomi’s life was filled with light following darkness. This is one of the reasons that I believe so many individuals came to love her. Throughout her life and most especially during the Holocaust, Naomi defied darkness with her ingenuity and determination, with her hope for her future. Light shone forth from Naomi. In no way is this more evident than in the words of educators who came to revere Naomi. On Naomi’s 80th birthday, her children created the Warren Fellowship for Future Teachers, holding its first week-long program in 2003 at HMH. Today, Fellows are selected for the Warren Fellowship from a national pool of applicants, or as Spector/Warren Fellows from the Syracuse University student population. In January and May the Fellows come to learn about the history and lessons of the Holocaust and genocide. They study at the Museum, in its exhibits, with distinguished scholars, experts in pedagogy and they meet and spend time with Holocaust Survivors. As a result of being Warren Fellows, 540 future educators have studied at Holocaust Museum Houston. This time is intense, it is emotional, and it is career changing. Holocaust scholar Lawrence Langer has said that educating about the Holocaust is like opening a door of impossibility, for how does one teach the unfathomable? I believe that the Warren Fellowships have created a model that is effective, and Naomi Warren and her family have been at the center of its creation. She demonstrated her absolutely incredible strength, energy and wisdom to welcome the beginning educators to learn this painful history, and she made this possible by sharing her sense of life, and of light after darkness. Now, I will share with you several of the hundreds of messages I received from Fellows after Naomi’s passing, reflecting on their time with Naomi. Before I do so, I would like to ask you to consider that if each Warren Fellow teaches between 30 - 100 students per year that means that between 16,200 to 54,000 students per year learn about the Holocaust; about Naomi and the Survivors the Fellows met;

DR. MARY LEE WEBECK DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

To everything there is a season. . . In early October Holocaust Museum Houston lost a heroine and an advocate, and my column in this issue could be about no other than my beloved friend and our revered Board Member, Naomi Kaplan Warren. I offer these words in celebration of a brilliant, beautiful, kind and good woman. Fifteen years ago, after meetingNaomi Warren at theUniversity of Texas at Austin, where I was a faculty member, I fell in love with her. Naomi changed my life, quite literally. Because of her, I work at and promote the mission of Holocaust Museum Houston. Naomi will forever remain with me, close to my heart, close to my soul. She welcomed me into her world as we came to know each other. Our friendship was enriched by seriousness: the mission, vision and public values of HMH and also by joy and laughter. We laughed together about many things. Naomi had a grand sense of humor, she shared her joie de vivre, her exuberant enjoyment of life and the grace she held so naturally. Naomi changed my life, as she changed the lives of so many people. First, her children: Helen Spector, Geri Roper and Benjamin Warren. She taught her children well, to bring light to the world by making a difference, which each of them has done, in her or his own way. Naomi was so thankful and so proud of these amazing human beings, who became role models for their own children. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren continue her legacy. They are filled with love for Naomi, or Nunu as she was called by family members. On Rosh Hashanah this year, their lives changed, irrevocably. Now, they are further bound to keep Naomi’s memory and share her wonder, as are we at HMH.

We thank the Survivors who have spoken toWarren Fellows since 2003 for adding somuch to the Fellowship experience. Your stories will live on and be shared in classrooms around the world.

Ruth Steinfeld Sonia Stern Z”L Lissa Streussand Chaja Verveer Naomi Warren Z”L Ben Waserman Laure Wittner Zoly Zamir

Bill Orlin Riki Roussos Pauline Rubin Sam Rubin Z”L Rubin Samelson Z”L Sam Spritzer Z”L Anna Steinberger Larry Steinfeld Z”L

Edith Hamer Z”L Vera Hollo Z”L Louise Joskowitz Walter Kase Z”L Hania Lewkowitz Al Marks Edith Mincberg Bill Morgan

Stefi Altman Renia Berzak Z”L Ruth Brown Alice Cahana Rosine Chappell Helen Colin Z”L Renee Danziger Z”L

Celina Fein Lili Gordon

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WINTER 2016 11

L IBRARY HAPPENINGS

The Boniuk Library Reaches Out to Local Students In September, HMH Librarian Maria Harris visited Houston-area colleges and universities to share information about resources and research help available from The Boniuk Library. Students learned about the unique titles in the library’s 10,000-item collection and received information about the museum’s Oral History Collection. The Boniuk Library has seen an increase in visitors since these presentations and Ms. Harris is planning to expand the outreach program in the coming academic year. The Boniuk Library houses more than 9,500 volumes and includes a reference section, a rare books collection, juvenile literature and an audio-visual collection.

Let ’s Be Friends!

“Suite Française” by Irène Némirovsky Boniuk Library Book Club TUESDAY, NOV. 15, 2016 6:30 P.M. TO 8 P.M. CONFERENCE ROOM Holocaust Museum Houston librarian Maria Harris leads a discussion of “Suite Française” by Irène Némirovsky. A story of life in France under the Nazi occupation, “Suite Française” includes two parts- “Storm in June,” set amid the chaotic 1940 exodus from Paris, and “Dolce,” set in a German-occupied village rife with resentment, resistance, and collaboration. Registration for this free event is limited to 12 participants and may be offered on a second date. If registration is full, contact Maria Harris at (713) 527-1610 or mharris@hmh.org to add your name to the interest list.

Let’s Be Friends! Storytime SATURDAY, DEC. 3, 2016 10 A.M. TO 12 P.M. AVROHM I. WISENBERG

“A Thousand Hills to Heaven: Love, Hope, and a Restaurant in Rwanda” by Josh Ruxin Boniuk Library Book Club TUESDAY, DEC. 13, 2016 6:30 P.M. TO 8 P.M. CONFERENCE ROOM Holocaust Museum Houston librarian Maria Harris leads a discussion of “A Thousand Hills to Heaven: Love, Hope, and a Restaurant in Rwanda” by Josh Ruxin. Newlyweds Josh and Alissa were at a party when they received a challenge that shook them to the core: do you think you can really make a difference in a place like Rwanda, where the scars of genocide linger and poverty is rampant? While Josh worked hard bringing food and health care to the country’s rural villages, Alissa was determined to put their foodie expertise to work. A memoir of love, adventure, and family, “A Thousand Hills to Heaven” provides a remarkable view of how, through health, jobs, and economic growth, our foreign aid programs can be quickly remodeled and work to end poverty worldwide. Registration for this free event is limited to 12 participants, but it may be offered on a second date. If registration is full, contact Maria Harris at (713) 527-1610 or mharris@hmh.org to add your name to the interest list.

MULTI-PURPOSE LEARNING CENTER Grandparents, grandchildren, parents and children are invited to enjoy a fun story time and writing workshop hosted by the Friends of The Boniuk Library. “Let’s Be Friends!” will feature two picture book read-alouds about friendship, followed by crafts, snacks and writing workshops presented by Writers in the Schools (WITS). Writers in the Schools (WITS) weaves together art and education in libraries, museums, parks, hospitals, and community centers, bringing the joy of stories to children throughout Houston. For more information about WITS, visit http://witshouston.org/. This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited. Please register in advance for “Let’s Be Friends!” at www.hmh.org/ registerevent.aspx. For more information please contact Maria Harris, Librarian, at library@hmh.org or (713) 942-8000, x.110. The Friends of the Library was created to connect Holocaust Museum Houston members and the Houston community with The Boniuk Library’s collection and resources. All funds raised by Friends of the Library help HMH build the collection, increase visibility and expand public access to the collection.

Ship in a Bottle Saturday Teaches Kids about Danish Rescue Boats

Mary Esther Gonzalez who brought history to life with her kid- friendly description of Danish rescue boats and the 7,200 Danish Jews who were saved during the Holocaust. Ms. Gonzalez closed her presentation by reading aloud a portion of Lois Lowry’s classic children’s book “Number the Stars.” The morning concluded with an art project created by the Houston Maritime Museum. With a passion for learning, The Friends of The Boniuk Library provide educational and entertaining events that regularly bring children and families to Holocaust Museum Houston. On Saturday, December 3, the Friends will collaborate with Writers in the Schools (WITS) to present “Let’s Be Friends!,” a story time and writing workshop for young children. Please visit www.hmh.org for details about other upcoming Friends of The Boniuk Library programs at Holocaust Museum Houston.

On Saturday, September 24, Friends of The Boniuk Library welcomed families and children for a unique event exploring an age old question – How do you get a ship into a bottle? The Friends partnered with the Houston Maritime Museum to create “Ship in a Bottle Saturday,” a day of education and fun. Internationally recognized miniaturist Burton Reckles kicked off the day with a talk and demonstration guiding the children through the process of building ships in bottles. A dynamic speaker, Burton held his audience spellbound as he shared the secrets of the unique art form. Burton also offered several examples of his work for children to handle and examine, including a model of Holocaust Museum Houston’s very own Danish fishing boat, the Hanne Frank. After his demonstration, Mr. Reckles lead the children outside to see the real Hanne Frank. The group was joined by HMH docent

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WINTER 2016 13

EXHIB I TS + EVENTS

UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Hélène Berr: A Young Girl in Occupied Paris Dir. Jérôme Prieur (USA, 2013, 65 min, Documentary, English version) Thursday, November 10, 2016, 7:00 p.m . In conjunction with HMH’s exhibit “Hélène Berr: A Stolen Life,” this film imparts further insight into the life of Hélène Berr, a brilliant, young Jewish student of literature at the Sorbonne University, who lived in Paris during the Nazi occupation. In her diary, from 1942 till 1944, Berr described the mounting horrors of the persecution of the Jews. She was arrested in 1944 with her parents and sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau. She died in Bergen-Belsen, a few days before liberation. Her secret diary was kept in the family and not published until 2008. Utilizing previously unseen footage shot in occupied Paris, official archival images and family photographs including remarkable home movies, French director Jérôme Prieur offers a highly original and captivating adaptation of Hélène Berr’s journal. Free admission. Private members only reception at 6:30 pm. Wednesday, December 14, 2016, 6:30 p.m. Renowned psychiatrist, Joel Dimsdale, will shed new light on the psychology of the war criminals at Nuremberg. After an international war crimes trial in Nuremberg was convened, a psychiatrist, Douglas Kelley, and a psychologist, Gustave Gilbert, explored the psychology of the Nazi leaders, using extensive psychiatric interviews, IQ tests, and Rorschach inkblot tests. The findings were so disconcerting that portions of the data were hidden away for decades. The research became a topic of intense debates. Drawing on his decades of experience as a psychiatrist and the dramatic advances in psychiatry, psychology, and neuroscience since Nuremberg, Joel E. Dimsdale reviews the findings and examines in detail four of the war criminals: Robert Ley, Hermann Göring, Julius Streicher, and Rudolf Hess. Joel E. Dimsdale is distinguished professor emeritus and research professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. Book signing after the lecture. Free admission and open to the public. Anatomy of Malice: The Enigma of the Nazi War Criminals Joel Dimsdale, MD.

Grounds for Dreaming: Mexican Americans, Mexican Immigrants and the California Farmworker Movement Dr. Lori Flores Thursday, February 16, 2017, 6:30 p.m. Known as “The Salad Bowl of the World,” California’s Salinas Valley became an agricultural empire owing to the toil of diverse farmworkers, including Latinos. Professor Flores will discuss how Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants organized for their rights in the decades leading up to the seminal strikes led by Cesar Chavez. She will also look closely at how different groups of Mexicans— U.S. born, bracero, and undocumented— confronted and interacted with one another during this period. Her book is an incisive study of labor, migration, race, gender, citizenship, and class, and offers crucial insights for today’s ever-growing U.S. Latino demographic, the farmworker rights movement, and future immigration policy. Book signing after the lecture. Professor Lori Flores is the assistant professor in the Department of History at Stony Brook University. Annual Yom Hashoah Observance Venue: Congregation Beth Israel Sunday, April 23, 2017, 3:00 p.m. The annual community-wide Yom HaShoah Commemoration is a time to remember the six million Jewish people who perished in the Holocaust and to pay tribute to those who survived. For more information, please call 713-942-8000 ext.104 or register at: www.hmh.org/RegisterEvent.aspx Unless otherwise stated, admission is $8 for non-members, $5 for members, seniors and students.

Genocide: Man’s Inhumanity to Humankind ON VIEW THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2016 MINCBERG GALLERY This juried Texas contemporary art exhibition is the inspired creation of HMH’s changing exhibition committee. The committee members include Gus Kopriva, owner of the Redbud Gallery in Houston and juror/ curator Clint Willour, retired Curator for the Galveston Arts Center. Sixty-five selections representing 2D and 3D media, with the exception of film and video, are featured from the more than 600 submissions by Texas area artists, inspiring collaboration with the museum and further promoting the programs and activities of HMH. Genocide, in all its forms, continues to resonate and affect the human condition even in today’s world. Please visit HMH’s website for more information. Image: “Justice for Genocide” by artist Leslie M. Guzmán

Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program, 1942-1964 ON VIEW DECEMBER 9, 2016 THROUGH MAY 14, 2017 CENTRAL GALLERY Curated by the Smithsonian’s SITES program, this traveling exhibition chronicles the history of the largest guest worker program in U.S. history. The bracero program brought millions of Mexican nationals north to work on short- term labor contracts across this country. The work was backbreaking and living conditions poor, but the program offered Mexican men economic opportunities and much-needed work. Their contributions to communities in Mexico and the U.S. have had a lasting impact on the political, economic, social, and cultural landscapes of both nations. By addressing an important but overlooked chapter in American history, Bittersweet Harvest, the Museum’s first Spanish/English exhibit, offers a timely exploration of an issue that remains relevant today. Photo by Leonard Nadel, 1956 Courtesy Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History

A Celebration of Survival, by Artist Barbara Hines ON VIEW JANUARY 19 THROUGH MARCH 12, 2017 MINCBERG GALLERY Combining various mediums and technology, this artistic exhibition by Houston Artist Barbara Hines addresses the Holocaust and other genocides framed in a message of redemption and forgiveness. Inspiring visitors to focus on what “could be”, rather than the horrors of the past, the exhibition highlights rescuers and prominent Jewish thinkers. Oskar Schindler diaphanous silkscreen by Artist Barbara Hines

Memorial de la Shoah Paris Executive Director Jacques Fredj, The Honorable Sujiro Seam, Consul General of France in Houston, and HMH CEO Kelly J. Zúñiga at the opening of “Hélène Berr, A Stolen Life.”

Natasha Bleyzer, Julia Smilianska, Director of the Institute of Judaica in Kiev and curator of “Babi Yar: Faces and Fates, 75th Anniversary of the Tragedy,” in conjunction with SigmaBleyzer, Houston,/DAR Kiev, Ukraine, and HMH Chief Curator of Collections and Exhibitions Carol Manley at the exhibit’s opening.

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EXHIB I TS + EVENTS

GENOCIDE: Man’s Inhumanity to Humankind Museum’s First Juried Exhibition A Success Over 200 artists and friends of the museum came out on October 19, 2016 for the opening reception for our contemporary juried exhibit, “GENOCIDE: Man’s Inhumanity to Humankind.” The first of its kind at the museum, the exhibition featured 65 selections, out of a whopping 600 submissions, exploring the suffering humans are capable of bestowing on one another. “GENOCIDE” is the brainchild of Holocaust Museum Houston’s changing exhibitions committee, including Gus Kopriva, owner of the Redbud Gallery in Houston, and Clint Willour, former curator for the Galveston Arts Center. Willour was also the juror of the exhibition. He has served as juror for numerous commercial and non-profit organizations. “This exhibit crosses centuries and five continents expressing the hatred and evil in the past and present,” said Clint Willour. “The message is clear. We have not evolved as a human race.” Photographer Joe C. Aker took home first prize for his piece, “If You Kill Enough of Them They Will Quit Fighting,” which features a collage of several images of genocide, spanning centuries, overlaid by a photograph of a Buddhist monk. Robert Barsamian’s piece, “My Father’s Mother Remembered,” won second prize, while “Immunization” by Rachael Epstein was awarded third. Inviting artists with ties to Texas inspires collaboration with the museum and further promotes the programs and activities of HMH. Privately donated cash prizes were awarded for first, second and third place. The exhibit runs through December 31, 2016 in the Mincberg Gallery.

Artist Ava Cosey with “Legacy of a Lie”

Marian Luntz and Artist James Kanan with “Fight’n Phil Sheridan”

Second place winner “My Father’s Mother Remembered” by Robert Barsamian

Joe Treanor and Artist Kelly Lee Webeck with “Remains of History”

Artist Carolyn Dahl with “Purse of Violence”

Artist Michael Roque Collins with “Sojourn in the Shadowlands - 20th Century Totems”

Artist Leslie M. Guzman with “Justice for Genocide”

Gus Kopriva, “GENOCIDE” exhibition winner Joe C. Aker, and Clint Willour with “If You Kill Enough of Them They Will Quit Fighting”

Third place winning entry “Immunization” by Rachael Epstein

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SPEAKING FROM THE HEART

AFF INI TY GROUPS

Joann Greenbaum HMH Planned Giving Profile When you visit Holocaust Museum Houston on a Monday morning, Joann Greenbaum is one of the first friendly faces you’ll see, greeting you from her perch at the front desk. A native of Manheim, Germany, Joann has been working at the Museum for over four years. “Someone at a Hadassah meeting learned I was from Germany, and had escaped the Nazi occupation,” Joann recalls. “They asked me if I’d consider volunteering, and I’ve been working here weekly, ever since.” “I was asked to attend a survivor’s meeting even though I was not in a camp,” Joann said. “I am considered a survivor, because I came here in 1938 with my parents and sisters. I was only two. We sailed on the Queen Mary and settled in New York, where my father was a grocer. After a time, we moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where I earned my BS and my teaching certificate, and taught third through fifth grade students for over 20 years. In my spare time, I taught English to refugees.” Joann’s mother was very entrepreneurial and rented out part of their duplex. This gave Joanne an early insight into real estate, and to working on her own. After an interview for a teaching post in Houston, Joann moved here in 1961 and began teaching again at the elementary school level. She took real estate classes in the summer. Before long, she became a broker, selling houses and rental properties, first for Century 21, and later on her own. She worked in the field for almost 30 years. “I was fairly successful, if I do say so myself,” she said. In her free time, she taught Sunday school at Congregation Emanu El, was an active member of Congregation Beth Yeshurun and a local leader with Hadassah, traveling to conventions around the country and Israel. “I have been to Israel many times, and I go to family events around the country for Bar Mitzvahs and weddings,” adds Joann. “Our family lives all over the world. Now that I’m retired it gives me many opportunities to travel, even back to Germany.” In her early 20s, Joann took her first trip back to Manheim, where she saw her old home and spent several weeks enjoying her native country. Years later, she traveled to Germany with one of her sisters at the invitation of the German government, which hosted a group of survivors from across the U.S. “We were treated like royalty, and I was able to see the Jewish cemetery where my grandmother is buried,” she recalls. “I’m grateful my family escaped Germany when we did, so we didn’t have to witness the Holocaust. It was a miracle.” In recognition of her unique life story, Joann, who has already gifted an annuity to HMH, chose to bequest her home to the Museum, since her family “already has plenty of possessions.” “I am an active supporter of Hadassah and St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, but this is the gift that is most meaningful to me,” she says. Ultimately, Joann’s name will be prominently displayed outside the HMH store, right near the spot she sits every Monday morning.

Holocaust Museum Houston offers a variety of opportunities for our members to support theMuseumwhile networking and creating new connections to learn more about the Holocaust and the arts and culture environment in Houston. In addition to benefits you receive at your membership level, we invite you to join one of the Museum’s affinity groups. Each exciting group is comprised of individuals who have chosen an even deeper commitment to Holocaust Museum Houston through social networking, educational programming and service projects.

Next Generation (ages 21 to 39)

Survivor Joann Greenbaum makes meaningful gifts to the Museum.

The Museum’s young professionals group, Next Generation is dedicated to promoting inclusion among individuals through preserving the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides and cultivating awareness of these lessons in contemporary society. You can join with just a donation, small or large.

Glen Rosenbaum opened up his gorgeous midcentury home and ran his private train collection for The Art Circle and participating children including HMH staffer Stephanie Dugan’s daughter Morgan.

“I am very fortunate to be able to do this,” she said. “And it feels very good. It means everything to give back.” - Joann Greenbaum

THE BONIUK LIBRARY

The Guild

Friends of the Library

The Guild serves the mission of the Museum with commitment and unites members of the Museum community at large, through social, educational and service projects. Join the The Guild for just $25.

The Friends of the Library connects HMH members and the Houston community with The Boniuk Library’s collection and resources. All funds raised by Friends of the Library are committed to growing the collection, increasing the Library’s visibility and expanding public access to the collection. Join the Friends of the Library at the $100, $200 or $500 level.

Art Circle

The Art Circle at Holocaust Museum connects members with artists and collectors engaged in social, political and/ or human rights issues. Funds raised by your Art Circle membership support the art exhibition program at the Museum. Join the Art Circle as an individual or take advantage of special rates for couples and young professionals.

A Museum membership is required to become a supporter of any affinity group. To join any group, call Member Services at 713-527-1616 or email membership@hmh.org.

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SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS Jordan Fein

Penecost, Shavott Offering Mark’s Demolition Service Hyman Penn Byron Capito Edmund Perwien Barbara and Art Squires Gregg Philipson Doris and Fred Kelly Madeline Podorzer Shelley Hubble Jack Pompan Terry LeFebvre Janet Rae Gail and Milton Klein Eileen Reed Patricia and Aaron Fradkin Marilynn Rosenthal Renée and Henry Bickart Rivka Roussos Sandra and Van Lessig Kelli & Ivan and Brian & Emily Gail and Milton Klein Beth and Wayne Safro Sylvia and Raymond Levin Aaron Samelson Yaffa Samelson Harry Samelson Yaffa Samelson Emily Sample Gail and Milton Klein Bertha Sanchez Rosselle and Andres Sanchez Joyce and Arthur Schechter Marc Grossberg Armand Shapiro Linda and Stephen Paine Lisa Sheinbaum Joanne and Donald Brodsky Mitzi Shure Sylvia and Steven Brody Lester Smith William J. Morgan Sergio Soroka Fabi and Ron Laby Anna Steinberger Susan Asimakis Jenny Dudley Dianne and Alan Sacks Ruth K. Steinfeld Pepi and Edward Nichols Kurt Van Gilder Sandra and Van Lessig Evelyn Wisenberg Roz and William Fink

Inna Wizig Caroline and Stephen Esses Teri and Joel Rosenthal Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Marc Grossberg Eleanor and Joseph Zuber Debbie Levin Kelly Zúñiga Martin and Terry Cominsky Mr. Daniel P. Gordon GET WELL: Raymond C. Levin Dorita and Hertzel Aron

TRIBUTE GI F TS

Fran and Mark Berg Rae and Paul Engel

Leah and Jonathan Gross Judy and Dennis Hummel Gary Kelley Lucy H. Lewis Cathy and Bill McNamara Irene and Alexander Wolchansky Beth and Stuart Yudofsky Ronald Grabois Tamara Savage Punkin and Walter Hecht Eileen and Dr. Leonard Weisman Nancy Li Dorothy and Joshua Dressler Eileen Reed Gail and Milton Klein Ellen Trachtenberg Abigail Reeves Frank Yelin Sylvia and Raymond Levin THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING: William Orlin Stephen N. Bowen Rotary Club of West U Ruth K. Steinfeld Cindy Proske IN MEMORY OF: Shirley and Jack Alter Courtney Tutt Joan Schiff Beren Judy and Mark Mucasey Max and Sally Binder Victoria and Howard Dyer-Smith Mother Bleyzer Richard Leibman Leon Cooper Theba and Buster Feldman Cheryl and Stephen Golub Betty J. Rickman Sylvia Feldman Sharon and Steven Cohen Sam Feldt Barbara and Leonard Roth Jerry Finger H. Fred and Velva G. Levine Phil Flowers Ms. Florence Selber Gilbert Gertner Donna and Tony Vallone

Tributes from Feb. 1, 2016 through June 30, 2016 Holocaust Museum Houston’s Tribute Program lets you honor or memorialize a friend, family member or loved one. Each tribute of $18 or more provides the opportunity to make a donation to HMH in their honor. It’s a meaningful way to support the Museum’s mission. Your donation allows us to educate the community about the Holocaust, remember the 6 million Jews and other innocent victims and honor the survivors’ legacy. Below are the names of donors who participated in the Tribute Program along with those they chose to recognize. Tributes are listed alphabetically.

IN HONOR OF: Honi Abbott Edith and William Orlin Vojtech Ackerman Jackie and Richard Mark Kristin Albers Lamm Gail and Milton Klein Joseph Altman Renée and Henry Bickart Stefi Altman Helen G. Brounes Andrea Fradkin Regina J. Rogers Jeanette Siciliano Jimmy Antoine Gail and Milton Klein Dorita Aron Abigail Reeves Adele Barrier Gail and Milton Klein Tali Blumrosen Dorit and Martin Aaron

Andrew Fastow Jill Levy Celina Fein Lynn S. Bliss Helen and Cal Cohn Abigail Reeves Jordan Fein Rebecca Lunstroth Edith Mincberg Leslie Field Gail and Milton Klein Simon Fredericks Barbara and Art Squires Martha and Donald Freedman Sam W. Freedman Heidi and David Gerger Edward R. Allen Ajit Giani Living Word Lutheran Church Ilona Grunwald Fran and Mark Berg Steven Hammer Gail and Milton Klein Maria Harris Gail and Milton Klein Sandy Harris Edith and William Orlin Punkin Hecht

Sharon Jaffee Sharon and Alvin Jaffee Marvin Kaplan Gail and Milton Klein Walter C. Kase Mrs. Walter Kase Daphne Kearson Gail and Milton Klein Gail Klein Gayle and Kenneth Adam Dorothy and Sam Crocker Denise and Steven Estrin Leslie R. Field Joel Goldblatt Robin and William Ladin Catherine and John Pearson Lois and George Stark Ellen and Daniel Trachtenberg Richard Leibman Dee Dee Dochen Velva Levine Theba and Buster Feldman Noreen Lewitton Sandra and Thomas Hedrick Carolyn and Harry Rosenthal Marlene and Norman Rosenthal Lois and George Stark Tribute Goods, Karen Pulaski Sunni and Gary Markowitz Frank Stowell Diane and John Merrill Dorita and Hertzel Aron Ronald Morgan Karen and Glen Doshay Benjamin Mosier Paula and David Ginsburg Kevin Obermeyer Renée and Henry Bickart Barry Margolis Jim R. Smith Rosalyn and Barry Margolis Rabbi Samuel Karff

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Stefi Altman Abigail Reeves Ashley Croft Gail and Milton Klein Iris Gardener Lisa Stone Leon Horowitz

Jay S. Resh Ruth Silver

Jill Kantrow Ms. Florence Selber Joan Lebow Johnita and Robert Lebow Sandra B. Lessig Michael S. Kesselman Noreen Lewitton Dorita and Hertzel Aron Madeline and William Podorzer Ronald Morgan Hanna Gleiberman Laurie and Michael Mucasey Gail and Milton Klein Mark Mucasey Laurie and Michael Mucasey Marika Murray Gail and Milton Klein Pepi Nichols Abigail Reeves Jean Robin Johnita and Robert Lebow George Somogyi Angela Leary Amanda Whiteside Gail and Milton Klein Inna Wizig Scott Wizig

Sharon Jacobs and Leonard A. Davis Board of Trustees, Advisors, and Staff Gail and Milton Klein Catherine Caverly Gail and Milton Klein Martin and Kelly Cohen Fein Heather and Richard Holmes Rabbi Samuel Karff Jim R. Smith Lois and George Stark Nancy and Hans Strohmer Tribute Goods, Karen Pulaski Irene and Alexander Wolchansky Helen Colin Lynn S. Bliss Debbye Crofoot-Morley Gail and Milton Klein Denise and Steven Estrin Annette and Daniel Gordon Barbara and Raymond Kalmans Marsha and Stanley Stein

Shirley and Jay Marks Punkin and Walter Hecht Bernice R. Feld

Carol and Barry Goodfriend Shirley and Maury Gurwitch Herbert Lesser Krista Heide

Gail and Milton Klein Leisa Holland-Nelson Gail and Milton Klein Holocaust Museum Houston Foundation Gail and Milton Klein Simone Irwin Gail and Milton Klein

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