Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus

The tale of the Holocaust is one of epic proportions. It is a history not only of evil, although the evil is undeniable, but also of great courage, strength and righteousness.

At America's first free-standing Holocaust Memorial Center - we have prided ourselves on vividly portraying the Holocaust for more than 22 years, receiving international accolades and heartfelt thanks from our millions of visitors.

The visit to the Holocaust Center changed our lives” is the most prevalent reaction following a visit to the HMC.  Witnessing the horrors perpetrated by the most educated society in Europe brings the rude awakening that education, including religious education, is no barrier against hatred and violence.  The education that one absorbs in the HMC veers one towards constructive social consciousness.  By highlighting and disseminating knowledge of the acts of the righteous and their constructive consequences, the HMC serves as a powerful antidote and countervailing force to the hatred and evil forces of destruction.  The most effective way of combating hatred and evil is to strengthen, enhance, and enlarge the legion of the righteous.

The Holocaust Memorial Center's stated objectives are:To preserve the memory of the 6,000,000 Jews murdered in the Holocaust.

• To preserve the history of the 5,000 Jewish communities wiped out by the Nazis.
• To record the apathy of the many who did nothing and to honor those who risked their lives to save Jews.
• To recall the cultural, social, and religious richness of Jewish life in Europe prior to the Holocaust.
• To record the terror of the Nazi Holocaust and the events that led to it.
• To help future generations understand and direct their lives to the maintenance of an open, free society.
• To nourish a social consciousness whereby the righteous acts of the few become the standard of the many.

The Holocaust Memorial Center's mission is expressed in its logo, which is composed of the four stylized Hebrew characters that spell the word Zachor, which means "Remember."

It is our hope that by providing opportunities for the ongoing study of the Holocaust and of those individuals who in the midst of evil stood for the best, rather than worst, of human nature, we are creating a legacy for present and future generations – a legacy that can be used as a guide for righteous human behavior.  In a world increasingly faced with sectarian strife and intolerance, it is supremely important that we learn the lessons the Holocaust has to teach as we strive to maintain an open, free and ethical society.