The Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center marked the opening of its new Holocaust Memorial and Education Center on Sunday, Dec. 10.
Some 300 attended the dedication ceremony at the JCC, located at 775 Talamini Road in Bridgewater.
"We are extremely proud to open our new Holocaust Center," Laura Friedman, Executive Director of the JCC, said. "This Center honors the Survivors of our community of Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties and surrounding counties, and all who perished in the Holocaust, the Righteous and the Liberators. Our Center recognizes the Second Generation, their Descendants, and all to come so they may continue to tell the story of the Holocaust.
"The Holocaust Center is designed for individuals of all ages to visit. I know it is an extraordinary place that JCC members and the entire local community will utilize and benefit from," she added.
The Holocaust Memorial and Education Center provides extensive information on Holocaust history, features a Survivor Registry and database, an archive in the registry featuring family photos, videos and memorabilia; and will also provide programs and speakers.
A local artist, designer and second generation Holocaust survivor, Evelyn Rauch, created a beautiful and moving glass mosaic mural to honor the souls that were lost in the Holocaust and those that survived and found strength to go on. It is a reminder to never forget the horrors of the Holocaust and the resiliency of the Jewish people.
The Center also includes two educational kiosks, featuring historical information and websites. The Survivor Registry includes personal accounts of local survivors and Second Generation family members. An Endowment has been created to each year provide four trips for local teens to participate in the March of the Living trip in Poland.
The JCC is extremely grateful to and acknowledges the group of individuals who worked countless hours to make this new Holocaust Memorial and Education Center a reality for the community. Committee Members include Nancy Gorrell, Chair; Mark Chazin, Laura Friedman, Sandra Krawitz, Eric Lavitsky, Evelyn Rauch, Richard Skydell and Wally Yosafat. The Holocaust Advisory Committee members are George Blank, Brian Cige, Margit Feldman, Tova Friedman, Peppy Margolis, Elise Prezant, Jerry Starr, Robin Wishnie and Elyse Wolff.
Anyone who would like to learn more about The JCC Holocaust Memorial and Education Center, or make a tax deductible donation, should contact Laura Friedman at 908-443-9001 or LFriedman@ssbjcc.org.
Submitted by the The Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center