The Jewish History Museum & Holocaust History Center in downtown Tucson has a streamlined new name: Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center.
The name, approved by the Museum’s Board of Directors in October, is the result of months of deliberations and conversations with stakeholders, says Board President Eric Schindler. Along with being more succinct, Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center (TJMHC) cites the Museum’s physical location. The Museum is located at 564 S. Stone Ave., in the historic Barrio Viejo neighborhood.
The Board also adopted a clarified mission statement that reaffirms its dedication to presenting the stories of — and collaborating with — community members from across Southern Arizona:
Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center
- Educates about the Holocaust and other genocides
- Explores the legacy of Jewish experiences in Southern Arizona
- Preserves the first synagogue built in the Arizona Territory
- Collaborates with Tucson’s diverse community to promote human rights
As one of those community partnerships, the Museum is collaborating with The Loft Cinema, the Tucson Jewish Community Center, and Jewish Family & Children’s Services to present the Arizona premiere of “We Burn Like This” on Nov. 16. Inspired by true events, this coming-of-age story centers on Rae, a 22-year-old descendant of Holocaust survivors who is targeted by Neo-Nazis in Billings, Montana.
Last month, the Museum reopened to visitors with advance registration and Covid-19 protocols in place. It also is welcoming school field trips; educators should contact museum@jewishhistorymuseum.org.
The Museum also debuted its new Holocaust education curriculum last month with a Zoom workshop for teachers, led by four Museum Teaching Fellows trained by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The curriculum, with lesson plans for middle school and high school classes, was written in anticipation of the law mandating Holocaust education that the State of Arizona passed this summer. The curriculum is now available on Museum’s Resources for Educators web page and is posted on the Arizona Department of Education’s Holocaust and Genocide Education Resources web page under “Lessons.”
Along with these activities, the Board has appointed a Search Committee to seek an Executive Director to succeed Interim Executive Director Michelle Blumenberg. Sageview Consulting has been hired to lead the Committee’s efforts. Finalists will be asked to give a presentation to the community to share their vision, providing an opportunity for community stakeholders to offer feedback to the Committee.
For more information, visit the Museum website or call (520) 577-9073.
