Center for Hope, Humanity, and Holocaust Education

The Center for HOPE, HUMANITY, & HOLOCAUST EDUCATION will provide the Phoenix community with a commemoration of Survivors, Liberators, Veterans, and Righteous among Nations of the Holocaust whose stories are told through videos, oral histories, personal documents, photographs, original artwork, objects, and artifacts. These will bring history to life while raising the awareness of genocide, mass murder, antisemitism and contemporary human rights issues that threaten the fabric of democracy.

 In addition, we will educate students and the entire Arizona community about Judaism itself: who we are, what we believe, our historic and literary values, ethics, dignity, respect, and courage that shape the lives not only of Jews, but of free people everywhere. Universal truths learned from a uniquely Jewish perspective of persecution can be identified with and experienced to understand the coping mechanisms of survival of a long history of a people endlessly marginalized and discriminated against. Everyone, every community needs to understand how to develop the passion of survival; of turning hate into hope. 

 The Center will provide both virtual and in-person educational opportunities to learn the lessons of the stories, accounts, and documentation through state of Arizona approved curricula and resources. Serving the entire community, the educational programming will enable all visitors, virtual and on-site, with dynamic, interactive storytelling techniques and technologies to create seamless journeys with a uniting and lasting emotional and educational impact. The stories of the witnesses of history are deeply rooted in shaping the way we, as people, see one another’s humanness. How we respond to those inspirational stories can be a catalyst to how we face the challenges of today’s world and how we hope to bridge the gap between cultural communities. 

 The exhibition and accompanying programs will take place in a newly constructed building adjacent to the restored building of Phoenix’s first synagogue, now known as the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center that welcomes people of all faiths and cultures.  Originally built in 1921, the center was historically restored and preserved in 2009-10, and now serves as a museum and event venue that will celebrate its 100th birthday in fall 2021.  It is centrally located at 122 E. Culver Street (near Central Ave. and McDowell Rd.) in the heart of Phoenix’s Arts and Culture District, just north of downtown Phoenix.  The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Phoenix Point of Pride.

 As a historical museum and archival repository of over 50,000 documents and photographs we are open to people of all faiths, the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center provides the ideal historic and central geographic venue to reach people throughout the state. The center attracted over 10,000 live visitors last year consisting of people of all races and religions, all areas and communities.