Celebrating our 40th Anniversary
As we celebrate the HHRC’s incredible growth in the last 40 years, we feel an outpouring of gratitude for the thousands of people who helped this organization grow. What began as a seminar at Bowdoin College in 1984 has become a force for hopeful work and change. In classrooms, at the Michael Klahr Center, in Maine communities, we facilitate honest conversations, encourage people to speak up against racism and prejudice, and seek to strengthen human rights for all. As we describe these 40 years, we will rely on the stories of our founders, showcase the achievements of each decade, and profile people who brought passion, scholarship, and optimism to its evolution. Even in the process of creating a Timeline, we have had dozens of joyful conversations, traveled back in time for stories and laughter, and been reminded of just how impressive, and delightful, the founders and leaders of this organization are. To explore some of their work, and memories, click here for the Timeline.
Reuse, Repair, Reconsider
On May 14th Lesia Sochor offered a wonderful workshop for a class of Maranacook Academy students on repair—based on her work in the Repair series now on display in the Michael Klahr Center. Lesia shared her thoughts about repair as a meditation, an antidote to today’s consumerism and dispensable approach to possessions. She showed them how to sew and mend, helping the students fix up worn pairs of blue jeans while encouraging them to think about the activity as a call to action—to restore material things, feel calmer and more focused, and practice the art of patience. The students were delighted! And we are so grateful to Lesia for her generosity and ongoing collaboration with the HHRC.
Adult Learning
On Thursday evening, May 8th, Education Coordinator Erica Nadelhaft gave a presentation for the Saint John Valley Senior College in Fort Kent entitled “After the Holocaust." She talked about liberation, the Displaced Persons camps, and the experiences of both the liberators and the Jewish survivors. Participants were so interested and enthusiastic about the learning that they have requested Erica to return for more programs. Of note, we offer several of our student programs to adults, as well as ones specifically designed for Senior Colleges, community groups, and organizations. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Erica.
Free Summer Seminars
Teaching the Holocaust • 8:30 am to 4:00 pm on July 16th and 17th
The seminar will cover a wide variety of topics to help teachers understand not just the events of the Holocaust, but the wider context that allowed it to happen. The seminar will provide teachers with information, resources, and activities that can incorporated into history, social studies, government, civics, and literature classes. Participants can receive 12 continuing education credits upon completion of the seminar. Register here.
Sessions:
A History of Antisemitism in Maine by the Maine Jewish Museum (by MJM ED Dawn LaRochelle and Rabbi Bill Siemers)
The Foundations of Nazi Antisemitism
Using Literature in the Holocaust Classroom by author Anna Salton Eisen. Participants will receive an autographed copy of her book Pillar of Salt.
Jan Karski and Resistance by Clark Young, screenwriter of the film Remember This shown on PBS Great Performances
Dismantling Democracy
Using Artifacts in the Holocaust Classroom
Introduction to the Holocaust
My Father’s Liberation Story by Noel March, Director of the Maine Community Policing Institute
Justice and Accountability after the Holocaust.
Building Supportive Schools • 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on July 23rd and 24th
This free two-day seminar will equip you with the knowledge and tools to challenge racism, antisemitism, and anti-LGBTQ+ hate in your school. Through discussions, insights from teachers and community leaders, and workshops with organizations, you’ll gain strategies to foster a safer, more supportive learning environment. Participants can earn 14 continuing education credits upon full completion of the seminar. Register here.
Sessions:
“Preparing to Respond to School-Based Bias Incidents: Guidelines and Resources“ with the Anti-Defamation League-New England
“LGBTQ+ and Gender 101” with EqualityMaine
“Exploring Everyday Effects of Racism” with Dr. Idella Glenn from USM
“Allyship in Action” with Mandy Levine from Mandy Levine Consulting
Antisemitism in Maine with representatives from the Maine Jewish community
There will also be a teacher panel on bias in the classroom
These seminars are free, offer CEUs, and resources for teaching. They will take place at the Holocaust & Human Rights Center on the UMA campus.
Yom HaShoah
On Sunday, April 27th, forty-seven members of our community gathered in the Michael Klahr Center for a contemplative Yom HaShoah commemoration. With reverence, participants shared readings, poetry, prayer and music. Offerings included Reflection on the Holocaust and Antisemitism, a Prayer from Rabbi Lord Sacks, Lighting of the Memorial Candles, We Begin with Silence, a video on Jewish Life before the Holocaust, Naming the Survivors and Victims, El Malei Rachamim, A Prayer in Hebrew and English, Shema by Primo Levi, For All These Things I Weep, Eli, Eli by by Jacob Koppel Sandler, Yizkor by Abba Kovner, At My Bar Mitzvah–and His by Rabbi Harold Kahn, Joel the Redhead by Elie Wiesel, Simchat Torah by Elie Wiesel, Fear by Skylar Levin, And the World Was Silent by Elaine Katz, and excerpt from the Survivors’ Declaration, and the Mourner’s Kaddish. The weightiness of the occasion was softened by being together, in community. The program concluded with a time for reflection at the site just outside the building’s entrance, where earth from Auschwitz is interred, and then the group lingered in the glass atrium for conversation and refreshments. If you wish to explore the remarks and readings offered, click here.
Design Proposals
As we commemorate our 40th anniversary, we are look back at the incredible amount of energy, innovation and passion from so many to create and build this organization. We are planning a gala event, creating a timeline, posting blogs from some of the interviews we've enjoyed, and spending time in the storage closet. One of the major achievements was of course building the Michael Klahr Center. This week Tam pulled out the storyboards of design submissions from architects around the world and put them up for display. It is fascinating—so many thoughtful, ambitious proposals. Choosing must have been challenging indeed. We encourage you to visit us and take a look at the many creative ideas on how to build a repository for stories, a cultural center, a place to gather that might be hopeful after the darkest of times. While you're in the Center you can see the permanent collection of Judith Glickman Lauder's moving photographs from her trips through Germany and Poland's concentration camps. And experience the voices and photographs of four Holocaust survivors: Michael Klahr, Tamara Fineberg, Gerda Haas and Manfred Kelman.
Black Mainers: A History of Resistance and Resilience
We are excited to announce that our newest educational program, Black Mainers: A History of Resistance and Resilience, is complete and ready to bring into schools. The research, writing, slideshow creation, and piloting has taken almost a year—time well spent, and we are creating a lesson-plan booklet for teachers to use after our visit. This program looks at the period leading up to World War I. It is not meant to give a comprehensive history of the Black experience in Maine but rather a complement and supplement the work that teachers are already doing in their classrooms. The primary ideas that we hope students take away from this program center around Black Mainers persistence, resilience, and resistance to oppression by demonstrating that African Americans have actively resisted racism and inequity in their lives and throughout Maine’s history. This program does this by focusing on individuals and their stories.
Were The House Still Standing
Your generous contribution supports our work: building brave and welcoming communities by promoting universal respect for human rights through education, outreach and cultural experiences. This ambitious goal takes many forms. We offer sixteen educational programs to Maine students, sponsor talks and performances, curate exhibits, house valuable archives, showcase multi-media stories from survivors, and invite all visitors into the beautiful Michael Klahr Center. To preserve the oral testimonies of Holocaust survivors and liberators living in Maine, In 2005 the HHRC commissioned Sculptor Robert Katz to create an 80-minute multimedia installation, a centerpiece of the Michael Klahr Center, entitled Were the House Still Standing. For 18 years visitors have been moved by the stories of personal trauma, tragedy, bravery and resilience told by the survivors, many founders of the HHRC. Now it needs a significant upgrade. We need donations and grants to fulfill this goal. Can you help us?. Please donate here.
The Archive Project
The HHRC has a longstanding and rich collection of artifacts related to the Holocaust and civil rights. Last year we began to archive these valuable objects, assigning each one a number and category, storing them in professional archive containers, and using protective display cases in the Michael Klahr Center for our visitors to enjoy without fear of causing damage to the artifacts. The next step, for which we received funding from the Sam L. Cohen Foundation, involves two separate and yet connected projects. The first is a workshop for teachers to familiarize themselves with the Holocaust artifacts that we have at the HHRC and how to use them (digitally) in their classrooms. The second involves creating individual programs that center on specific objects. So far we have written three: one is based around a child’s shoe found at one of the camps; one focuses on currency from the Lodz ghetto; and the third explores letters from a Berlin doctor Hans Muehsam written to his cousin in New York as he desperately sought help obtaining a visa to leave Germany and emigrate to the United States.
Hours & Directions
We are open from 8:00–4:00 Monday through Friday and welcome visitors.
Please call ahead to be sure we are open when you arrive. The Center calendar aligns with the University of Maine at Augusta, so check for holidays and inclement weather closures on the UMA website.
We are housed in The Michael Klahr Center located at the University of Maine, Augusta. Our address is 46 University Drive, Augusta, Maine. Click on the map image for a detailed map of the UMA campus.
From the South: Take I-295 N/US-1 North toward Augusta. Take exit 112A, stay right at the intersection to merge onto ME-8 South. Tavel 0.6 miles then turn right onto University Drive. At the top of hill, bear right and into the parking lot.
From the North: Take 95 South toward Augusta. Take exit 112, merge onto ME-8 South. Travel 0.7 miles then turn right onto University Drive. At the top of hill, bear right and into the parking lot.
For instructions to access the Michael Klahr Center by elevator, click here.
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