Gerda Haas Award Honors Four Maine Organizations Advancing Human Dignity
We are so proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Gerda Haas Award for Excellence in Human Rights Education and Leadership, the Center’s highest honor. This year’s recipients are: Sue Roche, Executive Director of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP); Mufalo Chitam, Executive Director of the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition (MIRC); Claudette Ndayininahaze, Executive Director of In Her Presence; and Madeleine Saucier, Executive Director of Hope Acts. Tthese extraordinary women are recognized for their leadership in advancing human dignity, strengthening communities, and expanding opportunities for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers throughout Maine. Together, the four organizations reflect the enduring values the Gerda Haas Award, which was established to recognize individuals and organizations whose work reflects the values at the heart of HHRC’s educational mission. Through legal services, education, leadership development, housing, and community support, they have strengthened Maine communities while affirming the dignity and worth of every person.
The Distinguished Service Award
We are so grateful to award Jack Montgomery the Distinguished Service Award. Jack has been connected to the HHRC since its founding. In the 1980s he took stunning portraits of Maine Holocaust survivors, many of them founders of the HHRC and has remained a valued member of our community for all these years.
Five years ago, Jack decided it was time to create a book to conjoin his portraits with their personal stories. and so he did, and the result is From the Holocaust to Maine: Testimonies of the Survivors. Writes Jack, “The things we save can become the means for our recovery. I am moved by every aspect of these stories … And I am forever grateful to the survivors for giving us this record, which no amount of denial or historical revisionism can ever erase. We are in their debt.” With gratitude to a generous donor, books were distributed to schools that teach students in grades 6-12, as well as public libraries throughout Maine, providing a resource for people of all ages. Jack has traveled the state speaking about his book—in libraries, schools, and community centers. The book is also available online and may be copied by schools and teachers for use in their classrooms.
2026 Student Awards
The Lawrence Alan Spiegel Remembrance Scholarshipis awarded to a high school senior who authors the prize-winning, original essay on the prompt: “Learning about the Holocaust affected my view of the world and it is important for others to learn about it too.” Lauren Jordan won the $1,000 scholarship for her essay More Than Memories. She enjoyed the writing process because it gave her the opportunity to learn more about her family’s history. She graduated from Noble High School in North Berwick and plans to attend the University of Rhode Island as a Public Health major on the premed track, where she hopes to continue serving others through medicine and community involvement.
Mathilde Schlossberger Outstanding Student of the Year Awardrecognizes an exceptional piece of original writing, or an expressive piece of visual or performance art relating to human rights. The award was created by Florence and Kurt Strauss in memory of his maternal grandmother, who was murdered at Theresienstadt. There are two Schlossberger Award winners this year. Nela Parker of Cony High School received the award for her short story entitled Have you seen Sofia? Nela will be attending Emerson College, where she hopes to grow as a writer and learn how to create stories that reach even more people. She has always loved creating, and hopes to spend her life telling stories that give a voice to people whose experiences deserve to be seen and understood. Grace Jiang of Dexter Regional High School is receiving the award for a drawing she created. Says Grace, “What was initially a school assignment turned into something more profound. I delved into theme of Jewish Resistance and focused on spiritual defiance. I was inspired by a lyric in Radiohead’s song Let Down: “One day, I am gonna grow wings.” It cuts deep in the sense that death could have meant the same thing as freedom to the inmates. I’m honored this piece meant something to The HHRC. Thank you!”
A Celebration of Life for Charles Rotmil
Monday, August 3 at 1:00 pm at Temple Beth El in Portland
Please join the family of Charles Rotmil as they host a Celebration of Life honoring Charles, Holocaust survivor, artist, educator, and cherished friend of the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine. All are welcome to attend as family, friends, and members of the community gather to remember Charles's extraordinary life, reflect on his enduring legacy, and celebrate the countless lives he touched.
Guests are welcome to gather beginning at 1:00 pm, with the program expected to begin around 1:30 pm. Following the service, light refreshments will be available, with time to visit, reflect, and share memories. If Charles touched your life through his art, his testimony, his friendship, or his unwavering commitment to ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust would never be forgotten, you are warmly invited to join Cathryn Wilson, Charles's children, and the many friends and community members whose lives were enriched by knowing him as they celebrate Charles's remarkable life and enduring legacy. Please feel free to share this announcement with others who knew Charles and may wish to attend.
Charles was a dedicated storyteller, survivor, artist, and teacher whose life and legacy enriched countless lives across the state. Says Executive Director Tam Huynh, “Charles touched the lives of so many across Maine and beyond. Through his stories, his art, and his courage, he inspired countless students, educators, and community members to stand against injustice and embrace compassion. His presence will be deeply missed, and his legacy will live on in every student he taught and every life he touched.” The HHRC community honors Charles’ memory by continuing to advance Holocaust and human rights education, and by supporting the work he cared so deeply about. Read Charles’ story of his childhood here.
There is Always an &
Exhibit Developed by the Maine Jewish Museum on loan to the HHRC. Photographs by Hedva Rokach
There ls Always an & is part of MJM’s exhibition of the same name and its related Ampersand Project, an exploration of the diversity, complexity, and interconnectedness of Jewish life in Maine.
We are profoundly grateful to the Maine Jewish Museum for their generous loan from the extensive project they undertook with Photographer Hedva Rokach. We are eager for our community to come experience these works, which will be on display in the gallery for a year. There Is Always an & is the signature photography exhibition of the Ampersand Project, a first-of-its-kind documentation initiative exploring the layered identities of Jews across Maine. The ampersand reflects the expansive nature of Jewish life in Maine: personal and communal, rooted and restless, traditional and innovative, ancient and forward-looking. Each portrait invites viewers to embrace the fluid, unfinished, and surprising stories that shape us. In just six weeks, Hedva traveled more than 7,000 miles, documenting Jewish life across the state. She met with nearly 300 Jewish Mainers creating an unprecedented portrait of community that spans coastal towns and inland villages, urban neighborhoods and rural backroads, established congregations and emerging micro-communities.
Join Us for 2026 Summer Seminar
Renew • Rejuvenate • Connect • Nourish • Restore • Enjoy
Educators, are you feeling tapped out as the school year comes to a close? Can’t imagine planning anything academic for the summer? We understand! But please know that our summer seminars are designed to be rejuvenating and restorative. You will connect with colleagues, have time for conversation and sharing, play games, hear from inspiring and energized presenters, and leave feeling a renewed sense of purpose. Those who have experienced our seminars describe feeling joyful and eager to bring all of the learning and excitement back into their classes in September. There is still time to register!
Building Supportive Schools • July 28 and 29
Join other passionate educators committed to creating more inclusive and equitable schools! This two day seminar will equip you with knowledge and tools to challenge bias and inequity in the classroom and create a supportive and learning environment for educators and students alike. This year’s seminar will focus on learning from and better supporting our immigrant and Jewish communities through meaningful discussions, insights from panels of teachers and community leaders, and workshops with fantastic organizations. Learn more and register here.
Why Does MAUS Matter Here and Now?
At Kents Hill School in Maine, English Teacher Kevin Cattrell offered a course entitled “The Story and Its Writer” that focused on how stories are made and why they matter. This year students in the class completed a project that sought to answer the question: “Why does MAUS matter here and now?” Their work became an exhibit on display at the school. MAUS is a graphic novel by American cartoonist Art Spiegelman interviewing his father about his experiences as a Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor. It became the first graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize In 1992. At the beginning of this unit, Kevin brought his students to the Michael Klahr Center for a tour and presentations of our educational programs “The Message Matters” and “Foundation of Nazi Antisemitism.” Kevin shared that the programming on antisemitism informed the whole project, “including an exhibit where students reflect on the ways in which it persists in the United States and Maine today.” Two students from the Czech Republic took a keen interest in Alfred Kantor, a Holocaust survivor, HHRC founder, and Maine resident. Kantor’s work influenced Art Spiegelman, who credits him with providing images of day-to-day life in the camps that he found indispensable when creating MAUS. Other students researched survivors’ stories and read first-hand accounts from survivors in preparing their part of the exhibit. We appreciate being included in Kevin’s inspiring teaching, the students’ seriousness of purpose and commitment to their studies and creations, and the memorable work that resulted.
Jack Montgomery’s Book
From the Holocaust to Maine: Testimonies of the Survivors is Jack’s recently published book that showcases portraits and survivor stories. Writes Jack, “The things we save can become the means for our recovery. I am moved by every aspect of these stories … And I am forever grateful to the survivors for giving us this record, which no amount of denial or historical revisionism can ever erase. We are in their debt.” With gratitude to a very generous donor, these books were distributed to schools that teach students in grades 6-12, as well as public libraries throughout Maine. The content is also available online and may be copied by schools and teachers for educational purposes only. If you would like to buy a copy of the book, please email us at info@hhrcmaine.org.
Juneteenth
Today, June 19th, our nation will celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States. It marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom, following the arrival of Union troops and the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. The day became a U.S. federal holiday when it was signed into law by President Joe Biden on June 17, 2021. A few years ago our staff pondered why this important date was celebrated in Black communities across the nation for well over a century before it entered the consciousness of most Americans. The more we learned, the more questions we had. Why for so many years hadn’t people heard about something so important to Black Americans? Why wasn’t it taught in schools? What brought it into our national consciousness after 150 years, becoming a federal holiday in 2021? We each shared a ‘What surprised me most’ observation for discussion. In a spirit of humility, we shared our questions and eagerness to discover more about this consequential holiday. Read it here. Learn more here about Juneteenth—its interesting origin, history, and eventual designation as a national holiday. And this website offers many opportunities to commemorate and celebrate tomorrow.
Rent the Michael Klahr Center for Your Event
The Michael Klahr Center is a wonderful venue for gatherings, presentations, and celebrations. If you would like more information, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page or email us at: info@hhrcmaine.org
Quick Facts:
Capacity: 75
Grounds: UMA campus in Augusta
Hours: Available evenings, weekends and holidays
Building: Architecturally and historically significant
Interior: A cultural center with art exhibits and audio-visual installations
Location: In state capital close to the Sate House and government buildings
Events: Celebrations, presentations, meetings, performances, parties, gatherings
We look forward to speaking with about the possibilities for you event: 207-621-3530. Learn more here
A Teacher’s Guide
At the Holocaust & Human Rights Center, we believe that history comes alive through the voices of those who lived it. That’s why we are committed to uplifting Holocaust survivor testimonies and making them accessible to students across Maine and beyond. This year, our Holocaust Scholar and Education Coordinator, Erica Nadelhaft, has been leading an ambitious project: a Teacher’s Guide to accompany Jack Montgomery’s book From the Holocaust to Maine: Testimonies of the Survivors. We know that the study of the Holocaust can be overwhelming. Students can get lost in the numbers, dates, and places, but survivor testimonies transform statistics into real lives filled with stories of resilience, courage, and the enduring human spirit. These first-person accounts do more than teach history. They foster empathy, understanding, and a connection to the past that no textbook alone can provide. With generous support from the Sam L. Cohen Foundation, we have made tremendous progress. Over the next nine months, we will expand the guide to include all nineteen survivors in the book.
Our Educational Programs
The HHRC offers seventeen carefully curated educational programs, designed by our experienced educators, free of charge to schools and community groups in Maine. Each session includes a slideshow and presentation, followed by discussion and follow-up. Individual sessions, depending on the program, range between sixty and ninety minutes and can be combined for more extensive, in-depth experiences for students or educators. Learn more
Our newest educational program is entitled Antisemitism in the World Today. Schools throughout Maine, and indeed the rest of the United States, have faced an increasing number of antisemitic incidents in recent years. This program directly focuses on what students are seeing and experiencing in schools and online. By centering the voices of those harmed by antisemitism, it gives students an understanding of what antisemitism is, the more common tropes that they are probably encountering, how to recognize them, and the harm that antisemitism causes Jewish students and the wider school community.
Learn more about our educational programs for schools and communities here. Access our new Artifacts Program here. Teachers, please fill out the intake form and we will contact you.
Dismantling Democracy: 53 Days in Nazi Germany
Dismantling Democracy: 53 Days in Nazi Germany explores the critical weeks following Hitler’s appointment as chancellor in 1933, when the Nazi Party legally and systematically dismantled the democratic foundations of the Weimar Republic. Grounded in primary sources and historical context, the program offers an opportunity to learn about this pivotal moment in history—one that reminds us how quickly democratic institutions can erode. At the HHRC we work to promote Holocaust education, confront antisemitism and bias, and strengthen a more informed and compassionate civic culture across our state. One way we pursue that mission is through educational programs that invite communities to examine history in ways that deepen understanding and inspire civic engagement.
On Tuesday, April 21st, Erica and Tam presented at the Kennebunk Free Library for 65 people. The program has been very popular, attracting dozens of interested people in towns and communities across Maine. We are delighted, and indebted, to the Maine Humanities Council for their generous funding and support of this initiative! Please join us at an upcoming event:
Rockland Public Library - July 23rd at 6:00
Scarborough Public Library - September 24th at noon
Falmouth Memorial Library - October 7th at 5:30
Windham Public Library - October 21st from 5:30
Blog Posts & HHRC in the News
The Michael Klahr Center
The stunning Michael Klahr Center houses significant artifacts, offers permanent exhibits that chronicle the lives of Holocaust survivors, and curates arresting exhibits from diverse artists. We warmly welcome visitors and host students and community groups for classes, tours, lectures, and performance. The building’s soaring architecture is worth a visit—once inside, you will discover stories and voices, memories, and relationships. It is our home, a place for work on truth, justice, and human rights.
We are open weekdays from 8:00–4:00 Monday through Friday and welcome visitors.
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 to view the UMA campus. To access the Michael Klahr Center by elevator, click here.
From the South: Take 95 North to 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 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.
The Center is available for rentals. The classroom has zoom and projection capabilities. The atrium can accommodate seating for a presentation, tables for a meeting, or area for receptions. The 75-seat auditorium is a warm, welcoming space for events. The art gallery features exhibits by Maine artists. We assist with planning, equipment set-up, tours and can recommend quality local food services. If you would like more information, please fill out the form below.
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