Museum update

Susan Suarez, President & CEO

We thank the following Triumph Sponsors, whose names came in after last month’s ad deadline, for their support: Hope Sponsors – Ronto Group Inspire Sponsors – F.E. and Jack Nortman Patron Sponsors – Nancy Garfien, Carol and Bill Goldman, Jim Hale, Bobbi and Randy Heiligman, Jennifer Siegal- Miller and Rabbi Adam Miller, Ellen Rindfleisch, Karyn and Rowan Samuel - The Samuel Team at John R. Wood Properties, Linda Singer

Victory in Europe Day

Saturday, May 8, in honor of VE Day, we are offering complimentary admission to the Museum. Reservations are required to guarantee your entry. Visit www. HMCEC.org prior to arrival to sign up.

We will also be showing special short videos in the Lerner Classroom all month long during regular Museum hours.

Programs and exhibitions

The rescheduled Zoom program, “Discussion with Docents - Blessed is The Match Film Discussion,” with Docent Steve Brazina, will take place on Wednesday, May 12 at 4 p.m. Reservations are required to receive the Zoom link. RSVP on our website; the Zoom link will be sent out the day before. The film is available to rent or buy on Amazon.

Our inspiring exhibit, “Girl Power – How Women Impacted the Holocaust and Beyond,” is on display through May 25. If you haven’t had a chance to see it, we hope you will do so before it closes.

Our next exhibit is scheduled to open in early June. “Caught on Film: The Wartime Photography of Ken Regele and the US Army Signal Corps” will feature photos taken during World War II. The late Mr. Regele, a Signal Corps photographer and local resident, donated two reels of film he kept after World War II to the Museum. One was blank; the other had the photos you will see in the exhibit. “Caught on Film” will be on display through fall 2021.

Remembrance and appreciation

Every month has designated days of remembrance and appreciation. In addition to recognizing the service and sacrifice of World War II veterans and their families on VE Day, and later this year on VJ Day, there are several other dates in May to be aware of:

Tuesday, May 4 is National Teacher Appreciation Day. If you were not aware of the importance and hard work of being a teacher before, you certainly are now! They have been heroes during an extraordinarily difficult year, struggling to teach their students remotely and deal with the pandemic at home.

Southwest Florida teachers are such an important part of our Museum family. To support them, we transitioned our education programs to an online format, allowing access to information, lesson plans and student activities at their convenience, 24/7.

Our Teacher Workshops became an online series, with a new segment uploaded each month, based on this year’s theme of 20th- and 21st-century genocides. These videos, lesson plans and student activities are available anytime on our website and YouTube channel.

Thanks to teachers everywhere for their dedication to their students and extraordinary efforts during the pandemic. Here in SWFL, teachers are our most important partners in teaching the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire action against bigotry, hatred and violence.

We are committed to assist them however we can. This includes the resumption of small group student field trips. Please contact Sam Parish, Director of Operations/Education Specialist, at Sam@HMCEC.org for more information. We also thank our generous donors whose contributions enable us to continue our education programming.

Sunday, May 9 is Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day to mothers everywhere. It will be another difficult Mother’s Day for those still separated from family, but hopefully with more people getting the vaccines, they will be able to reunite soon. For moms no longer with you, take a moment to remember them. That’s a Mother’s Day hug, too.

Sunday, May 16 is “Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day.” We know the old saying “It is better to give than receive.” We also know there is ample evidence proving the benefits to both giver and receiver of a good deed. Try it out on May 16!

Thank you, Ida Margolis

While she doesn’t have a “day” named for her, Ida Margolis should! As she retires this month as Chair of Gen- Shoah of SWFL, I thank her on behalf of the entire Museum family for all she has done.

When Ida succeeded GenShoah of SWFL founders Sandy Levine and Godfrey Levy, they knew the group would be in great hands. Under Ida’s 10 years of leadership, GenShoah membership has grown tremendously. She developed many memorable and thought-provoking programs, not only for GenShoah members, but for the Southwest Florida community and the Museum.

Working with her program chair, Steve Brazina, each season, Ida created a packed schedule of new and interesting programs designed to get people to think and act against bigotry, hatred and violence. Her community partners, such as the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue, Collier County Public Library, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples and Temple Shalom also benefited from her energy, creativity and dedication.

Thank you, Ida, for your contribution to our community. We know you will continue to have an impact on Southwest Florida!

If you’d be interested in contributing your time to work on Gen- Shoah’s program planning, newsletter or monthly column, please contact me at Susan@HMCEC.org.

Stay safe!