2023 30thAnniversaryCommemorativeBook SINGLEPAGES-small - Flipbook - Page 53
REPLACING HATE
WITH HOPE
My grandfather often
spoke of the extreme
antisemitism he
endured growing up
in Philadelphia. My father told me
about the prejudice he experienced
in the army during the Korean War. I
remember asking Jewish merchants
in my neighborhood about the
strange numbers tattooed on their
arms. All of these conversations made
indelible impressions on me.
In my youth, I was frequently a
victim of antisemitic violence. While
the attacks left no physical scars,
they are among my most disturbing
memories. These incidents also
sparked my conscious identity as a
Jew and my deep interests in Jewish
culture and history.
Whenever I think about the Holocaust,
I feel overwhelmed with sadness,
anger, and horror. I long pondered:
‘What do I do with my intense feelings
and unanswered questions?’
This led me to visit the United
States Holocaust Memorial Museum
shortly after it opened. Since then,
the Museum has served as a vessel
to contain some of these emotions,
and as a place to direct that energy
in a positive way. Being associated
with this wonderful organization
provides me with hope, inspiration,
and gratitude.
In recent years, seeds of fascism
have taken root in the United States.
We are witnessing increased levels
of ignorance, hatred, and violence
here and abroad. These alarming
developments warn that the worst
of man did not die with the Nazi
regime. The vilest impulses of human
nature still exist, festering beneath
the veneer of civilized society. The
need for vigilance is greater now than
in the last 80 years.
As the essential bulwark against
antisemitism and injustice, the
Museum is ‘ground zero’ in this
ongoing effort. That is why I made
it the primary beneficiary in my
estate plan. I stand with the Museum
in defiance of antisemitism and
denialism. This institution forces the
world to reckon with the Holocaust
and ensures it will never be forgotten.
It is deeply meaningful knowing my
gift will help the Museum continually
advance its mission and increase its
impact worldwide.”
SAFEGUARDING TRUTH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS l 51