Searching for Humanity: Veterans, Victims, and Survivors of WWII*

*New location and partnership with the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center

The Searching for Humanity: Veterans, Victims and Survivors of World War II program and exhibit tells a powerful story about the Holocaust and those who rescued survivors from concentration camps. Told via photographs, memorabilia and testimony of Nebraska Holocaust survivors and servicemen – program and exhibit grapples with the search for humanity during the Holocaust. This program and exhibit was curated by the Institute for Holocaust Education and originally designed by Placzek Studios. Support for this current program and exhibit was provided by the Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Foundation.

This new student program is a partnership between the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center and the Institute for Holocaust Education.

FOR SCHOOLS:

School groups are encouraged to visit the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center on select dates, when a local Holocaust survivor or liberator will share their testimony.

The program is designed for students in grades 6-12, and generally runs from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

A school group visit includes:

  •  Interactive Holocaust lessons
  • Tour of current exhibition on display at the Samuel Bak Museum
  • Lunch break 
  • Survivor or 2G testimony

The tour can accommodate groups of up to 75 students per visit date. There is no cost associated with the field trip.

Transportation is required from the Samuel Bak Museum to Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (CEC) for lunch and speaker’s testimony. 

For questions: info@ihene.org

 

More about the Searching for Humanity Holocaust Exhibit

Originally created by artist Matthew Placzek, the exhibit includes photos, memorabilia and testimony of Nebraska Holocaust survivors, soldiers and others whose courageous actions liberated prisoners from concentration camps in Nazi-occupied Europe.

Upon entering the exhibit, an emotional journey unfolds for visitors as the images chronicle remarkable personal experiences of confronting one of the most inhumane periods in our world’s history. A central element of the exhibit is the eyewitness account of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Clarence Williams, who wrote about the atrocities he encountered as he entered the Dachau concentration camp in the spring of 1945.

The exhibit focuses on those involved in World War II, asks its audience to think about past genocides, consider the search for humanity during the Holocaust and to reflect on man’s obligation to the rest of humankind.

The final panel challenges visitors to reflect on the question: “What is my responsibility today?”, and the video testimony portion puts a human face to the historical events. This can help visitors better understand what really happened, on a human level, to those who survived.

Lesson Plan Supplements & Other Educational info

 

 

2023-2024 School Year Dates 

September 12th Complete 

October 10th Complete

November 14th Complete

December 12th Complete

February 13th Complete

March 5th 

April 9th Fully Booked 

May 14th 

Searching for Humanity Registration

School groups are encouraged to visit the exhibit on select dates, when a local Holocaust survivor or liberator will share their testimony. The program is designed for students in grades 6-12, and generally runs from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. PLEASE NOTE: There may be an alternate speaker, and if our speaker is unable to make it, there will be a lesson on The Journey that Saved Curious George: the wartime escape of Margaret and H.A. Rey, The Diary of Anne Frank, or a related topic.

Name(Required)
You may bring your own lunches, or order from a near by establishment. Lunch is 1 hour long, please plan accordingly as our speaker will start on time.
Date Request(Required)
Please provide at least two dates from the provided dates above that would work for your school.