Special Report

REMEMBERING THE SHOAH

The History Of The HMC

1963-1977 — In 1963, members of Shaarit Haplaytah ("The Remnant"), a sur-

The First 25 from page 11

Art in Tulsa from 2004-2006. Since that
time, he worked as administrator and
executive director of Temple Beth El in
St. Petersburg and as a consultant for
several museums and centers for the
arts.
At the Florida Holocaust Museum,
Goldman led a $13 million expansion
program that saw the facility grow into
one of the largest Holocaust museums
in the United States. Under his guidance,
the museum received accreditation from
the Association of American Museums.
"I was the first employee there:' he
said. "I started in a 4,000-square-foot
space, alone. Then I got a part-time
assistant; then a fundraiser and a half-
time educator. By the time I left, we
had 28 employees working in a 30,000-
square-foot building with a $2.6 million
budget."
At the Sherwin Miller Museum in
Tulsa, he worked to expand the facility,
which is both a Holocaust and Jewish
museum.
"The construction of the Holocaust
exhibit was under way when I got there,"
he said. "I rewrote the exhibition script,
chose the artifacts and wrote the didac-
tic material. Concerning the Jewish his-
tory exhibit, I worked with the designer
to change the space and again chose
the artifacts and wrote the explanatory
material?'
During his tenure, the Sherwin Miller
Museum was named one of the top
10 Jewish museums in the country by
Jewish Living Magazine.

HOLOCAUST
'MEMORIAL CENTER

GROUND BREAKING

SUN.. DE0$.6s98E -1:30pm

1977-1979 — Community leaders requested the center be built instead at the
Jewish Community Center (JCC) in West Bloomfield. In April 1979, the JCC board
approved a proposal for construction of a Holocaust Memorial Center (HMC) as
an addition to the existing JCC building. It would be an independent entity, but
situated on the JCC campus.

1980-1984 — In 1980, architect Leonard G. Siegel of Siegel/Tuomala

Associates and renowned British designer James Gardner were chosen for the
project, initially estimated at $2 million. The groundbreaking was in December
1981. A membership drive began in October 1983, with a $3 million goal. The
facility officially opened in October 1984.

1985-1987 — By 1985, 80 percent of visitors to the HMC were non-Jewish,

Rabbi Charles Rosenzveig
addresses the crowd.

The First 25 on page 14

12

October 15 • 2009

a testament to the organization's educational outreach mission. At that year's
dinner, the U.S. Congress received the first Righteousness Award. In 1987, the
Benard L. Maas Garden of the Righteous was dedicated.

1992 — In 1992, the Federal Foreign Office of Germany pledged $2.5 million
toward building an Institute of the Righteous, a planned two-story HMC addition.

1998 — By 1998, the center was outgrowing its space. Discussions of expand-

ing the museum or constructing a new building in Farmington Hills began.

1999 — A 41,000-square-foot addition to the West Bloomfield facility was

At the first annual dinner,
honoree Henry S. Dorfman, din-
ner chairman Jack A. Robinson
and Rabbi Rosenzveig

New Exhibits

Goldman plans to create an initiative at
the HMC that he established, with suc-
cess, at both his previous museums: a
visiting exhibition program.
"By varying the types of exhibits, we
get varied new audiences," Goldman
said. "It is way to build new constituen-
cies of people who have not been to the
center before?'
The plan also is aimed at those who
have already toured the center, but
whom he wants to return. "I don't want
you to say to a visitor from out of town
who wants to come to the center: 'I've
already been there, but I'll give you
directions:" Goldman said. "I want what
is here to be continually new, so there is
always something else that is visual and
interesting for you to come look at?'
Goldman maintains that a Holocaust
museum goes far beyond telling facts,
dates, names and showing photographs.
He says the real job is to tell the history.

vivor social and welfare organization, announced their intention to build a memo-
rial center devoted to the Holocaust. They purchased 5 acres on 11 Mile Road in
Lathrup Village, but the projected path of 1-696 ended that dream. In 1973, the
group was compensated and 13 acres subsequently were bought at the corner of
13 Mile and Farmington roads. A few years later, plans were developed and fund-
raising began. The late Rabbi Charles H. Rosenzveig was chosen as the center's
director. Groundbreaking was in 1977.

approved for a Museum of European Jewish Heritage and an International
Institute of the Righteous. The late local philanthropist Eugene Kraft pledged $1
million toward the project; the lobby was dedicated in recognition of the gift.

2001-2002 — The move to the site of the former Old Orchard Movie Theater
on Orchard Lake Road in Farmington Hills was announced. Farmington Hills City
Council approved the plan in July 2001. Early building cost projections were $15
million. Neumann/Smith Architecture were architects for the project. The pro-
vocative design of the outside facade initially drew a mixed response. Houghton
Kneale Design Ltd. of Great Britain was chosen for interior design and Granger
Construction Company was the builder. Groundbreaking was June 23, 2002.

2003-2004 — By 2003, $25 million was being sought – $17 million for the
— building and $8 million for the endowment. In April 2004, doors to the new facil-
ity officially opened. The ribbon cutting was on June 22, 2004.

2005-2006 — Northwestern Highway between 1-696 and Orchard Lake
Road was renamed the Holocaust Memorial Highway. In 2006, Neumann/Smith
Architecture, Granger Construction Company and owner HMC received the 2006
Construction and Design Award from the Engineering Society of Detroit.

onor Alan Zekelman speaks at
e grand opening.

2007 — Alan, Barry and Clayton Zekelman made a $10 million gift in memory
of their parents Harry and Wanda as well as Harry's parents and siblings lost in
the Holocaust. This virtually eliminated the remaining debt from the building's
construction. The Center later was renamed the Holocaust Memorial Center
Zekelman Family Campus (HMCZFC).

The next year, the Kindertransport Quilt was installed as a perma-
2008
nent exhibit in the Harry & Wanda Zekelman Institute of the Righteous museum.
Discussion of plans for an expansion for a children's wing began.

2008-2009 — On Dec.11, 2008, HMCZFC founder and longtime executive
director Rabbi Rosenzveig died. Guy Stern was appointed in January 2009 as
the interim director, serving in that capacity until Stephen M. Goldman recently
accepted the permanent position of executive director. This year's annual dinner
to be held on Oct.18 marks the organization's 25th anniversary.

Compiled by Feiga Weiss and Robyn Gorell

