20 | JANUARY 18 • 2024

future atrocities.
The enlightening and often
emotional experience of touring
the museum is capped in the
final gallery, one of the muse-
um’s several new “reflection”
spaces. Everyone is encouraged
to write down thoughts of
their museum experience on
large blank cards. Posted to an
expansive blank wall, the cards
become a tapestry of messag-
es in support of compassion,
kindness and civic engagement.
Exposure to Holocaust educa-
tion, studies show, is likely to
motivate people to challenge
expressions of hate, prejudice
and other damaging human
behavior.
Previous visitors can be
assured that the museum
retains many familiar features.
They include the Eternal
Flame and Memorial Wall, the
Henrietta and Alvin Weisberg
Gallery with a Holocaust-era

box car and the Viola and
Garry Kappy Anne Frank Tree
Exhibit and Garden.
“Our museum is different
in that more than 80 percent
of our visitors come through
a guided tour, instead of indi-
vidually,
” Mayerfeld said. “We
wanted an exhibit that would
work with both groups.
” When
available, visitors of all ages
can take a daily 1 p.m. tour led
by a docent, with another 30
minutes at the end to hear one
of the trained Next Generation
volunteer speakers. They are the
children and grandchildren of
survivors.
Before my group tour, I was
given a state-of-the art audio
device. I thought it was a great
upgrade. The units, with supe-
rior sound quality and a range
of about 300 feet indoors, give
tour-goers a chance to linger
and explore galleries more at
their own pace. Wearers are still

able to hear their tour guide
speaking in a nearby room.
And now, teachers can more
easily call their students back
together.

School groups began tour-
ing the renewed museum in

December.
“My biggest moments so far,
”
Mulder said, “are hearing stu-
dents talk about how the exhibit
is about people as much as it
is about this larger historical
event.
”

OUR COMMUNITY
COVER STORY

continued from page 18

Personal
remembrances
on panels and the
floor give context
to historic events.

OWEN KAUFMAN

Midland High School students look at artifacts that underscore the
personal cost of the Holocaust.

ZEKELMAN HOLOCAUST CENTER