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.
School groups are encouraged to visit the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center on select dates, when a local Holocaust survivor, liberator or 2G (Second Generation) 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.
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.
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
October 8th
November 12th
December 10th
January 28th
February 11th
March 11th
April 8th
May 13th
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: That there is a transition from the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center to UNO's Barbara Weitz Community Center (CEC) at 11:40 AM for lunch and speaker. Directions and parking information will be provided after confirming participation.
