Efforts to preserve the memory of Holocaust victims have gained momentum with the announcement of a new research center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). During a ceremony on January 27, 2024, which coincided with International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Elliot Malin, chair of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Education Relating to the Holocaust, confirmed that funding from a federal spending package signed by former President Donald Trump will support this initiative.
The funding of $700,000 will be directed towards establishing a permanent Holocaust and genocide research center at UNLV, although no specific timeline has been provided for its completion. Malin highlighted the center’s potential to enhance education on Holocaust history, stating, “By getting this funded and built and established, we’re going to be able to reach more people. We’ll be able to honor the memory of our local survivors and their families.”
UNLV officials affirmed the funding, emphasizing the center’s mission to document, preserve, and showcase the Holocaust’s history for Nevada residents. According to Malin, the center will serve as a museum where UNLV students will engage with local school children from the Clark County School District, fostering awareness about the Holocaust’s impact and lessons.
Remembering the Victims
The ceremony, attended by approximately 75 people, took place at the Holocaust Memorial Plaza, established in 2022. Several speakers, including Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley and Clark County Commission Chair Michael Naft, participated in a candle-lighting ceremony to honor the victims of six notorious concentration camps in Poland: Belzec, Treblinka, Sobibor, Chelmno, Auschwitz, and Majdanek.
Mayor Berkley, reflecting on her personal experiences visiting concentration camps across Europe, expressed her deep concern over the loss of children during the Holocaust. “What strikes me the most is the millions of children that did not survive their childhood because of the Holocaust,” she remarked. “When I think about that, I think to myself what could have been with those youngsters, the contributions they would have made to the world.”
Despite the passage of more than eight decades since the Holocaust, Berkley voiced her alarm at the rising antisemitism observed globally. “We are the victims of the greatest horror that has ever been perpetrated on mankind,” she stated, urging collective responsibility to prevent future atrocities.
Survivor’s Voice
Among the guests was Thomas Jacobson, an 87-year-old civil rights attorney who, as a child, was aboard the MS St. Louis in 1939. This ship carried nearly 1,000 German-Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, only to be denied entry into the United States, Cuba, and Canada. Jacobson shared his story in his book, “Underdog: Against All Odds, The Fight for Justice,” emphasizing the importance of educating younger generations about the Holocaust.
“We were turned away everywhere we went; nobody wanted the Jews in those days,” Jacobson remarked. His presence at the ceremony aimed to impart the urgency of remembrance, especially as the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles. “I wanted some Nevadans to be able to hear from a survivor because there’s not many of us left,” he said. “I know there are a lot of educators here today, and I wanted to help send the message to never forget.”
Jacobson also noted parallels between the events leading up to World War II and current global issues. “I’m an immigrant and I know you really have to fight for democracy,” he stated. “For me, getting out and interacting with people, it gives me energy.”
The establishment of the Holocaust and genocide research center at UNLV represents a significant step towards honoring the legacy of victims and fostering a deeper understanding of this tragic chapter in history. As the center progresses, it aims to enhance educational opportunities for future generations, ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust are neither forgotten nor repeated.
