Inspiring humanity through truth: rescue and resistance archived by the Holocaust Museum LA

Abstract

The Holocaust Museum LA (HMLA) was founded in 1961 by Holocaust survivors and is the oldest survivor-founded Holocaust museum in the United States. HMLA’s mission is “to commemorate those who perished, honor those who survived, educate about the Holocaust and inspire a more dignified and human world” (Mission & History). According to Jordanna Gessler, HMLA’s Vice President of Education and Exhibits, education is a tool to accomplish HMLA’s vision: “inspire humanity through truth.” In summary, this detailed three-part, humanities lesson is intended to augment learners’ general knowledge of Holocaust history, highlight examples of rescue and resistance through inspiring acts of humanity, and inspire an accurate poetic expression of one Survivor’s personal history.