About Candles holocaust museum and education center
CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center: A Beacon of Hope in the Face of Darkness
The horrors of the Holocaust are etched into the collective memory of humanity. The systematic extermination of six million Jews, along with millions of other innocent victims, is a dark chapter in human history that must never be forgotten. However, amidst the darkness and despair, there were also stories of courage, resilience, and hope. One such story is that of Eva Mozes Kor, a survivor who founded CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center to honor the memory of those who perished and to educate future generations about the dangers of hate and prejudice.
CANDLES (Children Of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors) was established in 1995 by Eva Mozes Kor and her twin sister Miriam Mozes Zeiger. The twins were born in Romania in 1934 and were deported to Auschwitz along with their family when they were only ten years old. They endured horrific medical experiments at the hands of infamous Nazi doctor Josef Mengele before being liberated by Soviet troops in 1945.
After surviving such unimaginable trauma, one might expect Eva to harbor bitterness or resentment towards her oppressors. However, she chose a different path - one guided by forgiveness rather than revenge. In an act that stunned many people around the world, Eva publicly forgave Mengele for his crimes against her family during a visit to Auschwitz in 1995.
This act marked a turning point for Eva - she realized that forgiveness was not only possible but also necessary for healing from trauma. She founded CANDLES as a way to honor those who perished during the Holocaust while also educating future generations about how hate can lead to unspeakable atrocities.
Today, CANDLES is located in Terre Haute, Indiana - far from its origins as an idea born out of tragedy on another continent. The museum houses exhibits on various aspects related to the Holocaust - from personal stories like those shared by Eva herself to artifacts like concentration camp uniforms or gas chamber doors.
One unique aspect about CANDLES is its focus on education beyond just historical facts about World War II-era Europe; it seeks instead to teach visitors how they can prevent similar atrocities from happening again today through promoting tolerance among all people regardless race or religion background.
In addition to its exhibits open year-round Monday through Friday (and some weekends), CANDLES offers educational programs for schools across Indiana as well as online resources available worldwide via their website candlesholocaustmuseum.org . These programs include workshops on topics like bullying prevention or genocide awareness training which aim at empowering young people with knowledge so they can become agents change within their own communities.
Another important aspect about CANDLES is its commitment towards preserving memories survivors themselves through oral history projects where survivors share their experiences directly with visitors either onsite at museum or via video recordings accessible online candlesholocaustmuseum.org .
Overall,Candles holocaust museum & education center serves as beacon hope amidst darkness reminding us all importance standing up against hatred prejudice wherever it may exist today tomorrow ensuring we never forget lessons learned past tragedies like holocaust .