Holocaust Exhibit Opens at Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and the Atlantic Jewish Council are joining forces to help Nova Scotians commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

A new, temporary exhibit opened at the museum today, Jan. 27. Titled The Courage to Remember: The Holocaust 1933-1945, it is composed of 40 panels which tell the story of the Holocaust through words and dramatic historic photographs. The panels trace the roots and patterns of Jewish persecution through the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party, the implementation of The Final Solution, the liberation and, finally, the revival and hope for the community.

Although six decades have passed since the Allied Forces liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp, the memories of the horrors have not faded for those who lived through the terror. As the years pass, however, there are fewer and fewer survivors to teach younger generations about the Holocaust.

"We felt it was important to present this story to the public as a cautionary reminder that our lives in the traditionally safe East Coast of Canada are not immune to the intolerant attitudes which lead to the kind of hatred experienced by those who suffered in the Holocaust," said John Hennigar-Shuh, general manager of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. "We have an obligation to serve as a venue through which people of my own and younger generations can learn about this horrific event."

The new exhibit serves as a tribute to the six million Jews and to millions of others who suffered under Nazi persecution between 1933 and 1945.

"It is our hope over the next month that hundreds if not thousands in metro will be able to view this exhibit not only as a story of what happened in the past but as a lesson for all Canadians to stand against hate and prejudice of any group whether it be for reasons of race, religion or philosophy," said Mark Rosen, president of the Atlantic Jewish Council.

The exhibit is one of a series of events taking place across Canada and around the world to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

The Courage to Remember: The Holocaust 1933-1945 runs at the Maritime Museum until Feb. 27. Admission is included in the regular cost of a museum pass. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is located at 1675 Lower Water St. in Halifax.