(New York, NY)— Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust President and CEO Jack Kliger and Board of Trustees Chairman Bruce Ratner issued the following statement today regarding the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel and the release of the bodies over the last few days of people who were killed while being held hostage by Hamas.
“In the past few days, the fragile ceasefire has only underscored the immense emotional and physical toll of this ongoing conflict on the people of Israel. What should have been moments of joyful reunions for families torn apart by the horrors of war have instead become heartbreakingly bittersweet, with many now facing the unimaginable task of planning funerals for their loved ones.
Hamas’ refusal to confirm the fate of hostages for so long has been a calculated act of psychological torture—not just against the families directly affected, but against all of Israel and our global Jewish community. The cruelty and callousness of Hamas was further exposed this past week during a grotesque rally, where they paraded the bodies of children in a vile display of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish propaganda.
As we witness the harrowing release of hostages and mourn the murder of innocent Jewish children, we are reminded of the horrific echoes of the Holocaust. The suffering of Jews during the Holocaust, as well as the indifference to their humanity, is tragically mirrored in the cruel treatment of Jews today. In the face of this, Israel must remain resolute—strong and focused in its unyielding pursuit of the safe return of every hostage, and the restoration of security for its people.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage stands with Israel at this dark and difficult moment, offering our deepest sympathy to those affected by this ongoing violence. We are outraged by the brutality displayed and reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the people of Israel, who have the right to live in peace, free from terror. We honor the memory of the millions who perished in the Holocaust, and we renew our commitment to preventing hatred, violence, and injustice from ever taking root again.”
About The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is New York’s contribution to the global responsibility to Never Forget. Opened in 1997, the Museum is committed to the crucial mission of educating diverse visitors about Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust.
The Museum’s current offerings include Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark, a new exhibition about the extraordinary rescue of Denmark’s Jewish population in 1943, a story of mutual aid and communal upstanding in difficult times for visitors aged 9 and up; The Holocaust: What Hate Can Do, a major exhibition offering a timely and expansive presentation of Holocaust history, on view in the main galleries; and Survivor Stories: An Interactive Dialogue, which leverages AI technology to give visitors the opportunity to converse with 10 Holocaust survivors who are members of the Museum’s Speakers Bureau.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage maintains the Peter & Mary Kalikow Jewish Genealogy Resource Center, a collection of almost 40,000 artifacts, photographs, documentary films, and survivor testimonies, and contains classrooms, a 375-seat theater (Edmond J. Safra Hall), special exhibition galleries, and a memorial art installation, Garden of Stones, designed by internationally acclaimed sculptor Andy Goldsworthy. The Museum also hosts LOX at Café Bergson, an OU-certified café serving eastern European specialties.
Each year, the Museum presents over 100 public programs, connecting our community in person and virtually through lectures, book talks, concerts, and more. For more info visit: http://mjhnyc.org/events. The Museum receives general operating support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and New York State Council on the Arts. For more information, visit mjhnyc.org.