Two Ways to Preserve a Peoples’ Past

by Adele Woodyard

Next Monday is Passover, one of the most important holidays in Jewish history, for it commemorates their Exodus from Egypt, after 400 years of slavery. Thanks to Hollywood, and Charlton Heston, this Gentile is familiar with the story of Moses, from his discovery as an infant in the bulrushes to the man behind the parting of the Red Sea. I even vaguely remember the 10 plagues, at least the one about the locusts. But in researching this blog I found the story actually began over 3000 years ago. http://www.theholidayspot.com/passover and Exodus, Chapters 1-14.

When Canaan suffered from a devastating drought, a .Hebrew named Jacob and his 12 sons were allowed to settle in Goshen, a section of Egypt. Succeeding generations were fruitful and multiplied to such an extent, it scared a not-so-nice Pharaoh. Afraid they’d overrun his people, he not only enslaved the entire Hebrew population, but ordered all their newborn baby boys thrown into the Nile River. It was then Moses mother set him afloat in a little boat made of rushes to be saved by one of the Pharaoh’s daughters.

Once Moses was an adult, God commanded him to deliver his people from slavery. Among His orders was Plague #10: kill every firstborn Egyptian. To save themselves, the Israelites anointed their doorposts with the blood of a spring lamb, so God “passed over” their houses. The Jews have celebrated Passover, in one form or another, ever since.

A second way to preserve the past, is through museums. For Hebrews and Gentiles alike, Holocaust Museums are memorials to the six million Jews killed by the Nazis during WWII. The reason? Adolph Hitler ordered this mass genocide to “purify” the German race. Many of our states have one or more Holocaust museums. The following are four of those in Florida.
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Maitland:
As the name suggests, the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida, emphasizes middle and high school student and teacher groups. The library with over 5000 volumes, and 500 videotapes, the majority on the Holocaust, place it in the tops for research. It’s also the only one I’ve been to, so far. Museum displays are divided into 12 segments featuring photographs, artifacts (I remember two little dolls made by camp inmates) short film presentations and overview history of the Holocaust. A current exhibit, In Fitting Memory, photographs by Ira Nowinski, texts by Sybil Molton, runs from April through June, 2010. FREE. Mon-Thurs. 9 a.n.-4 p.m. .Fri. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Sun. 1-4 p.m. Library same Mon-Fri, closed weekend. 851 N. Maitland Ave. http://www.holocaustedu.org

St. Petersburg
The Florida Holocaust Museum ‘s permanent exhibits, History, Heritage and Hope, display relevant photos, text and original artifacts on the first floor. The railroad box car from the Treblinka Killing Center held more than a 100 men, women and children at a time, in such close quarters, and abominable conditions, many died during the journey. Temporary exhibits are on the 2nd floor; currently Icons of Loss: the Art of Samuel Bak, through April 4, 2010. Open Mon.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (last admission 3:30 p.m.). $14 adult, $12 (65+), $10 college student, $8 under 18. Military, USF students with ID, and kids under 6, FREE. Children under 16 must be with adult. 55 5th St. South. http://www.flholocaustmuseum.org

Naples
The Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida actually began as a middle school student-teacher classroom exhibit. In 2001 it became a museum and educational center that focuses on school groups. Open to public Tues-Sun, 1-4 p.m. $8 per person. Not recommended for children under 12. 4760 Tamiami Trail, Suite 7, Sandalwood Square http:/www.hmswdl.org

Miami Beach
The Holocaust Memorial was created as a large environmental sculpture by Sculptor Kenneth Treister. Twelve outdoor spaces flow in a visual, historical, and emotional procession surrounding a 200 foot diameter memorial water lily garden. Open daily , 9 a.m.-9 p.m. FREE. 1922-1945 Meridian Ave. http://www.holocaustmmb.org