By Samuel Asher
Richmond is fortunate to have such a vibrant Jewish community.
When my beloved wife, Michele, passed away unexpectedly last November, I was overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support from the community that has walked with me through this difficult chapter of my life.
Michele was a true woman of courage and valor with a passion for Holocaust Education. The Michele Asher Holocaust Education Fund – honors her life and legacy, ensuring the lessons of the past are never forgotten nor repeated.
If you have not had a chance to contribute and would like to, please visit
www.vaholocaust.org/donations/michele_asher_education_fund/.
Your contribution to The Michele Asher Holocaust Education Fund will help increase the number of Holocaust Education initiatives we offer throughout the year.
With antisemitism on the rise, there has never been a more crucial time to invest in Holocaust education.
I’m excited to announce that the long-awaited building renovation project has begun. To help keep our visitors safe during construction, we are now closed to the public Monday through Friday but remain open on the weekends.
Although our front entrance doors are inaccessible – visitors may enter the Museum through the Choral Synagogue Auditorium doors located near the intersection of 21st Street and East Cary Street.
We have some wonderful new programs in March. See the details below.
In closing, if you have not done so already, please come and see our featured exhibit: “Pictures of Resistance: The Wartime Photographs of Jewish Partisan Faye Shulman.” It will be with us until March 31.
March at Virginia Holocaust Museum
March 15, 10 a.m.- noon, Enrichment Program for Middle & High School Students:
MEMORIES OF IMPRISONMENT: Japanese American Incarceration During World War II
Please join the Virginia Holocaust Museum for a conversation with Sam Mihara. Sam is a second-generation Japanese American, and at 9 years old he and his family were forced to move into an internment camp in northern Wyoming after the United States entered World War II. They would live crowded in a single 20 x 20 square foot room for the next 3 years. Today, as one of the very few surviving prisoners who speaks nationally about this dark time in our history, Sam shares poignant personal memories of events from 80 years ago that have continued to resonate through the decades.
To RSVP, visit www.vaholocaust.org/events/memories-of-imprisonment-japanese-american-incarceration-during-world-war-ii/
March 16 , 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. , Educator Workshop:
Teaching About Japanese American Internment During World War II
The Virginia Holocaust Museum and The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation present “Teaching About Japanese American Internment During World War II.” Join us as Shirley Ann Higuchi, chair of The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, shares the history and stories of people that were imprisoned during World War II because of their Japanese ancestry. We will examine how incarceration was the result of decades of racism and discrimination in the United States and not just a reaction to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Learn the history, best practices, and resources to use in the classroom to help your students critically examine the lessons from this dark chapter in American History.
To register, visit www.vaholocaust.org/events/educator-workshop-teaching-about-japanese-american-internment-during-world-war-ii/
March 19, 2-4 p.m., Public Speaker Program at Or Ami:
Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust
To register, visit https://www.vaholocaust.org/events/public-program/
March 20, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Educator Workshop:
Let The World Know: Teaching about the Nazis’ LGBTQ+ Victims
Join Virginia Holocaust Museum and Diversity Richmond for this workshop led by Dr. W. Jake Newsome Public Historian of the LGBTQ+ Past and author of the newly released book Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust, as we discuss common questions, challenges, and opportunities when teaching about the Nazi persecution of LGBTQ+ people. Topics include terminology, how to integrate this theme into the overarching narrative of Holocaust history, and the power of individual stories. Educators will receive an overview of the latest historical research on the topic and new educational resources, including a lesson plan, bibliography, and a copy of “Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust.”
This workshop is free for educators and includes:
- Breakfast, Coffee, and Lunch
- Educator Resources and a copy of “Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust”
To register, visit: www.vaholocaust.org/events/educator-workshop-let-the-world-know-teaching-about-the-nazis-lgbtq-victims/
