By Samuel Asher

As Rosh Hashanah approaches, we prepare to welcome 5786 with reflection, renewal, and hope for the year ahead. It’s a time to gather with loved ones, honor tradition, and set intentions for the coming year.

The Virginia Holocaust Museum Shop is the perfect place to find meaningful, high-quality Judaica to enhance your celebration. From gorgeous shofars to elegant seder plates, kiddush cups, and honey dishes ready to overflow with sweetness, our curated collection blends tradition with artistry.

Each piece is selected with care, making it a joy to bring into your home or gift to friends and family. Best of all, your purchase supports the Museum’s mission of remembrance and education.

Stop by soon to make this New Year truly special. Shanah Tovah U’Metukah—wishing you a sweet and joyful year!

Experience The Mischlinge Exposé – A Live Musical Performance

Sunday, September 14 | 5 p.m. | The Virginia Holocaust Museum’s Historic Choral Synagogue

Bending personal history with evocative music, Carolyn Enger’s The Mischlinge Exposé invites audiences to reflect on the power of labels and their lasting effects. The performance explores universal themes of identity, inclusion, and empathy through a little-known aspect of Holocaust history: the Mischlinge—a derogatory Nazi term for those considered neither fully Jewish nor fully Aryan.

Enger’s own father and godmother were both labeled Mischling (Grade A) by the Nazis. Through video, audio testimony, and music, she weaves her family’s story into a deeply moving narrative that illuminates the struggles of identity, marginalization, and belonging. This intimate live performance offers a powerful reminder of the human impact of history and the urgent need for empathy and compassion today.

This program is free to the public. Reservations are required. For details, visit www.vaholocaust.org/event/themischlingeexpose/?event_date=2025-09-14

For Educators: Teaching the Holocaust

Tuesday, September 17 | 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol, Va.

The Virginia Holocaust Museum, in partnership with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Northeast Tennessee Holocaust Education Council, invites secondary and higher-education teachers to a free, full-day professional development workshop on Holocaust history, best teaching practices, and classroom resources.

For details, visit www.vaholocaust.org/8014-2/