The Zekelman Holocaust Center

The Zekelman Holocaust Center Our mission is to engage, educate, and empower by remembering the Holocaust. Plan your visit today. The Zekelman Holocaust Center opened in 1984.
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Local Holocaust survivors, with community support, founded the museum to teach about the senseless murder of millions, and why everyone must respect and stand up for the rights of others if the world is to prevent future discrimination, hate crime and genocide. As Michigan’s only Holocaust museum, The Zekelman Holocaust Center annually touches the lives of more than 150,000 individuals, who leave

the museum profoundly affected with a newly acquired sense of history, social responsibility and morality. The Zekelman Holocaust Center’s exhibits create a call to action, teaching visitors through the examples of those who risked their lives to save others, and asking its guests to react to contemporary challenges such as racism, intolerance, bullying and prejudice.

At The Zekelman Holocaust Center, we believe that knowledge leads to action. When students visit, they leave with the co...
05/29/2026

At The Zekelman Holocaust Center, we believe that knowledge leads to action. When students visit, they leave with the confidence and skills to speak up when they witness antisemitism and hatred in their communities.

This aligns beautifully with the work being done at the Detroit Public Safety Academy, where students are guided to build strong character and prepare for meaningful careers.

We are grateful to have welcomed their students and are proud to support their important work of creating safer, more nurturing communities! Learn how to bring your group or organization to The HC at holocaustcenter.org/visit

Belle Mayer Zeck’s legacy is one of determination, intellect, and a lasting impact on international justice.Born in Port...
05/28/2026

Belle Mayer Zeck’s legacy is one of determination, intellect, and a lasting impact on international justice.

Born in Port Henry, New York, on February 22, 1919, Belle grew up on a dairy farm in a Jewish family before moving to Suffern, where antisemitism and Ku Klux Klan activity shaped the environment around her. She graduated from high school early and pursued higher education at Syracuse University and Fordham Law.

Her early legal career with the U.S. Treasury included freezing German assets during WWII. She later became an investigator for the prosecution of chemical firm I.G. Farben at the Nuremberg Trials, drafting the first indictment in a case that would help establish legal precedent for corporate accountability in genocide.

After the trials, she returned home, married fellow prosecutor Bill Zeck, and continued to work as a lawyer and advocate for an international criminal tribunal to prosecute war crimes. She passed away in 2006, four years after the establishment of the International Criminal Court.

“In the survivor community, one of our fears is that we don’t want to be forgotten. We want our children to remember the...
05/27/2026

“In the survivor community, one of our fears is that we don’t want to be forgotten. We want our children to remember the legacy, where they came from, that we are survivors, that we are strong people.”

Barbara (Schechter) Cohen was born in 1941 in Bukaczowce, Poland, an area that is now part of Ukraine. When Barbara was a baby, she and her parents were sent to live in a ghetto. They were able to escape with false papers and were hidden by a non-Jewish farmer in the area. Because she had blonde hair and blue eyes, Barbara’s mother was able to pass as German and took Barbara to Germany, where they stayed during the war.

They ended up in a Displaced Persons Camp in Stuttgart, where they were reunited with Barbara’s father. The family arrived in New York in 1946 as refugees.

Hear Barbara share her firsthand account of the Holocaust on Sunday, May 31, at 12:00 PM as part of our Survivor Talk Sunday series.

The HC is seeking a collaborative, passionate Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead and execute our comprehensive fund...
05/26/2026

The HC is seeking a collaborative, passionate Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead and execute our comprehensive fundraising strategy.

This role oversees all philanthropic revenue streams—including individual giving, major gifts, corporate and foundation grants, planned giving, annual fundraising campaigns, special events, and donor stewardship.

This is a full-time, on-site position in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Learn more and apply at https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/4187248

The Zekelman Holocaust Center will be closed today, May 25, for Memorial Day.Regular operating hours will resume on Tues...
05/25/2026

The Zekelman Holocaust Center will be closed today, May 25, for Memorial Day.

Regular operating hours will resume on Tuesday, May 26, at 9:30 AM.

“It is important to learn history because right now antisemitism is not a dead issue. It’s constantly going on.”Henry Wo...
05/21/2026

“It is important to learn history because right now antisemitism is not a dead issue. It’s constantly going on.”

Henry Wormser was born in Strasbourg, France, in 1936. His family moved to nearby Clermont-Ferrand, located in the free zone, in 1939. Henry’s father was drafted into the French army and became a prisoner of war in Dessau, Germany. When called to report to the government with their identity papers showing they were Jews, Henry’s family went into hiding in a small farming town where they were able to evade detection by the Germans.

After liberation, Henry was reunited with his father. The family immigrated to the United States in 1953 with the help of relatives.

Hear Henry share his firsthand account of the Holocaust on Sunday, May 24, at 12:00 PM as part of our Survivor Talk Sunday series.

The Zekelman Holocaust Center will close at 3:00 PM today, May 21, for Shavuot.Regular operating hours will resume on Su...
05/21/2026

The Zekelman Holocaust Center will close at 3:00 PM today, May 21, for Shavuot.

Regular operating hours will resume on Sunday, May 24, at 9:30 AM.

The Zekelman Holocaust Center is proud to partner with Oakland University to help future doctors explore the lasting imp...
05/20/2026

The Zekelman Holocaust Center is proud to partner with Oakland University to help future doctors explore the lasting impact of medicine during the Holocaust.

We recently welcomed medical students to our museum for a guided experience examining the intersection of history, medicine, and ethics. Soon, they will travel to Poland along with members of The HC to deepen their understanding of Holocaust history and the lessons that continue to shape medical ethics today.

We’re honored to support this meaningful educational experience and grateful to Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine for their continued partnership.

Learn more about our college and university outreach and programming at https://holocaustcenter.org/visit/group-tours/

The Zekelman Holocaust Center mourns the tragic loss of life and injuries resulting from the shooting at the Islamic Cen...
05/19/2026

The Zekelman Holocaust Center mourns the tragic loss of life and injuries resulting from the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and the entire Muslim community affected by this act of violence and hatred.

Our mission is rooted in preserving the memory of the Holocaust, confronting antisemitism, and inspiring action against hatred in all its forms. The lessons of history compel us to speak out whenever communities are targeted because of their identity, faith, or background. We strongly condemn this targeted act of hatred and believe that standing together is essential to confronting hate and protecting the dignity and safety of every person.

There is no place for hatred, and we remain committed to education in the face of intolerance.

Spring is in full bloom at The HC, and our living artifact, the Anne Frank Tree, is blossoming with beautiful white and ...
05/15/2026

Spring is in full bloom at The HC, and our living artifact, the Anne Frank Tree, is blossoming with beautiful white and pink flowers!

The Zekelman Holocaust Center was honored to have been selected in 2009 by the Anne Frank Center Sapling Project as one of only 11 sites in the U.S. to receive a sapling from the chestnut tree that grew outside Anne Frank’s hiding place.

Plan your visit to The HC to view our flowering chestnut tree and explore the Holocaust museum’s galleries. Learn more at holocaustcenter.org/visit

Address

28123 Orchard Lake Road
Farmington Hills, MI
48334

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 7am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 3pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(248) 553-2400

Website

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