What are the opening hours?

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

The Zekelman Holocaust Center

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The Zekelman Holocaust Center

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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.

10/07/2026

Three years have passed since the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, a day that forever changed Jewish communities around the world.

We remember those who were murdered, honor the survivors, and hold close the families and communities whose lives continue to be shaped by the events of that day.

The impact of October 7 did not end when the attacks stopped. In the years since, Jewish communities have faced a troubling rise in antisemitism, misinformation, and hatred. These challenges remind us why education, historical understanding, and moral responsibility remain as important as ever.

Yet alongside grief, we have witnessed extraordinary resilience. We have seen individuals and communities support one another, strengthen Jewish life, and respond to hatred with courage and determination.

At The Zekelman Holocaust Center, we reaffirm our commitment to engaging, educating, and empowering by remembering the Holocaust. On this anniversary, we renew our responsibility to confront antisemitism, preserve memory, and help build a society where people recognize our shared humanity and take responsibility for one another.

May the memories of those lost be a blessing.

10/06/2026

Our sold-out program, "Local Shadows, Local Courage," brought our community together to uncover a powerful chapter of Southeast Michigan’s history and reflect on the people who stood against antisemitism and N**i ideology.

Presented by The HC’s Senior Education Program Manager, Harry Smith, the program explored the stories, archival materials, and historic landmarks behind our region’s response to hatred.

We are grateful to Dr. Catherine Cangany of the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan for joining Harry in conversation and helping bring additional context and perspective to this important history.

The evening offered a meaningful reminder that courage and resistance can take many forms, and that the choices we make in the face of hatred matter. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this important conversation. Together, we continue the work of preserving Holocaust history and sharing the stories of those who chose courage, resilience, and resistance.

09/24/2026

Join us Thursday, October 1, at 7:00 PM for "Local Shadows, Local Courage: Exploring Detroit’s N**i Past," hosted by The HC’s Senior Education Program Manager, Harry Smith.

Southeast Michigan carries its own Holocaust story, shaped by Jewish resilience in the face of local N**i sympathy. Through personal stories, archival materials, and images of historic sites, this program explores how people across our region confronted hatred with courage and determination.

Following the program, Dr. Catherine Cangany, CEO of the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan, will moderate a conversation exploring what this history reveals about our community and why it still matters today.

Free for members of The HC, or $10 per person, at https://29862.blackbaudhosting.com/29862/MI-and-the-Holocaust-Program-with-Harry-Smith

09/22/2026

On Sunday night, as worshippers gathered for Yom Kippur at Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, a gunman opened fire on Constable Jeff Smith, who was stationed outside at the congregation's request.

Const. Smith remains in critical but stable condition, facing a long road to recovery. We are grateful for his courage and are holding him, his family, and the Belleville Police Service in our prayers.

No one inside the synagogue was physically harmed, but a community was terrorized on its holiest night of the year. No one should have to fear violence while at prayer.

As an organization dedicated to Holocaust education and confronting hate, we stand with the Sons of Jacob congregation and with Jewish communities everywhere living through a rising tide of antisemitic violence.

We will continue to speak out, educate, and stand in solidarity whenever and wherever hate shows itself.

09/17/2026

We are pleased to announce award-winning actress and proud Jewish community leader Mayim Bialik as the Keynote Speaker for our 42nd Anniversary Benefit, whose grandmother and great-aunt were the only surviving members of her immediate family after the Holocaust.

A product of Jewish Federation scholarships, Mayim's experiences as a Jewish community leader date back to her college days and exemplify her long-standing connection to the Jewish people and dedication to making a positive impact as a proud and vocal Jewish woman.

Mayim uses her public platform to speak openly about the importance of standing up against antisemitism and serves as a strong voice in support of the global Jewish community and Holocaust education.

Celebrate 42 years of Holocaust education at our Anniversary Benefit on Sunday, November 8. For tickets, sponsorships, or more information, please visit https://holocaustcenter.org/events/anniversary-benefit/

Mayim Bialik |

08/31/2026

Behind every Summer Academy is a team of people who pour their time, energy, and passion into making it happen.

This year, our staff developed and led 24 hours of programming for 170 educators. From planning and teaching to facilitating sessions, preparing resources, answering questions, and welcoming educators, our staff brought care and expertise to every part of Summer Academy.

To The HC's incredible staff: thank you for everything you do!

08/20/2026

We strongly condemn the anti-Muslim and antisemitic demonstrations that took place Tuesday at Dearborn’s Henry Ford Centennial Library, where residents had gathered for a meeting of their city council.

We stand with our Muslim neighbors, who were targeted where they live before their elected representatives. No community should have to endure that, and no one should have to endure it alone.

We are particularly disturbed by the use of N**i symbols and imagery, including sw****ka flags, to promote hatred and intimidation. The invocation of N**i ideology has no place in our communities and carries the history of a regime responsible for the systematic murder of six million Jews.

At times like these, we must stand together and affirm that hatred and intimidation have no place in our communities.

The Zekelman Holocaust Center was founded by Michigan survivors who understood the consequences when antisemitism, dehumanization, and hatred are allowed to go unchecked.

We call on all people—regardless of faith, background, or political belief—to reject antisemitism, anti-Muslim bigotry, and the targeting of any community through hatred and intimidation.

08/13/2026

What can a chestnut tree teach us about Holocaust history?

At The Zekelman Holocaust Center, the Anne Frank Tree offers visitors a living connection to Anne Frank and her legacy while also telling a larger story about the thousands of Holocaust survivors who rebuilt their lives here in Michigan.

Jamie Miskowski, our Senior Education Strategy Manager, recently spoke with WDET 101.9FM about the tree and what it can mean to those who visit.

“The tree is a living connection to who Anne Frank was and her legacy, but is also a symbol of the over 4,000 Holocaust survivors who came to Michigan after the war, who themselves put down new roots and built new lives, new families, new legacies, careers that outlived them, and found ways to thrive right here in our community.”

The tree reminds us that behind the history are individuals who experienced unimaginable loss, but also found ways to rebuild, create, and thrive. Plan your visit to The HC at holocaustcenter.org/visit.

Listen to the full interview at https://wdet.org/2026/06/26/the-anne-frank-tree-brings-hope-and-learning-to-visitors-of-zekelman-holocaust-center/.

08/10/2026

Behind every artifact, photograph, and testimony in our immersive core exhibit is a person whose life was forever changed by the Holocaust.

On our public tours, knowledgeable docents share these stories, offer historical context, answer questions, and highlight the experiences of survivors who rebuilt their lives in Michigan.

Join us for a guided tour:
➡️ Wednesdays at 3:00 PM (NEW)
➡️ Fridays at 1:00 PM
➡️ Sundays at 1:00 PM
Tours are complimentary with general admission.

Explore history through the stories that make it personal and see why remembrance begins with understanding. Plan your visit at holocaustcenter.org/visit.

08/07/2026

Art has the power to preserve memory, challenge perspectives, and connect us to history in deeply personal ways.

As part of the joint Association of Holocaust Organizations (AHO) and Council of American Jewish Museums (CAJM) conference, museum professionals gathered at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) for an afternoon exploring the role of art in education, interpretation, and public engagement.

The program featured a fireside conversation between James Snyder of The Jewish Museum and Judith Dolkart of the Detroit Institute of Arts, where they examined how museums care for collections, engage diverse audiences, and create meaningful opportunities for learning through art.

These conversations closely reflect The Zekelman Holocaust Center's approach to Holocaust education. Throughout our museum, artwork created by Holocaust survivors and witnesses serves as powerful visual testimony to document acts of resistance during imprisonment, preserving lived experiences, and providing enduring evidence of the crimes and atrocities they witnessed. By presenting these works alongside survivor testimony and historical artifacts, art becomes an essential tool for remembrance and education.

The partnership between the DIA and The HC highlights the important role Detroit's cultural institutions play in preserving history, advancing scholarship, and helping audiences connect with the past through multiple forms of expression.

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

http://www.holocaustcenter.org/

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