Holocaust & Humanity Center

06/08/2026

Upstander Month is in full swing! Yesterday, we came together at Bethany House Services for an afternoon of connection, compassion, and community impact.

Volunteers prepared and served a meal for families, creating space for meaningful conversation and shared experiences. Children took part in our Superhero Strengths activity and enjoyed the superhero photo booth, celebrating the qualities that make them everyday heroes.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and to Bethany House for their partnership and dedication to helping families build stability and self-sufficiency.

Join us throughout June as we continue working together to build a stronger, more compassionate community. Cohen Family Upstander Month is made possible through the generous support of Duke Energy, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati Museum Center, and the Mayerson Family Foundation.

06/07/2026

As Holding Hope enters its final day at Union Terminal, we are deeply honored to share and help preserve the powerful stories of Holocaust survivors through this free exhibition. Featuring striking photographs by Madeleine Hordinski, Holding Hope offers an intimate look at the resilience, humanity, and lived experiences of those who endured the Holocaust.

Through portraits and personal storytelling, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect, remember, and ensure these voices continue to be heard for generations to come.

There is still time to experience this moving exhibition before it closes today. Holding Hope is on display in the Ruthven and Mallory Galleries at Union Terminal and is presented in both English and Russian.

Visit this final week and help us honor the survivors whose stories continue to inspire, educate, and endure.

And bring these powerful stories, home. Secure your copy of the gallery book today: https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/holding-hope/

06/06/2026

Tomorrow is the final day to experience the Holding Hope exhibition.

This moving photo gallery highlights personal artifacts that tell stories of resilience, survival, and remembrance, including Anneliese Yosafat's spoon and Joseph Polaniecki's tallis and tefillin.

When Anneliese went into hiding with her parents in 1942, she carried a spoon that had belonged to her mother as a baby. The spoon remained with her as the family moved between 13 different hiding places during the Holocaust.

After fleeing N**i persecution, Joseph and his family were deported to Siberia in 1940. Throughout the war, they were repeatedly displaced, moving from place to place under harsh conditions. Though they spent the war moving from place to place, maintaining Jewish prayer remained an important part of their lives. Throughout their journey, they carried a tallis, a prayer shawl worn during worship, and tefillin, small leather boxes containing verses from the Torah that are traditionally worn during prayer.

Visit the exhibit to learn more about the people who carried these artifacts and the strength, faith, and hope they represent. Featuring photographs by Madeleine Hordinski, is on display in the Ruthven and Mallory galleries at Union Terminal. The exhibit is presented in both English and Russian.

The stories don’t end when you leave the gallery. Bring home the heart of Holding Hope with the official gallery book, featuring moving photography and stories that stay with you long after the exhibit.

Buy your copy today: https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/holding-hope/

06/06/2026

06/05/2026

Looking back on an unforgettable moment from last year's Cohen Family Upstander Awards Gala, award-winning actor, writer, and director Jesse Eisenberg shared insights that continue to resonate and inspire.

In this clip, Jesse shares insights on writing about the past in ways that challenge expectations and uncover new perspectives.

As we look back on this inspiring conversation, we can't help but get excited for what's ahead. The countdown is on, and we're thrilled to welcome award-winning actor, writer, producer, and musician Daveed Diggs to the 2026 Cohen Family Upstander Awards Gala.

The celebration is just around the corner, and we can't wait to continue these important conversations with another incredible voice. Stay tuned!

Reserve your spot today: https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/events/upstander-awards-2026/

Cohen Family Upstander Month is generously supported by Duke Energy, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati Museum Center, and the Mayerson Family Foundation.

06/05/2026

With heavy hearts, we remember Annette Lebowski and mourn her passing.

Annette was born in 1930 in Worms, Germany, a city with a rich history of Ashkenazic Jewish life. She was only a young child when the rise of N**ism changed her family’s future. Her father, whose family had built a successful furniture business over generations, was forced to sell it to the N**is for a fraction of its value.

Recognizing the growing danger, Annette’s parents made the difficult decision to leave Germany. When she was just three and a half years old, HIAS helped her family resettle in New York City, where they rebuilt their lives and welcomed relatives who had also escaped N**i persecution.
Annette later earned a master’s degree in education, married, and raised two sons. In 1966, she moved to Cincinnati with her family and became a longtime member of the community. She spent her later years in Loveland, where she enjoyed the companionship of her beloved cats, Mazik and Nudnik.

Annette is currently featured in our Holding Hope exhibit at Union Terminal, where visitors can learn about her story through a beautiful photograph taken in her home and a handwritten note in her own words. Her message of hope and resilience will continue to touch lives and leave a lasting legacy.

May her memory be a blessing.

06/04/2026

This year, we are honored to present the inaugural National Upstander of Humanity Award, the highest distinction of the Upstander Awards, to Tova Friedman, one of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz, and her grandson, Aron Goodman.

In this clip, meet Tova and learn more about her story as she reflects on walking into her first American classroom at 12 years old, unable to speak English. Surrounded by unfamiliar faces, she felt confused, lost, and alone.

When the lunch bell rang, she stayed in her seat, unsure of what to do. Then a young boy approached her, spoke to her in Yiddish, and invited her to eat with him. He ordered them both a cheese sandwich with lettuce, a simple act of kindness that changed her life. That boy was Maier Friedman, who would later become her husband.

Today, through TovaTok, Tova and Aron are reaching millions around the world, bringing Holocaust education to new generations in ways that are personal, accessible, and deeply impactful. Together, they are preserving survivor testimony and ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust continue to inspire understanding, empathy, and action.

Join us at the Cohen Family Upstander Awards Gala on June 14 as we celebrate their extraordinary impact and hear directly from the duo behind TovaTok.

Reserve your spot today: https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/events/upstander-awards-2026/

Cohen Family Upstander Month is generously supported by Duke Energy, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati Museum Center, and the Mayerson Family Foundation.

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

In 1967, when Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, a race official tried to force her off the course.

In that moment, she had a choice. Stop running or keep going.

She kept going.

What happened that day was about more than a race. It was about courage. It was about standing up in the face of opposition. It was about proving that one person can challenge expectations and change history.

This Global Running Day, we honor Kathrine's spirit and the lessons her story still teaches us today. When the path gets difficult, keep moving forward.

And on June 28, you can meet Kathrine Switzer in person at the Cohen Family Upstander 5K & Family Day. Join us for a day that celebrates resilience, community, and the power of being an Upstander.

🎉 Today only, save 35% on registration with code GLOBALRUNNINGDAY. https://bit.ly/4uUORmy

06/01/2026

We’re just one week away from an evening of yoga in the iconic Union Terminal Rotunda.

If you’re looking for an evening to slow down, reconnect, and find a moment of calm amid the busyness of everyday life, join us for Museum Mindfulness Yoga.

Along with a guided yoga practice, guests will have the chance to journal, bedazzle, and create space for self-expression and reflection in a welcoming, supportive environment. You'll also receive a personal keepsake journal to take home, creating space for mindfulness both during the event and beyond.

We’re excited to partner with the Mayerson JCC, featuring one of their yoga instructors to guide us through the evening.

Reserve your spot today: https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/events/rotunda-yoga-2026/