Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh

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Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh

Inspiring engagement with Holocaust history and connecting it to today. The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh is a program of The Tree of Life.

08/19/2026

We're taking a look back at some of the remarkable work done in schools during the 2025-2026 school year!

Seneca Valley teacher Michele Russo had students complete The Crocus Project and our Reflections: Butterfly Art Program in tandem. They decorated their butterflies in honor of Holocaust survivors who settled in the Pittsburgh area, while they planted crocuses in memory of children who were killed in the Holocaust.

Thank you to Michele and all the students who worked on these beautiful projects!

Learn more about our Butterfly Art Program: https://hcofpgh.org/reflections
Learn more about The Crocus Project: https://hcofpgh.org/crocus-project

08/18/2026

Join us on Thursday, September 10th for an evening with Irene Skolnick as she shares her story of surviving the Holocaust. Register here: https://hc-irene.eventbrite.com

Irene was born in Przemysl, Poland. She and her family came under N**i occupation on June 22, 1941 when Hi**er attacked the USSR. In December 1941, the family was forced to move into the ghetto. As life became ever more precarious, Irene’s mother decided that the family’s only chance of survival was to change their identity. They obtained false papers and passed themselves off as Catholic Poles. The family left the ghetto in August 1942 and moved to Lublin. After the war, Irene and her family moved to France where they lived for six years. They emigrated to the U.S. in 1952, when Irene was 14 years old.

08/14/2026

We're taking a look back at some of the remarkable work done in schools during the 2025-2026 school year!

Our Generations Speakers spoke to 8500+ students about their relatives’ stories of surviving the Holocaust. Pictured here is Lynne Ravas at Shaler Area Elementary. Learn more about the Generations Speakers Bureau: https://hcofpgh.org/resources/speakers/

“Shaler Area Elementary School has been lucky to have Lynne Ravas speak to our 6th grade students for several years. The teachers look forward to her visit every year, both for themselves and for the impact it has on the kids. Our 6th graders read Number the Stars and for many it's their first introduction to the Holocaust. Lynne provides real-world context and connection that is so important. The resources she shares are accessible and useful to teachers.” -Teacher at Shaler Area Elementary

08/13/2026

One of the incredible members of our Generations Speakers Bureau, Debbie Leuchter Stueber, was recently featured on The Ride Home with Kathy Emmons! Listen here:
https://omny.fm/shows/john-kathy/the-ride-home-with-kathy-emmons-wednesday-july-29-2026?t=7m31s

08/12/2026

Thank you to Temple Emmanuel of South Hills for hosting last week's event with Master Gardener Lynn Rubin!

After a screening of a WQED feature on the Holocaust Memorial Garden, Lynn spoke about her experience being the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, the creation of the garden, and her relationship with survivor Marga Silberman Randall (z”l). Attendees then received a tour of the garden, with Lynn explaining each aspect of the carefully curated design.

We thank Lynn and everyone who attended for making this such a meaningful program!

08/11/2026

We are so proud to work with incredible educators and are always thrilled when the meaningful work they do is recognized. Thank you to Tawnya Panizzi at TribLive for writing about Scott Vensel, the most recent recipient of our Educator of the Year Award.

Read the article here: https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/dorseyville-teacher-scott-vensel-named-holocaust-centers-educator-of-the-year-for-sowing-seeds-of-hope

07/31/2026

We're taking a look back at some of the remarkable work done in schools during the 2025-2026 school year!

Students at Dorseyville Middle School once again put on their gardening gloves and participated in The Crocus Project. The goal of this initiative is to have more than 1.5 million crocuses in bloom, which are planted in memory of the 1.5 million Jewish children who perished in the Holocaust and the thousands of other children who were victims of N**i atrocities.

Thank you to Scott and all the students who participated!

The Crocus Project is a project of Holocaust Education Ireland. HCP brought the program to the U.S. formally for the first time, and educators located in our outreach region can apply for a grant to receive free crocus bulbs. Learn more: https://hcofpgh.org/crocus-project/

07/29/2026

Join us on August 6th to discover the story behind the Holocaust Memorial Garden at Temple Emanuel of South Hills. Register at https://hc-in-bloom.eventbrite.com

The garden is a living memorial inspired by the vision of local Holocaust survivor Marga Silbermann Randall (z”l) and brought to life in partnership with master gardener Lynn Rubin, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor.

Following a screening of a short WQED documentary about the memorial's creation, participants will hear from Rubin about her collaboration with Randall, the inspiration behind the project, and the symbolism woven into the plants and flowers that make up this living tribute. A guided tour of the garden will follow the program, weather permitting.

07/28/2026

We're taking a look back at some of the remarkable work done in schools during the 2025-2026 school year!

Students at West Mifflin Area High School participated in HCP's Reflections: Butterfly Art Program. The beautiful butterfly display they created outside of their school's cafeteria included a description of the project, picture collages of children who were killed in the Holocaust as well as local Holocaust survivors, and quotes about the importance of remembrance (these resources are provided to all participating educators!).

Thank you to teacher Amanda Murphy and all the students who participated!

Reflections: Butterfly Art Program is an educational art and storytelling initiative from the HCP in which students decorate wooden butterflies in memory of children who were murdered in the Holocaust. In addition to a butterfly, each student receives a biography card that tells the stories of both a child victim and a Holocaust survivor who later rebuilt their life in Pittsburgh. This project aims to honor those who were lost, elevate the voices of those who survived, and foster intergenerational connection through creativity and remembrance.

Applications to participate in our Butterfly Art Program are open year-round. Learn more: https://hcofpgh.org/reflections/

Address

Chatham University, Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA
15232

Website

http://hcofpgh.org/

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