Beth Shalom Holocaust Centre facts for kids
The Beth Shalom National Holocaust Centre and Museum is a special place in Nottinghamshire, England. Its name, Beth Shalom, means "House of Peace." This centre is England's only museum completely dedicated to teaching about the Holocaust. It opened its doors in 1995.
The Holocaust was a terrible time in history when millions of Jewish people and others were killed during World War II. Museums like Beth Shalom help us remember what happened. They teach us important lessons so that such events never happen again. There are other places in England that also teach about the Holocaust, like the Imperial War Museum in London and a learning centre in Huddersfield.
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Why Beth Shalom Was Created
The Beth Shalom Centre was started by two brothers, James and Stephen Smith. In 1991, they visited Israel and went to a place called Yad Vashem. This visit deeply changed how they understood history and the Holocaust. They felt it was important to create a place in England where people could learn about this dark period.
Learning at the Museum
The museum works hard to teach people of all ages about the Holocaust. It has a special exhibit for primary school children. This exhibit focuses on the experiences of children during the Holocaust. It helps young visitors understand what it was like for kids their age during that time. A grant of nearly £500,000 from a lottery helped fund this important exhibit.
Even famous people have visited the centre to learn. For example, Prince Harry came to Beth Shalom to learn about the Holocaust. This shows how important the museum is for educating everyone.
Honoring the Founders
On July 21, 2010, the founders of the centre, James and Stephen Smith, along with their mother Marina, were given special awards. Nottingham Trent University honored them with degrees called Doctor of Letters. This recognized their amazing work in creating and running the Beth Shalom Holocaust Centre.
Other Places to Learn
- The Wiener Library for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide (London)
- Imperial War Museum
- The Hyde Park Holocaust Memorial, unveiled in 1983
- The Holocaust Exhibition and Learning Centre, Huddersfield
- List of Holocaust memorials and museums
