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949-721-9800 ext. 107 for Tours

info@holocaustmuseum.org

2240-2260 University Drive

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Monday: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Wedsneday: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Thursday: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

500 Kits. Thousands of Students. One Powerful Mission.

Our extraordinary volunteers assembled 500 first-of-their-kind educational kits for students visiting Holocaust Museum Orange County.

Visiting school groups will receive complimentary kits to take back to their classrooms, while supplies last—extending the museum experience while deepening historical understanding, building empathy, and empowering students to counter hate.

Each kit includes 25 reproduction artifacts—including shattered glass representing Kristallnacht and replica barbed wire from Auschwitz—plus historical photographs, guiding questions, and a 60-page educational guide.

Created in partnership with Hands-on History and the House of Ruach, a Don and Gwen Hecht Philanthropic Foundation.

The visit ends. The learning—and its impact—continues.

Public Museum Tour This Tuesday

Holocaust Museum Orange County welcomes the broader community for a public tour this Tuesday, August 18 at 6:00 PM.

The tour is approximately 90 minutes, free of charge, and no reservation is necessary.

Through authentic artifacts, survivor and second-generation testimony, immersive exhibits, and meaningful discussion, visitors engage with Holocaust history in a deeply personal and impactful way.

We believe Holocaust education should be accessible to everyone, and we warmly welcome community members of all backgrounds to join us, reflect, and help ensure these stories are never forgotten.

Tuesday, August 18 | 6:00 PM
Free admission | No reservation necessary

Help bring Holocaust education into classrooms across Orange County.

We are preparing 500 Holocaust Education Kits to give students a hands-on way to learn through artifacts, photos, stories, and guided reflection.

Holocaust education teaches more than history. It helps students understand the dangers of hate and silence, builds empathy and moral courage, and inspires them to stand up for human dignity.

In partnership with Hands on History, volunteers are needed to help pack these classroom resources on Wednesday, August 12, from 11:00 AM–3:00 PM.

To volunteer, contact:
Rachael@HolocaustMuseumOC.org

Behind every meaningful museum visit is a dedicated team committed to making each experience more powerful, thoughtful and impactful.

Our Holocaust Museum Orange County docents gathered for a planning and training session to share best practices, strengthen our tours, and explore new ways to welcome even more students and community groups.

We are deeply grateful to our docents, who give their time, heart and wisdom to educate, inspire empathy, and ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust continue to shape future generations.

Friends Who Learn Together

History becomes more powerful when it is experienced together.

A visit to Holocaust Museum Orange County is more than learning about the past. It is an opportunity to walk through history with people you care about, to see artifacts, hear real stories, ask meaningful questions, and share reflections that stay with you long after you leave.

Something special happens when friends, families or colleagues experience the museum together. Conversations open. Perspectives deepen. Hearts are moved. The lessons of history become personal, shared and unforgettable.

Whether you come with friends, family or coworkers, we invite you to spend an afternoon or an evening exploring, reflecting, and discovering another dimension of the museum: the power of learning together.

Because remembrance is not only something we study. It is something we carry forward — together.

Holocaust Museum Orange County is honored to serve as a meaningful resource for college and university students across Orange County and beyond.

Featured in higher education curricula, the museum connects students with authentic artifacts, survivor testimony, and primary source materials that bring history into focus.

Our collections also support teachers, scholars, writers, and community leaders working to deepen understanding and bring these lessons into classrooms, publications, and important conversations.

Through real evidence and human stories, we help inspire critical thinking, meaningful dialogue, and a lasting commitment to preserving the lessons of the past.

Students Victoria and Anthony from @weareocsa — Orange County School of the Arts — recently visited Holocaust Museum Orange County to record an oral history with David, one of our dedicated docents and a second-generation Holocaust survivor.

For their project, they listened as David shared the story of his mother, who was saved on the Kindertransport, and how the Holocaust’s legacy continues to shape families across generations.

By documenting this testimony, Victoria and Anthony are helping preserve stories of survival, courage, and resilience. Their work turns remembrance into action, using their talents to educate others, build empathy, and strengthen the resolve to stand against hate.

We are proud to see young people take such a meaningful role in preserving history and shaping a future rooted in understanding, compassion, and responsibility.

Where Technology Meets Humanity

UCI Ethics in AI students visited Holocaust Museum Orange County to explore a powerful question:

What is the difference between lived human experience and what technology can construct or interpret?

Through survivor testimony, artifacts, immersive history, and guided reflection, students encountered memory not as data, but as lived truth.

They left with a deeper understanding that technology can preserve and share history in powerful new ways, but it must be guided by human responsibility, moral clarity, and authentic testimony. Used thoughtfully, innovation can strengthen remembrance, expand education, and help these stories reach the next generation.

This is how Holocaust Museum Orange County educates effectively: by bringing students face to face with real stories, real artifacts, and real human choices. In that space, history becomes personal, empathy grows, and the lessons of the past become a call to confront hate today.

Carrying Memory Forward

We were honored to welcome a special group brought by Doris, one of our dedicated docents and a second-generation Holocaust survivor, who gives so much of her time inspiring students and community members.

Together, second-generation survivors, children of liberators and veterans shared how World War II shaped their families and continues to echo through their lives today.

Following the immersive experience, the conversation turned to the future and our shared responsibility to preserve truth, inspire empathy and pass these stories to the next generation.

At Holocaust Museum Orange County, remembrance is strengthened through connection, conversation and the sacred responsibility to carry these stories forward.

History Beyond Our Walls

In addition to the many students and visitors we welcome to the museum, Holocaust Museum OC brings the lessons of the Holocaust directly to schools, senior communities, civic organizations, and faith groups throughout the region.

Led by our dedicated docents, these programs share survivor testimony, authentic artifacts, and meaningful conversations that make history personal, powerful, and unforgettable.

Each visit fosters empathy, inspires responsibility, and carries the lessons of the Holocaust into communities near and far.

The Journey Is Worth It!

In addition to the many Orange County schools we welcome each month, students are now traveling from San Diego County to spend a full day at Holocaust Museum OC.

They heard the powerful firsthand testimony of Holocaust survivor Eva Schneider, who was just 11 years old when she was deported to Auschwitz. Through survivor testimony, authentic artifacts, conversations with second-generation survivors, and meaningful reflection along the beautiful Back Bay, students experienced history in a way that cannot be replicated in a classroom.

When students travel miles to learn these lessons, it reminds us how important this work is. Every busload represents another group of young people connecting with real people, real stories, and the consequences of hatred and indifference.

The journey to the museum lasts a day. The lessons can last a lifetime.

Today, on Holocaust Survivor Day, we honor the extraordinary courage, strength, and resilience of Holocaust survivors.

Elie Wiesel taught, “Whoever listens to a witness becomes a witness.”

At Holocaust Museum Orange County, thousands of students and visitors have the sacred opportunity to listen, to hear survivor testimony, encounter personal stories, and come face to face with the lessons of history.

And when they listen, they become witnesses too.

They carry the responsibility to remember, to speak out, and to stand up against hate.

To every survivor: your life is a triumph over darkness. Your story continues to educate, inspire, and transform future generations. Your voice becomes a light carried forward by every student who listens and every heart that is moved.

Today, we honor their strength. We cherish their voices. We commit to building a future with less hate and more humanity.

A hidden Nazi treasure.
A fake movie shoot.
A real mission for justice.

Join us for The Stamp Thief, a gripping true story of stolen Holocaust-era stamp collections, buried secrets, and one extraordinary effort to return them to victims’ families.

Screening followed by a live discussion with producer and filmmaker Dan Sturman and Gary Gilbert.

Sunday, June 7 at 6:00 PM
Optional Museum tour at 5:00 PM

RSVP: JewishNewport.com/Stamp
Seats are limited. Reserve today.

Each week, busloads of students enter our museum with curiosity and questions. They leave with a deeper understanding of humanity, empathy, and the responsibility we all share to stand against hatred and indifference.

In countless heartfelt letters, students and educators share how deeply the visit affected them. One student wrote, “I will never forget what I learned today.” Another shared, “It made me realize that silence can be dangerous, and that one person can make a difference.”

Together, we are helping shape a future rooted in compassion, understanding, and moral courage.

Education that Transforms

Busloads of students visit Holocaust Museum OC each week to learn not only about history, but about humanity.

Through conversations with survivors, interaction with authentic artifacts, and powerful educational experiences, students are challenged to think critically, ask questions, and reflect on the consequences of hatred and indifference.

These visits go beyond textbooks. They awaken empathy, inspire moral courage, and help shape a future rooted in understanding, responsibility, and humanity.

Over the weekend, we heard the compelling and powerful story of Dr. Alex Kor and his parents, survivors of the Holocaust. His mother survived Dr. Mengele’s twin experiments and his father survived 3 years in concentration camps. Through Dr. Kor’s compassionate storytelling, the legacy and lessons of his parents live on through him and can be used to fight hate every day. It is through personal storytelling that we can continue to change lives and inspire society to be free of hate. We thank Dr. Kor @my_holocaust_legacy_ for his time and for bringing the inspiring story of his parents to life through his and his co-author’s, Graham Honaker, book, “A Blessing, Not a Burden”. We appreciate his courage to inspire change in this world.

We recently had the honor of hosting @ocparks Orange County Historical Commission Annual Networking event for museum professionals and volunteers across Orange County. It was a pleasure meeting OC’s front runners in historical preservation and was inspiring to see so many people passionate about the history of our community. We look forward to many more collaborations and are honored to continue to educate about history alongside these incredible partners!

Six candles flickered.
Six million lives remembered.
On Yom HaShoah, Holocaust remembrance day, history was not distant — it stood before us.
Holocaust survivors lit each flame, transforming memory into something visible, present and deeply felt.
Through the powerful story of 999: The Forgotten Girls, the first transport of women to Auschwitz, we confronted both unimaginable loss and extraordinary resilience. Of the 999, only 25 are known to have survived.

This Sunday, we will be having author and second generation survivor, Dr. Ale Kor, along with his co-author, Graham Honaker to present on their book, "A Blessing, Not a Burden." They will tell the incredible stories of Dr. Kor's parents and survivors, Eva and Michael Kor, along with a riveting interaction with Eva's USC SHoah Foundation's, "Dimensions in Testimonies" hologram. Don't miss it. Register at jewishnewport.com/kor.

This week, the world lost a remarkable soul.

Holocaust survivor Dr. Edith Eva Eger endured the unimaginable — and chose a life of healing, hope and purpose.

Her courage transformed pain into strength.
Her wisdom inspired millions.

At Holocaust Museum Orange County, we carry forward stories like hers — ensuring that her voice, and the voices of so many others, continue to educate, inspire and guide the next generation.

Her legacy will live on.

Swipe to discover her incredible story.

This month, we had the privilege of visiting Dana Hills High School. In partnership with StandWithUs, we brought Holocaust survivor Yetta Kane, who shared her personal story and formed meaningful connections with students while addressing the importance of combating antisemitism. With over 300 attendees getting to meet Yetta, the program highlighted the value of empathy, tolerance, and perseverance. We look forward to continuing our off-site programs and expanding these important conversations.

We hosted the second Teacher Professional Development Day for Holocaust Education in Orange County in partnership with the Educator Alliance of Orange County. Teachers heard from Dr. Allie Melendez from the @instituteforcurriculumservices on the history of antisemitism and the lasting impact it has had on modern times. Additionally, Michaela Myjak, museum director, gave a presentation and immersive tour of the museum along with the educational resources offered here. We are grateful for the teachers who came from Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties to attend this informative event.

We are delighted to be a part of this educational alliance along with our partners @jfed_oc , @handson.history , @student.to.student.oc and @instituteforcurriculumservices

Join us for a riveting evening with Dr. Alex Kor, son of Holocaust survivors. His mother, Eva Kor, was one of the surviving twins of the Mengele experiments. Alex will share the inspiring story of his parents and explore how their stories have combated hate along with a discussion with his co-author, Graham Honaker, and interactive conversation with his mother's Shoah Foundation, Dimensions in Testimonies, hologram. Register at JewishNewport.com/Kor

Today, we remember.

Six million Jews murdered.
Names. Faces. Stories the world tried to erase.

But remembrance is not passive.

Every day, students walk through our doors. They encounter history not as something distant, but as something deeply human. They leave not only with knowledge, but with responsibility — to stand up, to speak out, and to ensure that hate never takes root again.

At Holocaust Museum Orange County, remembrance becomes action.

On this Yom HaShoah, we honor the past by shaping the future.

One student. One classroom. One life at a time.

We were honored to welcome educators, scholars, and alumni from Biola University to the museum for a day of meaningful engagement. From powerful discussions on Holocaust education to meeting a second-generation survivor and exploring our primary source collections, it was an inspiring experience across generations. We are proud to support and educate scholars past, present, and future.

Join us in partnership with @worldjewishrelief for a national webinar uncovering one of the most significant — yet little-known — collections of Holocaust-era records.

The World Jewish Relief Archives preserve extraordinary documents that illuminate rescue, relief, and survival — stories that continue to resonate across generations.

We are honored and delighted to partner with Holocaust Centers and Jewish organizations nationwide.

Please register at tinyurl.com/WJRPlainsight

999 girls. One train. One unimaginable journey.
In 1942, nearly 1,000 teenage girls were deported on the first official Jewish transport to Auschwitz.
For decades, their story remained hidden.
Join us for the Orange County premiere of the award-winning documentary 999: The Forgotten Girls followed by a conversation with filmmaker Heather Dune Macadam.
Tuesday, April 14 | 6:30 PM

It was an honor to host @ocdeptofed’s National History Day for the third year in a row. This year they had a record breaking 435 student participants across Orange County. It was incredible to see hundreds of dedicated students and teachers so passionate about history. We awarded our annual Remembrance and Education: Voice Against Darkness Documentary Award to Karlie from Venado Middle School for her documentary, At the Heart of Revolution: The Kashariyot and Jewish Women’s Resistance during WW2. We are appreciative to support students in their scholarly work on the Holocaust. What a wonderful event celebrating Orange County’s history students achievements!

Learn History. See History. Touch History. At Holocaust Museum Orange County, students not only have the opportunity to learn about the history of the Holocaust, but they get to experience history first-hand. Through being able to touch artifacts and having conversations with first and second generation survivors, students step outside of the history books and experience the history they are learning about. This immersive tour experience leaves students more empathetic and educated, inspiring them to be upstanders. Visit our website or give us a call to reserve your FREE field trip.

Join us for our upcoming public tour on Tuesday, March 24th at 6pm. Be immersed in the history of the holocaust through the eyes of one survivor. Walk-ins are welcome, no reservations needed. Stick around after the tour for a special presentation from local photographer, Cliff Lester, who will be talking about his portraits of local Holocaust survivors and how he is carrying on his mother’s legacy as a second generation survivor.

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