About the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh
The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh (HCP) connects the horrors of the Holocaust and antisemitism with injustices of today. Through education, we seek to address these injustices and empower individuals to build a more civil and humane society.
The HCP was founded in 1980 by Holocaust survivors and their descendants. We provide a space for survivors and the Generations community, which includes over 150 descendants of survivors, to share their stories and gather as a community. We organize three annual commemorations, including Yom HaShoah, Kristallnacht, and International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and numerous public events throughout the year. In addition, we provide school-based and community-facing educational programs and trainings that empower individuals and communities to respond collectively to the growing threat of antisemitism and other forms of prejudice. Our annual programming includes programs and events, exhibits, and educational opportunities that cultivate a deeper understanding of both the Holocaust and antisemitism.
Our Organizational Partners
In 2022, the Holocaust Center joined the newly created organization, The Tree of Life, allowing us to continue to be stewards of local Holocaust and antisemitism education while aligning with a national initiative that is developing innovative ways to address antisemitism. We work hand-in-hand with the LIGHT Education Initiative, which is also a program of The Tree of Life, with whom we collaborate to bring teaching and learning opportunities about the Holocaust and antisemitism to students and teachers.
Our Work and Philosophy
At the heart of our work is the strategy of connecting the history of the Holocaust and the issue of antisemitism to real people. Teachers report that their students connect more deeply with the lessons of the Holocaust when they hear from a Generations speaker or read the real-life stories shared in our comic books series CHUTZ-POW!. The personal connections we build through our work are pivotal to creating environments where the needle can be moved on antisemitism and other forms of prejudice.