As a New Yorker, its easy to say that this town has it all. As a 3G and a New Yorker, there are a myriad of Jewish institutions offering Holocaust-related programming and exhibits at our disposal. The Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is the flagship Holocaust museum in New York City, and its mission aims to ” educate people of all ages and backgrounds about the broad tapestry of Jewish life in the 20th and 21st centuries—before, during, and after the Holocaust.” The Museum of Tolerance – New York, part of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, “challenges visitors to confront bigotry and racism, and to understand the Holocaust in both historic and contemporary contexts. Through interactive workshops, exhibits, and videos, individuals explore issues of prejudice, diversity, tolerance, and cooperation in the workplace and in the community.” Their missions vary, but both institutions are committed to passing on the lessons of the Holocaust to future generations.

Artwork by Peter Franz courtesy of The Anne Frank Center USA

There is now another museum solely dedicated to the lessons of the Holocaust that opened on March 15 in downtown Manhattan, The Anne Frank Center USA. The mission of this institution is to “use the diary and spirit of Anne Frank as unique tools to advance her legacy, to educate young people and communities about the consequences of intolerance, racism and discrimination, and to inspire the next generation to build a world based on mutual respect.”  The first phase of the exhibition is now open to the public, and the second phase is expected to be completed by Summer 2012.  As The Diary of Anne Frank is widely read by school children, this museum will be a wonderful new resource to the community for teachers to use in tandem with the Holocaust education curriculum.

Watch NY1′s covereage of the opening of The Anne Frank Center USA.