The Sperling Kronberg Mack Holocaust Resource Center will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 4 to 6 p.m. on April 8 to celebrate the opening of its new space at Temple Beth Sholom, 10700 Havenwood Lane.
The Mack Family Foundation is hosting the ceremony, which lands on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The Sperling Kronberg Mack Holocaust Resource Center, established in Las Vegas in 1980 with an endowment from the Lloyd and Edythe Katz family, serves the Nevada Governor’s Advisory Council on Education Relating to the Holocaust by raising local Holocaust awareness through education programs, and by providing print, non-print, and electronic resources to the public. The Center has acquired Holocaust-related books and materials for over 40+ years and added its Media Center after a donation from Lillian and Henry Kronberg and Jody and Ron Mack. The Center’s programs teach Holocaust history and the importance of tolerance and diversity.
The center has become a resource and lending facility for Holocaust-related materials and is open and free to the public. It operates with the Holocaust Survivors Group of Southern Nevada, Clark County and Washoe County school districts, Elko County Library Holocaust Resource Center Collection, the Anti-Defamation League’s “No Place for Hate,” the Nevada State Department of Education, and other local and national Holocaust Education organizations.
“The Sperling Kronberg Mack Holocaust Resource Center has come home,” said Temple Beth Sholom Rabbi Felipe Goodman. “Temple Beth Sholom is where this collection and resource center belongs because of the connection between our membership, our history and the founders of this important educational institution. We are not only honored but delighted to host it!”
Holocaust survivors and Center Founders, Henry Kronberg and Judy Mack, will be attending the ribbon-cutting and will be available for media interviews after the ceremony. Tour guides will be on hand to take visitors and media through the new space.
The original Center began as a storefront beside the Jewish Family Service Agency and Jewish Community Center in 2001 before it evolved into the dynamic research and educational center it is today at Temple Beth Sholom.
Steve Mack, a Member of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Education Relating to the Holocaust, said the new Center will help the Council continue its important mission by providing the resources and space to teach teachers about the Holocaust. “In today’s complex and advanced society, humanity continues to struggle with hate, bigotry, bullying—all signals of the atrocities of the Holocaust. Our mission at the Governor’s Advisory Council on Education Relating to the Holocaust is to provide education on this very important historical episode. Temple Beth Sholom has graciously provided us the space, utility, and support to offer teachers and students the full complement of learning about the Holocaust. The Sperling Kronberg Mack Holocaust Resource Center houses traditional research resources, a lending library, and a classroom. The Center is free and open to the public so that these resources are available to all. The Governor’s Advisory Council’s goal is to teach teachers about the Holocaust, and we can’t thank Temple Beth Sholom enough for supporting us in accomplishing this work. This new facility puts on display the commitment and advancement of our mission, and we look forward to our Official Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony this April 8, 2021,” said Steve Mack.
About Temple Beth Sholom
Temple Beth Sholom is a conservative, spiritual community. Temple Beth sholom respects the Jewish traditions and invigorates them with renewed meaning by practicing them both in traditional and innovative ways. The mission of Temple Beth Sholom is to promote the role of the synagogue in Jewish life, to encourage the performing of acts of kindness, charitable assistance, Judaic learning, ritual observance, synagogue skills, community involvement, ethical behavior and support for the State of Israel.
About The Sperling Kronberg Mack Holocaust Resource Center
Established in 1980, The Sperling Kronberg Mack Holocaust Resource Center is accredited by the International Association of Jewish Libraries and is the hub for Holocaust Education activities and programs in Nevada. The Center serves the Nevada Governor’s Advisory Council on Education Relating to the Holocaust by providing print, non-print, and electronic resources to the public, and developing programs for the education of issues relating to the Holocaust, tolerance, and diversity. The Center operates in conjunction with other entities such as the Holocaust Survivors Group of Southern Nevada, Clark County School District, Washoe County School District, Elko County Library Holocaust Resource Center Collection, ADL’s “No Place for Hate”, the Nevada State Department of Education, and other local and national Holocaust Education organizations. Please visit www.lvhresourcecenter.com for more information.