History

In 1983, with the support of the Jewish Federation of Buffalo, and a non-sectarian group of founders, Toby Ticktin Back brought the dream of a permanent way to honor and remember the survivors of the Holocaust.  The Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo became part of the cultural landscape of Western New York.  The Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo (HRCOB) mission is to: Teach the Lessons of the Holocaust, Remember the Events of the Holocaust and Honor the Survivors and Victims of the Holocaust.  This is achieved through documentation and personal testimony of local holocaust survivors, through the education of future generations with in-school visits and presentations, and through a wide range of in-service workshops. 

Speakers

We are fortunate to be able to draw upon a small group of local Holocaust Survivors in our community who are willing and able to share their personal experiences with students and teachers. We have both male and female Survivors from all parts of Europe including: Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Holland.  Each one has a special story to tell of how they survived the Holocaust.

Conferences

Through the generous donations of our sponsors, including Richard and Roberta Handel and the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo, the HRCOB conducts conferences throughout the year.  Conferences are directed towards teachers, attorneys, doctors, and other community entities.  National speakers present the latest trends in Holocaust education and history.  Dr. Timothy Redmond coordinates and develops conferences with the assitance of the HRCOB's professional staff.

Videos

In 2014 The HRC’s New Generation Initiative, led by Andrew Beiter, was tasked with an extraordinarily important job: to record and preserve eye witness testimony for future generations in order to keep the flame of Holocaust Education burning brightly.

NGI Holocaust Survivor Videotaping Coordinator, Mr. Jim Gang, began recording testimony using full high definition camera equipment and has started digitizing and editing the interview into classroom-ready video clips. Testimonies will be made available for viewing in their entirety and be edited into segments based on topic. The testimonies will be posted to the HRCOB website, and will also become part of an online interactive textbook about the Holocaust for use in the classroom.

Through a range of creative and respectful annual events, the HRCOB leads our community in Remembering the Event of the Holocaust. They include:  Kever Avot v'Imaot (visiting the graves of our loved ones), Kristallnacht Commemoration November 9th, Yom HaShoah (Spring,), and Holocaust Proclamation Event at the Erie Country Executive or Mayor of Buffalo's office.