Credit John Halpern
By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
The grand opening of Anne Frank The Exhibition launched at the Center for Jewish
History in Manhattan at 15 W 16th St on January 27, offering a unique educational
experience for students and educators. The exhibition, a collaboration between the Anne
Frank House and the Center for Jewish History, is designed to immerse visitors in the
history of Anne Frank’s life and legacy through a full-scale recreation of the Annex where
she and seven other Jewish refugees hid during World War II.
The exhibit features a meticulously recreated version of the secret annex where Anne
penned her now-famous diary, offering students a chance to step into the space that has
captivated generations of readers. It is the first time that such an experience has been
presented outside of Amsterdam.
“Anne Frank’s words resonate and inspire today, a voice we carry to all corners of the
world, nearly eight decades later. As a custodian of Anne’s legacy, we have an obligation
to help world audiences understand the historical roots and evolution of antisemitism,
including how it fueled Nazi ideology that led to the Holocaust,” Ronald Leopold,
Executive Director of the Anne Frank House said. “Anne’s legacy is remarkable, as
represented in the diary she left us, and as one of the 1.5 million Jewish children who
were murdered at the hands of Nazi officials and their collaborators. Through this
exhibition, the Anne Frank House offers insights into how this could have happened and
what it means for us today. The exhibition provides perspectives, geared toward younger
generations, that are certain to deepen our collective understanding of Anne Frank and
hopefully provide a better understanding of ourselves.”
Anne Frank The Exhibition is a limited engagement, now extended through October 31 and has already drawn significant attention.
Schools from across the United States, including from New York, California, and points
in between, have booked visits, making the event a major educational resource for
students and educators nationwide. Special funding has allowed the Anne Frank House
to subsidize visits from Title I schools throughout the country, with complimentary
admission for New York City public school students thanks to the Gray Foundation.
“We believe the best way to address the alarming rise in antisemitism is through
education. Our Foundation’s support of Anne Frank The Exhibition exemplifies our
ongoing commitment to expand access to ensure all students and schools have the
resources and opportunities they deserve. We are honored to enable free field trips for
New York City public schools to this groundbreaking exhibition as we work to empower
the next generation of learners across our city,” said Mindy and Jon Gray, Co-Founders
of the Gray Foundation.
The exhibition is a response to rising concerns over antisemitism in the United States.
According to the Anne Frank House, Jewish people remain the most targeted group in
the country, and hate crimes against other marginalized groups are on the rise. The
exhibition is part of an ongoing effort to educate younger generations about the
Holocaust and its continuing relevance.
The Anne Frank The Exhibition also includes more than 100 original artifacts from the
Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, many of which have never before been seen in the
United States. Artifacts such as Anne Frank’s first photo album, a handwritten invitation
to a film screening, and verses written by Anne in her friends’ poetry albums will provide
a powerful glimpse into her life before and during her time in hiding.
The exhibition is made possible through philanthropic partnerships, with significant
contributions from Barbra Streisand, Mindy and Jon Gray, and the Fuhrman Family
Foundation. Streisand, who has long supported Holocaust education, emphasized the
importance of such exhibitions in today’s climate.
In addition to the exhibit, the Anne Frank Center at the University of South Carolina is
developing a curriculum to support the educational goals of the exhibition. The
curriculum places antisemitism in its historical context and helps students understand its
role in the rise of Nazi ideology and the Holocaust.
“Anne Frank’s story provides a compelling window into the past, one that helps students
understand the dangers of bigotry and the importance of never being a bystander,” said
Doyle Stevick, Executive Director of the Anne Frank Center at the University of South
Carolina and educational advisor to the exhibition. “At a time characterized by a
disheartening rise in antisemitism, The Anne Frank Center is working to ensure that
teachers and students have the high-quality Holocaust education resources they need to
learn about the Holocaust and its relevance today.”
The exhibition will be housed in a 7,500-square-foot gallery space in Union Square and
aims to reach up to 250,000 students during its limited run. It has already sold tens of
thousands of tickets, signaling strong interest in the exhibition’s educational offerings.
For New York City students, Anne Frank The Exhibition offers an invaluable opportunity
to engage with history in a deeply personal and immersive way. The exhibition brings
Anne Frank’s story closer to home, allowing students to experience a full-scale
recreation of the annex where she hid, making the events of the Holocaust tangible and
real. For many, this will be their first direct connection to a history that continues to
shape our world today. With New York City being a hub of diverse communities, the
exhibition provides a powerful space for students to reflect on the dangers of prejudice,
racism, and antisemitism, encouraging them to learn from the past and become active
participants in creating a more inclusive future. Through free access for public school
students, the exhibition ensures that all students, regardless of background, can benefit
from this
As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Anne Frank The
Exhibition serves as a reminder of the consequences of hatred and bigotry, while
providing an invaluable resource for students and educators to reflect on the history and
lessons of the Holocaust.
For more information or to schedule a visit, tickets can be purchased at
AnneFrankExhibit.org.
