2026-03-12 12:21:AM <br/> Tags: #organization #USGov #AmericanJewry #KeyOrganizations ![[image-250.png|540x259]] # United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) - The United State Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) is the official holocaust institution of the United States. - The USHMM is governed by the United States Holocaust Memorial Council (USHMC). - Every U.S. president since the Museum's opening in 1993 has taken part in its annual holocaust remembrance ceremonies.[^15] - The USHMM is a core pillar of holocaust enforcement in the United States. #### Founding - In 1978, President Carter established the President's commission on the Holocaust, an initiative to form an "appropriate memorial to those who perished in the Holocaust, the systematic, state sponsored extermination of 6 million Jews and the murders of millions of other people."[^1][^4] - Carter appointed holocaust activist [[Elie Wiesel]] to chair the commission. - In 1980, Congress endorsed the initiative, forming the United States Holocaust Memorial Council (USHMC) with the task to build the museum.[^3] - Initial members of the USHMC included:[^4] - [[Elie Wiesel]] - Constantine Dombalis - "active in the National Conference of Christians and Jews" (later renamed the [[National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ)|NCCJ]]). - Joseph Asher - "Rabbi and national vice president of the [[American Jewish Congress]]." - Irving Bernstein - "National executive vice president of the [[United Jewish Appeal (UJA)]]." - Marver Bernstein - "President of [[Brandeis University]]." - Hyman Bookbinder - "Washington representative of the [[American Jewish Committee (AJC)]]." - Esther Cohen - "Chair of the [[Simon Wiesenthal Center]] for Holocaust Studies, member of the [[Golda Meir]] Club." - Gerson D. Cohen - "Chancellor and [[Jacob Schiff|Jacob H. Schiff]] professor of history at the [[Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS)]]." - Julian E Kulas - "Chicago attorney and banker... chair of the Interfaith Group of the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)|Jewish Federation]] of Chicago." - Norman Lamm - "Rabbi, director of the [[Orthodox Union]]." - Frank R. Lautenberg - "President of the [[United Jewish Appeal (UJA)]]." *Lautenberg later became a Democrat United States Senator serving from 1982-2001.* - Miles Lerman - "Vice chairman of the National State of [[Israel Bonds]]." - Abraham Sachar - "Former president of [[Brandeis University]]." - Kalman Sultanik - "Vice president of the [[World Jewish Congress]]." - In 1985, ground was broken at the Washington D.C. site chosen for the museum. - A ceremonial burial of "soil and ashes from a number of concentration camps" emphasized the occasion.[^3] - The USHMM was dedicated on April 22, 1993, and opened on April 26, 1993. - Speakers at the dedication ceremony included: [[Bill Clinton]], [[Harvey Meyerhoff]], [[Elie Wiesel]], and the Israeli president Chaim Herzog (father of the current Israeli president [[Isaac Herzog]]).[^3] - The museum has extensive exhibitions, archives, two theaters, the Jack, Joseph and [[Morton Mandel|Morton]] Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, and a number of other presentations/resources/memorials.[^3] - The museum's founding director was Jeshajahu Weinberg, an Israeli who fought in the [[Haganah]] and the [[Jewish Brigade]].[^5] --- - The United States Holocaust Memorial Council (USHMC), which was founded by an act of Congress in 1980, is comprised of 68 council members. - 55 council members are appointed by the president to serve five-year terms, ten are members of congress, and three are representatives from the Department of Education, State, and Interior.[^6] - The full USHMC meets biannually. - The smaller executive committee meets more frequently to oversee operations. - The Museum's day-to-day operations are overseen by a director. - The director since 1999 has been Sara J. Bloomfield. #### Activities ![[image-251.png|623x415]] *Classic "pile of shoes" exhibit present at many holocaust museums and memorials. This photo is from the USHMM.*[^26] - The USHMM runs a law enforcement training program called "Law Enforcement and Society: Lessons of the Holocaust (LEAS)." - The program is run in partnership with the [[ADL]]. - As reported in *WRMEA*, the program "brings law enforcement officers to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC for an intensive program that challenges them to examine their relationship with the public and to explore issues of personal responsibility and ethical conduct."[^17] - Every new FBI agent since 2009 has been forced to take part in the USHMM/ADL law enforcement training.[^16] - The USHMM has a similar program for members of the military. - The USHMM has educational programs dedicated to members of the Judiciary, Students, Teachers, academics, and religious leaders. - *The USHMM, with its massive funding and state backing, tries to subject as many subsets of the American public to its holocaust training as possible.* - The USHMM often works in partnership with Yad Vashem, the Israeli national holocaust institution.[^20][^21][^22] - The [[2020 Never Again Education Act]] provided $10 million in additional federal funding to "expand U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum education programming."[^30] - The Act enforces that "the study of the Holocaust become part of the curriculum in every school system in the country."[^30] - The Act directs the USHMM to run "teacher trainings in conjunction with Holocaust education centers."[^30] - The Act reaffirms the definition of the holocaust as "the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of 6,000,000 Jews by the Nazi regime and its allies and collaborators." - The Act was strongly lobbied for by [[Hadassah]]. - Hadassah claimed victory when the bill was passed in May of 2020 calling it "a strong and clear message that bigotry and hatred have no place in our society."[^31] - Hadassah attributed the passage of the bill to their "relentless advocacy." #### Funding and Donors - The USHMM is funded both by the federal government and private contributions. - The USHMM received $65.231 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2026.[^13] - On top of its federal funding, the United States Holocaust Memorial Council (USHMC) has annual private revenues of nearly $200 million.[^2] - The USHMC reported $173 million in revenue in 2024. - As of 2024, the USHMC had $957 million in assets. - Notable USHMM donors include:[^23][^24][^27][^28] *Most of these are recurring annual donations, not just one time.* - [[Claims Conference]] - $25 million+ annually - [[Crown Family Philanthropies]] - $10 million+ - Jack, Joseph and [[Morton Mandel|Morton]] Mandel foundation - $10 million+ - [[Jonathan Levine]] - $5 million+ - [[Harvey Meyerhoff]] - $5 million+ - [[Les Wexner]] - $5 million+ - [[Miriam Adelson|Miriam]] and [[Sheldon Adelson|Sheldon]] Adelson - $2 million+ - [[Seth Klarman]] - $2+ million+ - [[Bernard Marcus]]'s [[Marcus Foundation]] - $2 million+ - [[Daniel Och]] - $2 million+ - [[Michael Milken]]'s foundation - $2 million+ - Victim List Project of the Swiss Banks Settlement - $2 million+ annually as part of the Swiss banks settlement covered on the [[World Jewish Congress]] page. - [[Ted Arison]] - $1 million+ - Dalck and Rose Feith Family - $1 million+ *[[Douglas Feith]] is the son of Dalck and Rose Feith.* - [[Max Fisher]] - $1 million+ posthumously - [[koret Foundation]] - $1 million+ - [[Robert Kraft]] - $1 million+ - Rae Kushner - $1 million+ posthumously *Rae Kushner is the paternal grandmother of [[Jared Kushner]].* - [[Ronald Lauder]] and family - $1 million+ - [[Steven Spielberg]] - $1 million+ - [[Lawrence Tisch]] - $1 million+ - [[Max Webb]] - $1 million+ posthumously - [[Mark Wilf]]'s family foundation - $1 million+ - [[Sam Zell]] and family - $1 million+ - [[Larry Silverstein]] - $10,000+ - [[Len Abramson]] - $1 million+ - [[Arthur Blank]] - $1 million+ - [[Jonathon Jacobson]] - $100,000+ through his One8 Foundation[^29] #### Notable Figures *Some notable figures who served in the first USHMC are mentioned above.* - [[Elie Wiesel]] - Founding chairman, appointed by President Carter.[^1] - [[Harvey Meyerhoff]] - Second chairman of the Holocaust Memorial Council, appointed by President Reagan. - [[Edgar Bronfman Sr.]] - Former Holocaust Memorial Council member, appointed by [[Bill Clinton]] in January 2001.[^19] - Norman Brownstein - Former Holocaust Memorial Council member and a former "vice president of the [[AIPAC|American Israel Public Affairs Committee]]."[^19] - #### Current USHMC members include:[^6] - Kevin Abel - [[American Jewish Committee (AJC)]] Atlanta board member.[^7] - [[Ted Deutch]] - CEO of the [[American Jewish Committee (AJC)]]. - [[Stuart Eizenstat]] - Siggy Flicker - Israeli-American pro-Israel activist. - Flicker was appointed by [[Donald Trump]]. - [[Abraham Foxman]] - Former director of the [[ADL]]. - Andrew Giuliani - Son of Rudy Giuliani. - Giuliani was appointed by [[Donald Trump]]. - Edward Glazer - Billionaire son of [[Malcolm Glazer]]. - Sam Lauter - Board member of the [[Democratic Majority for Israel]] and former official at [[A Wider Bridge]].[^8] - Marsh Z. Laufer - Donor to the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)|Jewish Federation]] of Palm Beach County.[^9] - Tila Falic Levi - Daughter of [[Simon Falic]] and granddaughter of [[Nily Falic]]. [^10] - Falic was appointed by [[Donald Trump]]. - Nick Luna - Luna is married to Cassidy Dumbault, a staffer for [[Jared Kushner]] during the first Trump Administration. After Trump left office in 2021, Luna went to work at Kushner's investment firm Affinity Partners.[^18] - Luna was appointed by [[Donald Trump]]. - Jeff Miller - D.C lobbyist, Finance chair of the [[Donald Trump]] and [[JD Vance]] inauguration, and [[Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC)]] board member.[^14] - Miller was appointed by [[Donald Trump]]. - [[Martin Oliner]] - Oliner was appointed by [[Donald Trump]].[^12] - Mathew Segal - Media executive who has produced Jewish propaganda with the [[World Jewish Congress]]. [[International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)]], and the [[ADL]].[^11] - [[Mark Wilf]] - Alex Witkoff - Son of [[Donald Trump]]'s Jewish negotiator Steve Witkoff. - Witkoff was appointed by [[Donald Trump]]. #### References [^1]: “United States Holocaust Memorial Museum,” Wikipedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Holocaust_Memorial_Museum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Holocaust_Memorial_Museum). [^2]: “United States Holocaust Memorial Council,” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521309391](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521309391). [^3]: “History of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum,” _Holocaust Encyclopedia_, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, [https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/history-of-the-united-states-holocaust-memorial-museum](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/history-of-the-united-states-holocaust-memorial-museum). [^4]: Jimmy Carter, “United States Holocaust Memorial Council Appointment of the Membership,” May 2, 1980, _The American Presidency Project_, [https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/united-states-holocaust-memorial-council-appointment-the-membership](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/united-states-holocaust-memorial-council-appointment-the-membership). [^5]: “Jeshajahu Weinberg Dies at 81, Headed U.S. Holocaust Museum,” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, January 5, 2000, [https://www.jta.org/archive/jeshajahu-weinberg-dies-at-81-headed-u-s-holocaust-museum](https://www.jta.org/archive/jeshajahu-weinberg-dies-at-81-headed-u-s-holocaust-museum). [^6]: “United States Holocaust Memorial Council (Board of Trustees),” _United States Holocaust Memorial Museum_, [https://www.ushmm.org/information/about-the-museum/council](https://www.ushmm.org/information/about-the-museum/council). [^7]: American Jewish Committee Atlanta, “Congratulations to AJC CEO Ted Deutch and AJC Atlanta Board Member Kevin Abel on Their Appointment to the United States Holocaust Memorial…,” Facebook post, May 18, 2023, [https://www.facebook.com/ajcatlanta/posts/congratulations-to-ajc-ceo-ted-deutch-and-ajc-atlanta-board-member-kevin-abel-on/10161545353524903/](https://www.facebook.com/ajcatlanta/posts/congratulations-to-ajc-ceo-ted-deutch-and-ajc-atlanta-board-member-kevin-abel-on/10161545353524903/). [^8]: “Sam Lauter,” _Democratic Majority for Israel_, [https://demmajorityforisrael.org/team/sam-lauter/](https://demmajorityforisrael.org/team/sam-lauter/). [^9]: Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, _2013 Annual Report_, 38, Internet Archive, [https://web.archive.org/web/20150712020050/http://jewishpalmbeach.org/news/links/AnnualReport-2013-issuu.pdf](https://web.archive.org/web/20150712020050/http://jewishpalmbeach.org/news/links/AnnualReport-2013-issuu.pdf). [^10]: Zvika Klein, “With Netanyahu’s Ear, This Orthodox Mother Sparks a Zionist Rebellion,” _The Jerusalem Post_, May 4, 2025, [https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-852510](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-852510). [^11]: “Matthew Segal,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Segal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Segal). [^12]: Jeff Bessen, “Lawrence Resident Martin Oliner Appointed to Holocaust Council,” _LI Herald_, December 30, 2020, [https://www.liherald.com/stories/lawrence-resident-martin-oliner-appointed-to-holocaust-council,129503](https://www.liherald.com/stories/lawrence-resident-martin-oliner-appointed-to-holocaust-council,129503). [^13]: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, _United States Holocaust Memorial Council Charter_ (Washington, DC: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum), 5, [https://vault.ushmm.org/adaptivemedia/rendition/id_35cf5e834c4085c2fb40c6205cfec481ac72ea9e](https://vault.ushmm.org/adaptivemedia/rendition/id_35cf5e834c4085c2fb40c6205cfec481ac72ea9e). [^14]: “Jeff Miller,” _Miller Strategies_, [https://millerstrategies.com/who-we-are/jeff-miller/](https://millerstrategies.com/who-we-are/jeff-miller/). [^15]: JTA, “Thousands Sign Petition Against Trump Speech at Holocaust Museum,” _The Times of Israel_, April 25, 2017, [https://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-sign-petition-against-trump-speech-at-holocaust-museum/#:~:text=Every%20president%20since%20the%20museum,in%20Days%20of%20Remembrance%20ceremonies](https://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-sign-petition-against-trump-speech-at-holocaust-museum/#:~:text=Every%20president%20since%20the%20museum,in%20Days%20of%20Remembrance%20ceremonies). [^16]: JTA, “FBI Director: Holocaust Museum Program a Must for New Agents,” _The Times of Israel_, April 17, 2015, [https://www.timesofisrael.com/fbi-director-holocaust-museum-program-a-must-for-new-agents/](https://www.timesofisrael.com/fbi-director-holocaust-museum-program-a-must-for-new-agents/). [^17]: Janet McMahon, “The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum: A Decade of Increasing Taxpayer Funding,” _Washington Report on Middle East Affairs_, December 24, 2003, [https://www.wrmea.org/2003-december/the-u.s.-holocaust-memorial-museum-a-decade-of-increasing-taxpayer-funding.html#:~:text=ADL%20press%20release%2C-,the%20program,-%E2%80%9Cbrings%20law%20enforcement](https://www.wrmea.org/2003-december/the-u.s.-holocaust-memorial-museum-a-decade-of-increasing-taxpayer-funding.html#:~:text=ADL%20press%20release%2C-,the%20program,-%E2%80%9Cbrings%20law%20enforcement). [^18]: Dan Christensen, “All the Ex-President’s Men* at Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners,” _Florida Bulldog_, July 31, 2024, [https://www.floridabulldog.org/2024/07/all-the-ex-presidents-men-at-jared-kushners-affinity-partners/](https://www.floridabulldog.org/2024/07/all-the-ex-presidents-men-at-jared-kushners-affinity-partners/). [^19]: “President Clinton Names 14 Members of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council,” January 18, 2001, _Office of the Press Secretary, The White House_, [https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/2001/01/2001-01-18-members-named-to-the-us-holocaust-memorial-council.html](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/2001/01/2001-01-18-members-named-to-the-us-holocaust-memorial-council.html). [^20]: “Museum and Fondazione Polanco ETS (ARSI) Sign Archival Cooperation Agreement,” _United States Holocaust Memorial Museum_, March 11, 2024, [https://www.ushmm.org/information/press/museum-and-fondazione-polanco-ets-arsi-sign-archival-cooperation-agreement](https://www.ushmm.org/information/press/museum-and-fondazione-polanco-ets-arsi-sign-archival-cooperation-agreement). [^21]: “Righteous Among the Nations,” _Holocaust Encyclopedia_, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, [https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/righteous-among-the-nations](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/righteous-among-the-nations). [^22]: “Yad Vashem Newsletter No. 47,” _Yad Vashem_, https://www.yadvashem.org/newsletters/general/47.html#:~:text=Holocaust%20Research%20in-,partnership,-with%20the%20United. [^23]: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, _2024–2025 Annual Report_ (Washington, DC: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 2025), [https://vault.ushmm.org/adaptivemedia/rendition/id_f4d68dd1e8a595e3cd0bd86875ad58b4502d67ec](https://vault.ushmm.org/adaptivemedia/rendition/id_f4d68dd1e8a595e3cd0bd86875ad58b4502d67ec). [^24]: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, _2020–2021 Annual Report_ (Washington, DC: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 2021), [https://www.ushmm.org/m/pdfs/USHMM_2020-21_Annual_Report.pdf](https://www.ushmm.org/m/pdfs/USHMM_2020-21_Annual_Report.pdf). [^26]: “Editorial: Holocaust Statement Should Be Alarming,” _The Huntington News_, February 4, 2017, [https://huntnewsnu.com/46292/editorial/editorial-holocaust-statement-should-be-alarming/](https://huntnewsnu.com/46292/editorial/editorial-holocaust-statement-should-be-alarming/). [^27]: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, _2011–2012 Annual Report_ (Washington, DC: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 2012), [https://www.ushmm.org/m/pdfs/20120918-2011-12-annual-report.pdf](https://www.ushmm.org/m/pdfs/20120918-2011-12-annual-report.pdf). [^28]: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, _2008–2009 Annual Report_ (Washington, DC: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 2009), [https://www.ushmm.org/m/pdfs/20090616-08-09-annual-report.pdf](https://www.ushmm.org/m/pdfs/20090616-08-09-annual-report.pdf). [^29]: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, _One8 Foundation — Full Filing (202533089349100108)_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46836735/202533089349100108/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46836735/202533089349100108/full). *USHMM grant listed under part XIV which begins on page 11 of the filing on ProPublica's site.* [^30]: “H.R. 943 — 116th Congress (2019–2020): Never Again Education Act,” _Congress.gov_, [https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/943](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/943). [^31]: Rhoda Smolow and Janice Weinman, “Hadassah-Backed Bill Strengthening Holocaust Education Heads to the White House: An Important Message from Hadassah’s Leadership,” May 13, 2020, [https://hadassah.webflow.io/story/hadassah-backed-bill-strengthening-holocaust-education-heads-to-the-white-house-an-important-message-from-hadassah-s-leadership](https://hadassah.webflow.io/story/hadassah-backed-bill-strengthening-holocaust-education-heads-to-the-white-house-an-important-message-from-hadassah-s-leadership).