As human beings, it seems we are always looking either to the past or the future: the past is where we seek to garner wisdom from our individual and collective experience, while we look to the future in the hope of better things to come…. It is very common for a child to dream of a perfect world; one that its parents and grandparents were unable to create. And often, as adults, we may still rely on that child’s dreamlike vision of the future.    

Not so long ago, people were calling the twentieth century the bloodiest century in all human history and  earnestly hoping that the new century would be some sort of a turning point for mankind: a time of tolerance and  mutual understanding. But this is yet to happen… Massacres, ethnic cleansings, atrocities, and persecution continued their pestilential depredations. Hatred may not be the prevailing force in human affairs; nevertheless, its workings continue to deprive millions and millions of people of a normal life—one in which dignity, safety and, often, basic human rights are assured.    

We at the Museum cannot provide answers for every question nor devise a formula for universal tolerance, understanding, and respect. However, we contribute our efforts to the struggle of so many for the ideals of humanity, for human rights, and for freedom for every human being.    

Humanity is one family, and we strongly believe that members of that family are capable of finding a common language to solve their problems.  

Our exhibition, “From ‘A Crime Without A Name’ to ‘Genocide’: The Simele Massacre of Assyrians in Iraq, August 1933” relates the almost unknown tragedy that, along with other such events, spurred Raphael Lemkin to act forcefully on behalf of the victims of prejudice and hatred. His efforts resulted in the Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

We are also proud to display a new exhibition, entitled ”The Holocaust: Annihilation, Liberation, Rescue” provided by our partner, the Russian Research and Educational Holocaust Center in Moscow. The exhibition presents the story of Holocaust atrocities committed on the territory of the former Soviet Union, shows the role of the Soviet Army in rescuing the Jews from Nazi death camps with focus on Auschwitz, and commemorates the victims and liberators.  

Our work continues in the preparation of new exhibitions and educational programs at our new permanent location in Millburn, NJ.    

Overall, our aim is to enrich our visitors’ knowledge and understanding of the problems which continue to plague the planet and turn their attention to the problems which still trouble the world.

Igor A. Kotler
President and Executive Director

April 7, 2011

The Museum of Human Rights, Freedom and Tolerance is presenting the exhibition “From A Crime Without A Name” To “Genocide’: The Simele Massacre of Assyrians, Iraq, August 1933” at the 31st Annual Conference on the Holocaust and Genocide at the Millersville University in Pennsylvania on April 7, 2011. The conference program also features the presentation by the MHRFT President and Executive Director Igor Kotler titled “Genocidal Ideologies Among Nationalists in the Former Soviet Union”.  More information about the conference is available at http://www.millersville.edu/holocon/