July 1, 2005
New York, NY – Beginning Monday, July 11, 2005, the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s New York Tolerance Center will launch its Public Days program. Modeled after the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, the New York Tolerance Center is the city’s first state-of-the-art interactive training and educational facility that focuses on exploring the dynamics of racism and prejudice in America, international human rights and the history of the Holocaust. The Public Days program will allow the general public to visit the Center every Monday from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM on a reservation basis. Those who come to the New York Tolerance Center will have an opportunity to experience the following exhibitions:
The Globalhate.com exhibit features touch screen computer terminals that expose the dangerous proliferation of hate on the Internet. This exhibit is based on the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s ongoing investigation of hate on the Internet and introduces questions for critical thinking in a media saturated society.
The Hall of Memory offers a multimedia theater that presents a thought-provoking film on the Nazi Holocaust, featuring survivors’ personal testimony. A memorial wall portrays the stories of the ‘Righteous Among Nations,’ those who acted to save the lives of others at their own personal risk. Participants take the opportunity to consider other examples of genocide in the twentieth century and reflect upon the lessons of history for today.
The Point of View Diner is a modern cyber-café that screens a variety of scenarios portraying situations of escalating conflict in a contemporary American context. Through the use of cutting edge technology, group members have the opportunity to individually ‘interview’ the main characters in the scenario and then register personal opinions on the issues raised. The results of the anonymous vote are instantly tabulated, providing a springboard for dialogue on violence prevention, conflict resolution and personal responsibility.
The Millennium Machine offers a media presentation that focuses on pressing global human rights issues such as the threats of international terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, the exploitation of women and children, and the plight of political refugees. Participants in this immersive theatre experience test their knowledge of the issues via automated response technology and are challenged to discuss solutions together.
The New York Subway Scene leads to three separate multi-use classrooms. On the subway ‘platform,’ participants are challenged to make the transition from the past to the present, from the global to the local, from the collective to the individual and consider experiences of diversity in their own lives.
In addition to the public tours, the Simon Wiesenthal Center/New York Tolerance Center will continue to offer its nationally recognized program entitled Tools for Tolerance for Professionals. This program has served over 95,000 professionals since 1996. Trained facilitators work with law enforcement officials, criminal justice professionals, educators, and corporate executives to open up a dialogue around difficult issues rarely discussed in the workplace. Past and ongoing participants include the New York and New Jersey State Police Departments, NYPD, New York City Parks Department, District Attorney’s offices of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, Grand Central Partnership and various other corporate and Jewish groups.
At a press conference announcing the launch of the Center’s Public Days program, financier Nelson Peltz, Co-Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Simon Wiesenthal Center said, "The Public Days program is about our community. It is about empowering ourselves to come closer together, to stop focusing on our differences and to start embracing our common ground." Eastern Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Rhonda Barad added, "With the continued support of our public and private partners and the launch of our Public Days program, we hope to ensure that this unique facility becomes a resource for all New Yorkers as they seek to confront bias, intolerance, and hate in their homes, workplaces, and communities."
The New York Tolerance Center is located at 226 East 42nd Street, between 2nd & 3rd Avenue. The Center’s exhibits are recommended for adults and students ages 12 and up. Ticket prices for admission are: $14 for adults, $10 for students, and $10 for seniors. Tours take approximately 2 ½ hours. All visits to the NYTC are by reservation only. Please call (212) 697-1180 to make a reservation today. For more information please visit www.wiesenthal.com/newyork.
About Simon Wiesenthal Center
The Simon Wiesethal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust by fostering tolerance and understanding through community involvement, educational outreach and social action. The Center confronts important contemporary issues including racism, anti-Semitism, terrorism and genocide. The Center is accredited as a non-governmental organization both at the United Nations and UNESCO. With a membership of over 450,000 families, the Center is headquartered in Los Angeles and maintains offices in New York, Toronto, Miami, Jerusalem, Paris and Buenos Aires.
