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Join author Richard K. Lowy as he delves into his latest work, Kalman & Leopold: Surviving Mengele's Auschwitz. This compelling book recounts the harrowing experiences of two young boys—Leopold, Lowy's father, and his friend Kalman—who endured the brutal experiments of Dr. Josef Mengele in Auschwitz. Separated from their twin sisters, the boys formed an unbreakable bond that became their lifeline amidst unimaginable horrors. Lowy draws deeply from their powerful testimonies, bringing their haunting experiences to life with profound passion and authenticity. This talk offers a unique perspective on the atrocities of war and the brutal reality of life in Auschwitz, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of hope.

Did you know there’s a Holocaust Genocide Centre at the tip of Africa? The Cape Town Holocaust Genocide Centre, the first of its kind on the African continent, has been educating the public about World War 2, the Holocaust, genocide, and apartheid history for 25 years. With a permanent exhibition, vast archives, and educational programs for students, it’s a vital resource for learning and reflection. Join us as we celebrate this milestone and welcome future generations to learn about history and its lessons.

Award-winning writer and expert Ruth Ellen Gruber discusses The Changing Landscape of Jewish Heritage in Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe was once home to the largest Jewish community in the world, a vibrant culture that was tragically devastated during the Holocaust and further suppressed under decades of communist rule. Today, the remnants of this rich heritage—synagogues, cemeteries, and artifacts—stand as silent yet powerful witnesses to a profound and complex history, inviting us to remember, reflect, and learn.

This film documents the impact of the Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre since it opened its doors in 1999 reflected through diverse voices.

The Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre held this talk with Agnieszka Dobkiewicz, author of the “Post-Jewish: Uncomfortable Memory”.

About the author
Agnieszka Dobkiewicz is an author, essayist, and journalist.
She has written two powerful books about the Gross-Rosen concentration camp: "Little Nuremberg: The Stories of Gross-Rosen Executioners" and "The Girls of Gross-Rosen: Forgotten Stories of Camp Hell." Both have become bestsellers, with the first translated and published in the Czech Republic, and work is underway to publish the second there as well. "Little Nuremberg" is a collection of reports on the camp's executioners, written through the lens of the tragedies they inflicted on their victims—depicting senseless brutality and the pervasive hatred of man for man.

About the book
Post-Jewish: Uncomfortable Memory
Twelve Jewish months and twelve stories that compel reflection on how deeply Jewish roots extend into Polish identity. Dobkiewicz takes us on a journey through 80 years of complex Polish-Jewish relations in postwar Poland. From the fairy-tale illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer and an unknown side of Lem, to Kalisz's shirley dolls, kosher gingerbread from Toruń, the unknown history of the Vilnius ghetto nightingale, and the tragedy of little Henio's letters—these are stories that often tear the soul apart.
Dobkiewicz visits various regions of Poland, uncovering what is forgotten, unknown, unwanted, and uncomfortable. She argues that Polish identity is continuously woven, with Jewishness as one of its threads.

From May to July 1944, the Nazis deported over 420,000 Jews from Hungary to the death camp of Auschwitz II Birkenau. Most were murdered shortly after arrival.

The speakers share two stories of survival, as well as how this history is incorporated into the core exhibition at the Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre.

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Awards

We were awarded the Traveller’s Choice Award by Tripadvisor in 2020 for being in the top 10% of attractions worldwide.

We received the ministerial award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Promoting Social Inclusion‘ at the 18th Annual Western Cape Cultural Affairs Awards.

The award acknowledges the Centre for developing innovative programmes to promote social inclusion using the history of the Holocaust over the past 20 years.