Our History

The Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre was officially opened on September 22, 1985 as the Holocaust Centre of Toronto and grew out of the commemorative activities of the Holocaust Remembrance Committee of the Toronto Jewish Congress, a forerunner to the present UJA Federation of Greater Toronto (UJA Federation). The Centre is an entity of UJA Federation and receives an annual allocation from the Federation. We are also supported through contributions from individuals, corporations, government and public and private foundations.

The Centre comprises about 2200 square feet, of which about 1600 square feet includes a museum and small film theatre/auditorium, accommodating 50 persons. An additional 600 square feet houses the Centre’s offices and meeting space. The Centre also includes the Frank and Anita Ekstein Holocaust Resource Collection which occupies about 750 square feet and a classroom accommodating 50 persons for the New Dimensions in Testimony exhibit, both located in the library across the hall from the Centre.

About the Staff

Dara Solomon is the Director of UJA Federation’s Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre and the Executive Director of the Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre. At the OJA, she has organized exhibitions around the GTA on various topics related to Ontario’s Jewish history; developed a new school partnership program; and grown access to the OJA collection in social media, print, and other online initiatives. Prior to joining the OJA, Solomon was the Curator at the Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) in San Francisco, where she was responsible for curating the museum’s inaugural exhibitions for their Daniel Libeskind-designed museum in the heart of San Francisco’s cultural district. Solomon has worked on various curatorial and education projects at the University of California, Berkeley Art Museum; the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; the Whitney Museum of American Art; and the Art Gallery of Ontario. She holds a M.A. in Arts Administration from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a B.A. in Religion and Art History from University of Toronto.

Michelle Fishman obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Social Anthropology from Dalhousie University and her Masters of Arts in History, specializing in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from the University of Amsterdam. She is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the forthcoming Toronto Holocaust Museum. In Michelle's time at the Holocaust Education Centre, she focused on education and communications, working with Holocaust survivors on a daily basis, and creating and marketing programming that educates subsequent generations on Holocaust history, its lessons, and legacy.

As our Manager of Collections, Gallery, & Volunteers, Steph Hachey leads the care, organization, and conservation of our artifact collection. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in History and Theory of Art from the University of Ottawa. She holds an MSc in Museum Studies from the University of Glasgow, with a focus in preventive conservation, collecting, and display. Steph has previously worked at the Art Gallery of Burlington, Culzean Castle and Country Park (National Trust for Scotland), City of Ottawa Archives, Textile Museum of Canada, Royal Ontario Museum, and the Canadian Museum of Nature. If you are interested in learning more about Toronto Holocaust Museum volunteer opportunities, please email Steph.

Julia Pappo is the Marketing and Communications, Coordinator at the Holocaust Education Centre. Julia has five years of experience as an archivist and communications coordinator at organizations including TIFF, the George Eastman Museum, Sephardi Voices, and REEL Canada. Julia holds a Bachelor of Arts in History (Art History and Cinema Studies Minors) from the University of Toronto and attended New York University, Tisch School of the Arts where she received a degree in Cinema Studies. She is passionate about storytelling and making histories accessible and is excited to showcase the work of the forthcoming Toronto Holocaust Museum through marketing and social media.

Carrie Swartz is the Director, Museum Experience at the Holocaust Education Centre. Carrie has 25 years of experience in the fields of museum education, and public and private school education. Carrie was the Director of Education at Temple Sinai in Toronto. Previously, she was a Museum Educator at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. She began her professional career as a high school teacher. In her role at the forthcoming Toronto Holocaust Museum, Carrie is overseeing the museum’s education department. Carrie also works with both internal and external community partners to promote Holocaust education in the GTA and beyond. Through her work at the new museum, Carrie is excited to have a pivotal role connecting the community to the history of the Holocaust. By providing innovative, inspiring programming, visitors and learners will be encouraged to develop an understanding and connection to the Holocaust and the past.  Through a transformative museum visit, her mission will be to promote empathy and combat antisemitism and all forms of hate in the present and future.

Hanna Schacter is the Public Programs & Education Assistant at the Holocaust Education Centre. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Queen’s University and a Master of Museum Studies with a collaborative specialization in Jewish Studies from the University of Toronto. Previously, Hanna worked with the Ontario Jewish Archives to develop Scrolling Spadina, the OJA’s first-ever virtual tour of Toronto’s historic Kensington Market. Hanna is also a member of the Legacy Holocaust Education Committee, working with other passionate young professionals to create engaging Holocaust programming for people in their 20s and 30s. Hanna is excited to be a part of the HEC team and to continue her passion of sharing Jewish history and culture with diverse audiences. 

Noam Roz is the Education Associate at the Holocaust Museum. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in History from York University, and a Master of Museum Studies from the University of Toronto. As a graduate student, Noam was a co-creator on the Holocaust Museum’s digital exhibition, In Search of Better Days. He has previously worked at the Thornhill Heritage Foundation, Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections, and the Hockey Hall of Fame. Noam’s work focuses on Holocaust research, writing, and education. Noam is passionate about Holocaust education and history. He is very excited to be part of the team and to help bring diverse Holocaust stories and experiences to the public through his work.

Étienne Quintal is the Manager of the Online Hate Research & Education Project. His work mainly focuses on youth extremist movements in Canada. Based in Toronto, Étienne graduated from Concordia University in Montréal in 2019. He is completing a Master's in Political Science at the University of Ottawa, studying the use of emerging social media platforms by youth-oriented hate groups. More about OHREP

Daniel Collen is a researcher with the Neuberger’s Online Hate Research & Education Project with a background in digital media and journalism. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Graphic Communications Management from Ryerson University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Interactive Media Management from Algonquin College. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, Daniel reported on Canadian conspiracy movements and antisemitism in Canada. He currently uses his experience as a graphic designer to analyze the semiotics of online hate. More about OHREP

Rachel Libman is Chief Curator of the forthcoming Toronto Holocaust Museum (opening 2023). An experienced programming professional, Rachel has a Masters in History and a Masters in Museum Studies from the University of Toronto. In her role, she curated the annual Neuberger Holocaust Education Week for ten years and planned annual community commemorations, lectures, film screenings, temporary exhibitions, symposia and travel experiences for a diverse audience. Actively engaged in the field of Jewish and Holocaust museums, she oversees content development, networks with stakeholders, and works to ensure that the Toronto Holocaust Museum will represent the latest approaches in pedagogy and audience engagement with its curatorial strategy and new technologies.

Barbara Tylbor is the Fundraising Manager for the Neuberger, where she focuses on raising funds for Holocaust Education Week, Yom Hashoah and the development of the renewed Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre. She holds a BA in Journalism from Concordia University, and an extensive professional communications background has provided her with the tools for Jewish communal work, building relationships while working to meet the needs of those in the community both here and abroad. With more than a decade of experience in the not-for-profit world, one of Barbara’s passions include looking after the most vulnerable amongst us and she has taken on roles ranging from acting as referral service for community members seeking social agency aid to coordinating a Kosher Meals on Wheels program. Barbara is proud to have served as Project Manager for the Neuberger’s cross-Canada Yom Hashoah program, bringing together several prominent Jewish community partners for this important commemoration.

Matthias Ogris is from Carinthia, Austria, and has been actively involved at the Austrian Service Abroad for nearly three years in preparation for his Gedenkdienst in Canada. The Gedenkdienst is a program supported by the Republic of Austria that enables young Austrians to join and support Holocaust education centres all around the world. Matthias is graduate of an academic secondary higher school in St. Veit an der Glan, Austria. He looks forward to assisting the Neuberger’s educational programming. For more information, please contact Matthias.  

Jonathan Maranitsch is from Unterlaa, Austria and has been an active member of the Österreichischer Auslandsdienst and Gedenkdienst (Austrian Service Abroad and Memorial Service) for a year. He is a graduate of the Institut Neulandschule Laaerberg, which is an academic secondary school in Austria’s capital, Vienna. He looks forward to assisting the Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre. For more information, please contact Jonathan.