02/25/2026
CAPITAL DISTRICT JEWISH HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ITS TRAVELING EDUCATION PROGRAM
ALBANY, NY - Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial, Inc. (CDJHM) today announced that it will receive $600,000 in federal funding to support and expand its Traveling Holocaust Education Program. The funding, originally proposed by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and signed into law in February, will enable CDJHM to accelerate the rollout of its Traveling Memorial and related educational initiatives across New York State.
Once received this critical investment will empower CDJHM to be able to fast-track pop-up educational exhibits designed for schools, museums, and community centers, bringing Holocaust education directly to communities where access may otherwise be limited. The Traveling Memorial program focuses on educating students and the public about the Holocaust, the dangers of antisemitism, and the consequences of hatred left unchecked.
"We are deeply grateful to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko for securing this vital funding for Holocaust education,” said Dan Dembling, CDJHM President. “Senator Gillibrand recognized the unique and proactive nature of our education programs and the value they bring to communities throughout New York State. This support will allow us to make Holocaust education more accessible and impactful, ensuring that more people understand the devastating consequences of hatred. As firsthand stories of the Holocaust continue to fade, the urgency to remember, to educate, and to work together toward tikkun olam - healing the world - has never been greater.”
Senator Schumer said, “I am pleased to support Senator Gillibrand’s initiative to fund the Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial’s traveling educational programming. This awful chapter of human history must never be forgotten, and efforts like this one will help educate future generations about the Holocaust so that it will never be repeated.”
“The Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial honors the memory of those lost in the Holocaust by educating the next generation about the perils of repeating the past,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Antisemitism is unacceptable anywhere it occurs. I was proud to secure federal funding for CDJHM’s educational memorials, and I will continue working to bring home federal dollars to help combat rising antisemitism in our country.”
Congressman Tonko said, “I’m thrilled to celebrate this important infusion of federal funding — a testament to the importance of accessible Holocaust education and to the vital role played by Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial in delivering these essential learning experiences to people and communities who might otherwise lack access to them. This award will allow CDJHM to further expand its Traveling Holocaust Education Program across New York State, providing learners with an opportunity to connect with this important history and to understand how antisemitism and other forms of hate can lead to deadly violence. Now more than ever, it is essential that we equip ourselves and our children with the tools and inspiration to speak out and care for our neighbors. This funding will help CDJHM do just that, and I’m eager to see how this organization will utilize these resources to help build a better world.”
CDJHM’s Traveling Memorials are specially designed to deliver immersive learning experiences in communities where Holocaust education may be difficult to access. The exhibits are enhanced with interactive features and digital learning modules accessed through QR codes embedded throughout the display, allowing learners to engage deeply with the material wherever they live in New York State. Understanding how antisemitism and other forms of hate can escalate into violence—and ultimately genocide—is a critical lesson for learners of all ages.
Founded in 2018, CDJHM is a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit organization dedicated to memorializing the six million Jews and other innocent victims of the Holocaust while educating the public about the consequences of hatred, brutality, and apathy. That vision reached a major milestone in December 2025, when New York State enacted legislation to create a permanent New York State Holocaust Memorial at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.
Through its memorial and innovative education programs, CDJHM honors the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, recognizes the rescuers and liberators who stood up to the N**i regime, and connects present and future generations to the lessons of history. By fostering awareness, empathy, and moral courage, CDJHM seeks to inspire individuals to stand up, speak out, and work toward a more just and tolerant world.
For more information about the Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial, visit www.cdjhm.org.