The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum
Cultural Hub: The Breman has live concerts in addition to art and photography exhibits and guest speakers. | Photo contributed
Antisemitic incidents in the United States, including some in Georgia, surged by about 400% immediately after war broke out in the Middle East last fall, according to the Anti-Defamation League. The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, colloquially known as the Breman, works to combat antisemitism with education and awareness.
Founded in 1996, the Breman is a cultural center in Midtown Atlanta dedicated to Jewish history and arts with a special emphasis on Georgia and the Holocaust.
“Story keepers and story seekers come together to engage in dialogue, connect with history and experience the arts,” says Executive Director Leslie Gordon. “This nonprofit, multidisciplinary cultural hub revolves around four key pillars: exhibitions, arts and cultural programming, archives and Holocaust education.”
The Breman offers a wide variety of resources for teachers, students and lifelong learners. It is home to the permanent exhibition “Absence of Humanity: The Holocaust Years, 1933-1945,” as well as “History with Chutzpah: Remarkable Stories of the Southern Jewish Adventure,” an exhibition of more than 250 artifacts, documents, photographs and oral histories. The Schwartz Gallery features traveling and rotating exhibitions. You can see an avant-garde photography show or even hear live music on certain evenings. This month, the Breman is hosting Joyful Jazz with the Joe Alterman Trio and clarinetist Ken Peplowski.
“Our strategy for combating antisemitism revolves around education, with a specific emphasis on the lessons derived from the Holocaust,” Gordon says. “By nurturing understanding, challenging stereotypes and promoting tolerance, we play a pivotal role in shaping a more inclusive society. Education becomes a potent tool in dismantling prejudice and ignorance, fostering critical thinking to reject antisemitism and all forms of discrimination.”
