The Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio, a department of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio, is bringing a traveling Holocaust education exhibit, Hate Ends Now: The Cattle Car Exhibit, to McAllen’s International Museum of Art & Science. Entrance to the one-day-only exhibit on Feb. 16 is free, but registration by time slot is strictly required as space is limited.

The 360-degree video exhibit brings history to life via an immersive, multimedia presentation that takes place inside an exact replica of a cattle car used to transport Jews and other targeted groups to concentration camps during World War II. Students and visitors engage with history through video and audio remembering the Holocaust and featuring survivors’ testimonials.

The exhibit progresses through history, culminating in how hate and intolerance persist today. The ultimate message is one of empowerment, reminding visitors to stand up against ignorance, intolerance and hate. The exhibit is recommended for ages 12 and up.

Learning from the Past

“The City of McAllen is proud to help bring this powerful exhibit to our community as it is a stark reminder of what can happen when hate is allowed to flourish,” said McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos. “Through this exhibit, we will see just a glimpse of the horror and brutality that Jews and other people suffered on their way to the concentration camps. May this exhibit encourage us all to let peace, love and tolerance be our guide always.”

The exhibit is a project of Hate Ends Now, a nonprofit 501c3 organization dedicated to Holocaust education.

“The Holocaust has shaped our lives as Jews and the entire course of human civilization over the past 90 years. If we held one minute of silence today for each Jewish victim of the Holocaust, we would not speak again until 2035,” said Rabbi Nathan Farb, Temple Emanuel. “It is impossible to understand the lives of Jewish families or the present-day politics of the Middle East or Europe without understanding the realities of the Holocaust. This Cattle Car Exhibit ensures that those who survived can share their stories with the next generations and that we can all learn from the terrible tragedy.”

The exhibit runs in San Antonio from Jan. 29 to Feb. 6, Austin Feb. 8-9, Corpus Christi Feb. 12-13, McAllen Feb. 16 and Laredo Feb. 19-20.