Unveiling Opportunities: Holocaust Museum Internships and Educational Programs
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum stands as America’s national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust and an educational institution dedicated to the history and lessons of the Holocaust. It is a federally chartered, nonpartisan institution that was created by the US Congress. The Museum seeks to educate Americans from all 50 states and all walks of life, as well as international audiences. With three areas of expertise: Holocaust remembrance, Holocaust scholarship and education, and genocide prevention, the Museum carries out its important memorial and educational mission, guided by its institutional values for our workplace: Honor the memory of the victims; carry out our work with dignity, humility, integrity, and respect for others; and strive for excellence through teamwork, rigor, and a culture of continuous learning. Consistent respect for others is the foundation for trust, collegiality, and inclusion.
The Museum and other similar institutions offer a variety of internships and programs designed to engage students and the public in learning about the Holocaust, its historical context, and its lasting impact. These opportunities provide invaluable experiences for those interested in history, museum studies, education, and human rights.
Internship Programs: A Deep Dive into Holocaust Education and Museum Operations
Museums such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Holocaust Museum LA offer internship programs that enable qualified candidates to learn about the Holocaust and to see how the Museum operates from the inside. The Museum’s internship program enables qualified candidates to learn about the Holocaust as well as the way the Museum operates. Interns take part in hands-on projects and work directly with Holocaust scholars and Museum professionals.
These internships are available for high school, college, and graduate students interested in careers in museums, archives, non-profits, or education. Interns gain professional skills, meet experts, work with mentors, and learn about museum work by having firsthand experience working on a variety of daily tasks and meaningful projects. The Museum offers paid internships. Internships usually last for one semester, and flexible schedules are generally available. The Museum strives for a diverse workforce and is an equal-opportunity employer.
Eligibility and Expectations
Applicants should be able to work with others or on their own, enjoy collaboration, and enjoy working in a diverse community.
Read also: Importance of Holocaust Education
Hiatus
During construction for the Building Truth Expansion, the High School Summer Internship program at the Holocaust Museum LA will be on hiatus for Summer 2025. Teens interested in Holocaust legacy work are encouraged to participate in their Voices of History workshops and F.A.C.E. Antisemitism and Israel Education events.
Educational Programs: Engaging Students and the Community
Beyond internships, Holocaust museums offer a range of educational programs designed to reach diverse audiences and promote understanding of the Holocaust.
Bringing the Lessons Home Program
This program introduces high school students to Holocaust history and encourages them to share its lessons with their family, friends, and community.
In the Classroom
Through a partnership with the Washington, DC, public school system, the Museum provides an introduction to Holocaust history to thousands of 10th-grade students every year.
Online Resources
Explore videos, online exhibitions, first-person accounts, and more.
Read also: Interning at the Holocaust Museum
Share Our Stories
Share Our Stories at Holocaust Museum LA connects students from under-resourced schools with Holocaust Survivors for meaningful dialogue, artifact-based learning, Museum gallery exploration, and reflective art workshops. Students are encouraged to find personal expression through artistic mediums while amplifying their voices through art. They find common ground with Holocaust survivors and see their own strength in the survivors’ experiences. Virtual or in-person art reflection workshop for students. Share Our Stories Project is free to participating classes through a generous grant from the Max H.
F.A.C.E. Antisemitism and Israel Education
This 9-week intensive training will cover Holocaust history, narrative building, and presentation skills. All participants are expected to attend every session as well as complete assigned exercises. Participants will feel prepared with the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate college campuses, debunk false narratives, engage in thoughtful, informed conversations, navigate modern antisemitism, and strengthen their connection to Israel. Israel and antisemitism education and engagement generously supported by Jewish Federation Los Angeles.
Voices of History
Voices of History offers dynamic, arts-based workshops that invite students to explore Holocaust education through creative expression. Past workshops have centered on visual art, culinary arts, theater, and film, giving students meaningful ways to connect with history. Participants have the opportunity to engage in conversations with Holocaust survivors, which inspire original artworks, performances, or short films. In culinary sessions, food becomes a powerful lens to examine memory, culture, history, and resilience. This interactive film workshop offers students the opportunity to speak with Holocaust survivors and learn from mentors to explore the conversations between documentary, history, memory, resiliency, and inspiration. No prior film experience required, just an interest and motivation in learning from the last generation of Holocaust survivors. For examples of previously-made student films, please visit vimeo.com/hmla. $400. Full scholarships available. Please note, space is limited. Voices of History is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.
Acts of Memory
The Museum's B'nai Mitzvah: Acts of Memory project offers students preparing for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah the opportunity to remember a child who perished in the Holocaust. We match each student with a child who has a similar name or who was born in a city or country that has special meaning for the student’s family. As with all of our programs, there is no charge to participate. Students add their voices and contribute their leadership to the landscape of Holocaust remembrance and education in our community by shaping events and engagements at the Museum.
Culinary Arts Workshops
While kneading the dough, students reflect on the importance of passing stories from one generation to the next within communities, and have an opportunity to share their own family stories and traditions with one another. As their challah bakes, students are joined by a survivor, child of survivors, or grandchild of survivors who share their/their family's story of survival and perseverance.
Read also: Internship Guide
The Role of Volunteers
From the local Holocaust survivors who tell their stories to the Doris & Eric Billes Museum Shop personnel who interact with guests daily to the docents who provide guided tours of our museum, volunteers are the heart of The HC. Time spent volunteering at The HC can be used to fulfill service hours required by congregational and school programs.
Additional Opportunities
Fellowships
Summer Research and Digital Humanities fellowships support research and writing about the Holocaust. These are typically available for undergraduate and graduate students.
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