About Us
Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.
George Santayana, philosopher

… I have tried to keep memory alive, and have tried to fight those who would forget. Because if we forget, we are guilty, we are accomplices.
Elie Wiesel, in accepting the Nobel Peace Prize (Oslo, 1986)

Genocide is … the criminal intent to destroy or to cripple permanently a human group.
Raphael Lemkin, international jurist and originator of the term

For my soul and my academic self, I believe that Holocaust and genocide studies should be dedicated to be a beacon of reverence and caring for all human life.
Israel W. Charny, executive director of the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide (Jerusalem)

Mission:
Our mission is to encourage and assist persons of all ages in learning the history and lessons of the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide and other similar tragedies. Our hope is that in understanding the pernicious consequences of anti-semitism, racism, ethnic hatred and other forms of bigotry, we can endeavor to build a better future.

History:
Founded in 1980 as an independent non-profit organization to sensitize the northern New Jersey community to the tragedy of Hitler's war against the Jews and other genocides, the Center is now an integral part of Ramapo College. While it receives support from the College and an allocation from UJA Federation of Bergen County and North Hudson, most of the Center’s funding is from private donations. It is a member of the Association of Holocaust Organizations and part of the network of similar organizations under the New Jersey State Commission on Holocaust Education.