From L to R: Hersh Taubenfeld, Comptroller of HDEC; Kolman Kenigsberg; Rositta Kenigsberg, President of HDEC; and Steven Geller, Broward County District 5 Commissioner.
The Florida Panthers Foundation presented a $100,000 donation to the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center during a January 27 Florida Panthers game at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day before a crowd of more than 19,000 fans.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates the Jan. 27, 1945, liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet forces and honors the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, along with millions of other victims of Nazi persecution. The pregame ceremony connected that history to the ongoing work of preserving survivor testimony and expanding Holocaust education in South Florida, organizers said.
During the event, Holocaust survivor and Korean War veteran Simon Gerstel was recognized as the Panthers’ “Hero Among Us,” an honor highlighting people whose lives reflect resilience and service. His recognition emphasized the urgency of recording firsthand accounts of the Holocaust as the number of living survivors continues to decline.
The $100,000 contribution will support the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center’s mission to document eyewitness testimonies of survivors, liberators, and rescuers and to educate students and community members about the history and lessons of the Holocaust. The Dania Beach nonprofit offers exhibitions, educational programming, and guided tours designed to preserve the historical record.
The public presentation of the donation comes amid concern over surging anti-Jewish bigotry nationwide. Since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and ensuing Gaza war, Jewish organizations have reported unprecedented increases in anti-Jewish harassment, violence, and vandalism across the U.S. Community leaders and educators have also cited a rise in Holocaust denial and Holocaust inversion rhetoric in public discourse and online spaces, warning that distortions of established historical facts undermine understanding of the Holocaust’s documented reality.
“We are deeply honored to receive this wonderful recognition and tremendous support from the Florida Panthers Foundation,” said Rositta Kenigsberg, President of HDEC. “Their generosity and steadfast commitment to the HDEC helps us continue to endow our communities and beyond with a legacy of remembrance for this and future generations so that Never Again means Never Again to anyone, anywhere, any place.”
John Colombo, Vice President of Panthers Foundation and Community Relations, said, “We are humbled to support the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center and their impactful efforts to educate students and our community every day.”
Got News in Sunrise, Florida? Send it Here. Don’t Miss reading NW Broward County’s #1 News Sites: Parkland Talk, Coconut Creek Talk, Coral Springs Talk, Margate Talk, and Tamarac Talk.
Author Profile
Latest entries
NewsFebruary 12, 2026Florida Panthers Foundation Donates $100,000 to Holocaust Documentation Center
NewsAugust 15, 2025Beloved Diner Lucille’s American Café to Close After 26 Years
NewsJuly 31, 2025Sunrise Police Search For Missing Teen Girl
NewsApril 3, 2025Massive Metropica Project Draws New Residents to Sunrise
