(Courtesy of SWC) On December 19, the Simon Wiesenthal Center brought one of its nationally renowned Mobile Museums of Tolerance to the State House in Trenton for a legislative showcase. The event is part of an effort to have the State of New Jersey join its counterparts in New York, Illinois, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and even Canada in sponsoring one of these critical educational assets.

The Mobile Museums of Tolerance (MMOT), an initiative of the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, offer a world-class learning experience utilizing innovative technology and interactive lessons to bring a message of tolerance directly to schools and communities nationwide. The MMOTs inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to promote human dignity by empowering them to raise their voices to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate.

Each Mobile Museum of Tolerance is a 32–seat, wheelchair accessible vehicle that acts as a self-contained classroom with interactive educational modules on a range of subjects from civil rights to the Holocaust, to how to identify and combat modern forms of online hate. Led by trained educators, the Mobile Museums use immersive technology and facilitated dialogue to deliver carefully designed workshops on these important subjects. Lessons are designed to empower participants with knowledge of the dangers of the past in order to create a better future.

The State of New Jersey and the Simon Wiesenthal Center recently began an important educational partnership funding Combat Hate workshops in New Jersey. The Mobile Museum of Tolerance is the next step in this important relationship.

“Over the course of the legislative showcase, it was clear that our elected leaders saw firsthand the powerful impact that the Mobile Museum of Tolerance could have in school districts throughout the great state of New Jersey, especially during these challenging times. We look forward to their partnership in bringing an additional member to our national fleet in this year’s budget to serve the Garden State. Education is the best defense against the spread of hate and antisemitism,” said SWC Eastern Director Michael Cohen.

Debra Tantleff, SWC eastern regional advisory board member, said: “Fighting hate and providing sound educational platforms to do so is simply good policy. It was wonderful to see such excitement and support from so many elected leaders across so many districts around the state. It’s through collaborations like this that, together, we will be able to impact tens of thousands of next-generation leaders to lead from a position of knowledge, compassion, tolerance and strength.”