Anne Frank wrote in her diary celebrating the development of an emerging young woman in one of the darkest times of world history. During two years of hiding in the secret annex with her family and four other Jewish people, young Anne wrote and edited a remarkable testament to a maturing mind and spirit despite great hardship that would eventually take her life, the life of her family and 11 million others.

The exhibit, “Anne Frank: A History for Today,” produced by Anne Frank USA in cooperation with the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, Holland, begins with the times Anne grew up in, her family and friends, hiding in the secret annex, the arrest, and her death in the murder camps. It concludes with an examination of the Declaration of Human Rights and the conflicts that continue to plague our world today. The exhibit features photographs, documents, eye witness accounts and explanatory text to set the context of each of the 57 silk screened panels. Also at the exhibit will be continually running videos of local survivors and witnesses that will give a Western North Carolina viewpoint to the story. Tour groups are being scheduled for area schools. Over 7,500 middle school students are currently scheduled to view the exhibit. They will also have the opportunity to hear a witness or survivor describe their experience during this time. Docent tours for school groups and others at scheduled times is available by registering at 828.254.9044.

The opening for “Anne Frank: A History forToday” is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 13, at 3 p.m. at the Biltmore Square Mall. Jack Polak, survivor of Westerbork Concentration Camp and past president of Anne Frank House USA, will be the featured speaker.

Area colleges and universities will be featuring corollary programming including the production of “The Diary of Anne Frank” at Western Carolina University and Warren Wilson College. Local organizations will bring other related programming including the Voice of the Turtle musical group and lecturer Ruth Gruber to UNCA and a presentation on The Role of the Law and the Holocaust with Rabbi Arnold Goodman of Atlanta. The exhibit is opened only to scheduled school groups until 3 p.m. each weekday. Otherwise, the exhibit will be open during most mall hours Sunday - Saturday.

 

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