BU Today Interviews EWCJS Director Nancy Harrowitz on “Auschwitz” Exhibit

Visitors examine some of the more than 700 artifacts on display.

Nancy Harrowitz, Director of the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies, recently visited the traveling exhibition “Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away,” currently on display in Boston through September 2. The exhibit, which includes over 700 artifacts from the Nazis’ largest concentration camp, aims to address the concerning rise in antisemitism and Holocaust denial.

In an interview with BU Today, Professor Harrowitz shared her impressions of the exhibit. She noted the somber and respectful mood among the large crowds in attendance. “There was a hush in the rooms that was particularly noticeable considering how many people were in attendance,” Harrowitz said.

The exhibit’s greatest strength, according to Harrowitz, is the sheer number of physical objects and artifacts in a relatively small space. Iconic items like the barbed wire towers from the camp made a chilling impression. “To see them in person, so to speak, was chilling, even frightening. It brought past visual experiences to the immediate present,” she explained.

Harrowitz emphasized the importance of the exhibit’s timing, given the rise in antisemitism today. She observed that attendees were deeply absorbed in the experience, reading every panel and examining each artifact with great focus. “I had a couple of conversations with other attendees, who referenced the growing antisemitism of our time,” she noted.

Professor Harrowitz hopes visitors leave with a better understanding of the consequences of dehumanization, bigotry, and hate, as well as the conditions that led to the Holocaust. “It’s a very important exhibition and well worth seeing. It also provides a potent reminder of the importance of the past in understanding our present,” Harrowitz said.

“Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away” is on view at the Castle at Park Plaza in Boston through September 2. The exhibit is recommended for ages 12 and up. Visit the exhibition website for more information and to purchase tickets.