Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

When neo-Nazis threatened to march in Skokie, Illinois in the late 1970s, Holocaust Survivors around the world were shocked. In the aftermath of that attempted march, survivors from around the Chicagoland area worked together to help build what we know today as the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center (IHMEC), founded on the message, Remember the Past, Transform the Future.

IHMEC is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Holocaust. It honors the memories of those who were lost and those who survived by teaching lessons about combatting hatred, prejudice, and indifference.

In Danny’s own words:

Beshert (באַשערט).

If I had to pick one word to describe the importance of our relationship with the Illinois Holocaust Museum (IHMEC), it would be Beshert – it was meant to be!

After I purchased the Scourge I collection and exhibit in June 2007, it took several months to just think about what to do with the exhibit. I had several ideas but no real plans. One of the first things I did was contact our Temple Chai Rabbi Stephen Hart and my Aunt Norma (Spungen) to show them the material and get their thoughts. Being unknown in the education field, I did not have a large network of leads to go on. At the same time, my mother was in the midst of her adventures with ovarian cancer and our flagship company was in turmoil (forced into the process of being sold). So, with so much “adventure” in the air, why not throw a “coming out” party of sorts!

I planned a big party at our company for about 100 people in honor of my mother and her friends, scheduled for Sunday March 30, 2008. By chance, on Saturday I went to a local coin show program that my new friend Dr. Steve Feller was giving on concentration camp money (scrip). A man in the audience asked a question, introduced himself as Ralph Rehbock (a Holocaust survivor), and said he was involved with the Illinois Holocaust Museum. I immediately approached Ralph and told him I had been trying to connect with the museum and invited him to my event the next day.  Ralph said yes!  

Sunday arrived and all our guests showed up, except my mother, who had come down with pneumonia. Despite the disappointment, the event turned out to be a life-changing experience. Among the crowd was a cousin of Mickie Berman (Mickie was a friend of my mom’s and wife of Dr. Arnie Berman.) Mickie’s cousin came up to me—he was wearing a Rotary International Club pin on his sport jacket along with his big smile. I remember it as if it were yesterday. The conversation went something like:

Mickie’s cousin: You have something special. I’m Sam Harris.

Danny: I like your Rotary pin. I’m Danny Spungen and I am a Rotarian as well.

The man I now knew to be Sam Harris, repeating himself: I’m Sam Harris and in charge of building the museum.

Danny: Oh, I just met Ralph Rehbock yesterday, I’m lucky you are both here.

Sam Harris: You should become a docent

Danny: What is a docent?

This turned out to be a fun conversation and the above photo from March 30, 2008 is one of the most important photos I have in my collection. With the support of Sam Harris, we planned a big event for July 20th, 2008 with important people from Rotary, the museum, survivors, great friends, and my mother, who was healthier at the time. My parents committed to a very nice donation to the museum and the rest is history. We have worked with IHMEC since that pivotal day in 2008. Our present grants help fund special programming, temporary exhibits using artifacts, the Young Professional Board, supporting the survivor community, and their annual spring Gala. In using a favorite word of Sam Harris—our relationship is Beshert (באַשערט)!