USHMM Presents 14th Annual Rubin Lecture: Hidden Michalovce Collection

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum presents the 14th annual Linda and Tony Rubin Lecture program Rescuing the Hidden Michalovce Collection as nearly 75 guests attend on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Resnick Family Campus, in Los Angeles. In 1942, members of the Schwarz family packed their belongings, hid them in the attic for safekeeping, and left their home. Like many Jews who received deportation orders during the Holocaust, they most certainly hoped to return one day. But they never did. Those possessions—personal letters, photographs, Hebrew prayer books, clothing, and more—stayed hidden, frozen in time, for nearly 80 years. Then, during renovations in September 2019, a new homeowner stumbled upon the time capsule still hidden in the attic in Michalovce, Eastern Slovakia. The Museum program unraveled the mystery of this remarkable collection now in its care and shared what they’ve learned so far about the family who left it behind. Linda and Tony Rubin, dedicated supporters of the Museum since 1994, have consistently brought thought-provoking discussions on Holocaust history and education with their annual Rubin Lecture Series to audiences in the Western Region. A nonpartisan, federal educational institution, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is America’s national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust dedicated to ensuring the permanence of Holocaust memory, understanding and relevance.