CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center

"Anger is a seed for war, forgiveness is a seed for peace."

-Eva Mozes Kor, Holocaust Survivor, Mengele Twin, CANDLES Founder, Forgiveness Advocate

Mission:

CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center contributes to the empowerment of the world through hope, healing, respect, and responsibility by shining a light on the story of the Holocaust, Eva Kor, the Mengele twins, and other survivors. 

Serving our Community:

Through the lens of the Holocaust, visitors of all ages can learn about the consequences of choices, the importance of never giving up, the dangers of prejudice, and the need for genocide prevention today. Our permanent exhibit, "Choices: The Holocaust Through Eva's Story," details the story of Eva Kor, Holocaust survivor and Mengele Twin, from before the war and through the rise of Nazism, to surviving the Auschwitz concentration camp and her journey of forgiveness.

The Core Values of CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center encompass the concept of "Tikkun Olam" - a Hebrew expression meaning "to Repair the World". These include: 

Hope                                       Forgiveness                                       Inspiration

Healing                                   Education                                          Compassion

Respect                                  Empathy                                             Peace       

Responsibility                        Remembrance                                   Acceptance

CANDLES welcomes guests of all ages, and host thousands of school children a year. The museum offers educational learning programs for field trips as well as for our "Eva Ambassador" program which brings a CANDLES staff member to a local school or organization. Docents and student interns offer free daily guided tours of the museum, including the interactive Dimensions in Testimony by the USC Shoah Foundation, which allows visitors the opportunity to "speak" with Eva and ask her questions. Immersive exhibits and authentic artifacts tell the story of Eva's life and the choices that she made, which led to her survival, quest for knowledge, and ultimately forgiveness. The museum hosts numerous collaborative programs throughout the year with local organizations. These programs inspire dynamic learning opportunities to create community connections. CANDLES offers yearly tours to Auschwitz and other locations where groups can learn about the Holocaust around the world. These uniquely designed trips allow participants to join CANDLES staff and Eva Kor's son Alex Kor to take a walk in her, and other survivors' shoes. 

For many Holocaust institutions, 2024 has been an incredibly challenging year. As antisemitism has reached a point never experienced since the Holocaust, CANDLES is in need of your support. In order for our organization to continue educating against hate and prejudice, we rely on the assistance of our Hoosier community. Now is the time when you can make the greatest impact in fighting record levels of antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, while also supporting the future of CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center. We are counting on you to make the most of your dedication by ensuring, shaping, and strengthening CANDLES for years to come.

Let us work together to inspire the world through hope, healing, respect, and responsibility.