Holocaust Survivor Shares Message of Love and Remembrance at Rancho Mirage Tolerance Education Center

The Tolerance Education Center in Rancho Mirage continues to welcome a growing number of students each year as part of its mission to preserve Holocaust history and promote understanding among younger generations.

The center hosts monthly lectures and presentations attended by about 400 students from schools across the Coachella Valley. The program focuses on educating students about the Holocaust while also raising awareness about modern-day genocides.

Organizers say the goal is to ensure history is never forgotten and, as they often say, “avoid making the past the future.”

During one recent presentation, 98-year-old Holocaust survivor Henry Friedman shared his powerful personal message with students. Friedman, who survived the horrors of World War II, has spent decades speaking to young people about the importance of compassion and understanding.

He told students that many middle schoolers ask whether he hates the Germans for what happened during the Holocaust.

Friedman said his answer is always the same: he does not believe in teaching hate.

Instead, he encourages young people to focus on love and appreciation for the people in their lives.

He reminded students not to wait for special occasions to tell loved ones they care about them, explaining that once someone is gone, people often wish they had expressed those feelings sooner.

Friedman also founded the Holocaust Center for Humanity in Seattle and has devoted the last 30 to 40 years to Holocaust education, sharing his story to help future generations learn from history.

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.