Nathan and Esther Pelz
Holocaust Education Resource Center
Educating and empowering communities to remember the Holocaust, confront antisemitism, and stand against hate.
Overview
The Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center (HERC) educates and empowers students, educators, and communities to confront the Holocaust, recognize antisemitism, and stand up to hatred in all its forms.
Details
Request a Speaker
HERC educators are available to provide engaging, age-appropriate Holocaust education for schools and community programs. Submit the request form below, and our team will follow up to tailor a program that meets your needs and schedule.
Speakers Bureau
The Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center’s Speakers Bureau is made up of Holocaust survivors and descendants who volunteer their time to share powerful personal stories with schools and community groups across Wisconsin. All Speakers Bureau visits are offered free of charge.
Teacher Professional Development
The Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center hosts a number of professional development opportunities throughout the year. It strives to provide the education, tools, and resources necessary for Wisconsin educators to enter the classroom prepared to teach difficult topics related to the Holocaust.
Holocaust Education Map
A free resource that empowers educators to navigate Holocaust education with confidence, creating thoughtful, accurate, and respectful lessons.
Discover HERC
Interested in learning how Milwaukee’s Jewish community ensures the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten? Explore the work of the Holocaust Education Resource Center to learn more about its history, leadership, and impact, and discover how you can play a role in educating future generations and combating hate in all its forms.
Connect
As Executive Director of both the Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center and JHub: An Institute for K-12 Jewish Resources, Samantha leads a dedicated team committed to empowering Wisconsin’s public and private school ecosystems to learn and teach about the Holocaust, contemporary antisemitism, and Jewish identity and history.
Samantha holds an MA in Museum Studies from the George Washington University, a BA in History with minors in Jewish Studies, Spanish, and English Literature from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, a certificate in nonprofit fiscal management from Cornell, and is a graduate of the Wexner Foundation’s Field Fellowship program. Samantha’s previous roles include the Capital Jewish Museum, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Jewish Heritage North Carolina, and Jewish Museum Milwaukee. In her spare time, Samantha loves spending time with family and friends and is an avid walker, baker, and consumer of frozen custard (she is a Milwaukee native after all).
Sam Goldberg serves as Education Director at the Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center and of JHub: An Institute for K-12 Jewish Resources. In these positions, Sam works closely with educators throughout the state providing professional development, classroom-ready resources, and student engagement opportunities. She holds master’s degrees in both Jewish Professional Studies and Holocaust & Genocide studies.
At the Federation, Sam works closely with partner agencies involved in the education space to provide a multi-faceted approach to Jewish education for Wisconsin schools. One of Sam’s goals is to help move the needle on antisemitism by providing a proactive approach through education in K-12 schools.
Outside of work, she enjoys running and hosting Shabbat dinner for her friends.
Jaclyn Skalecki Orozco is Project Coordinator for J·Hub at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, working across departments and with community partners to improve outreach and educator support. With experience as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and instructional coach, she brings a literacy-first lens and a storyteller’s eye to educational work. Jaclyn holds a B.A. in Spanish and an M.Ed., with advanced coursework in language and literacy. Known for clear systems and creative problem-solving, she streamlines outreach, designs educator tools, and supports responsive professional learning. A proud Jew by choice, she brings personal commitment and deep educational expertise to the work.
