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Touring Holocaust Museum Houston with Russell Weil

By Pooja Salhotra, Staff writer | July 29, 2019

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Linda Shapiro, Linda Schwarz, Russell Weil, Dena Smolins, Valerie Novy,

Tour participants (from left) Linda Shapiro, Linda Schwarz, docent Russell Weil, Dena Smolins and Valerie Novy stand outside the Human Rights Gallery. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra)

After Buzz writer and long-time Holocaust Museum Houston (HMH) docent Russell Weil authored a cover story featuring Houston’s Holocaust survivors, The Buzz Magazines decided to partner with the newly-expanded HMH to offer readers a chance to take a tour of the museum with Russell. Approximately 50 community members attended the event on Thursday, July 26, which also marked Russell’s first tour in the newly-expanded museum.

“What a great turnout,” said Russell, whose family members include Holocaust victims and survivors. “And that I finally found a way to weave my dad into the story, with his participation in WWII, gave today more meaning given that it would have been his 95th birthday. I had such a great time giving my first tour.”

HMH reopened last month in an expanded campus at 5401 Caroline Street after a $34 million expansion project. The museum is now the fourth largest facility of its kind in the country. The museum is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

The museum features “The Butterfly Loft,” a kaleidoscope of 1,500 butterflies representing the 1.5 million children who died in the Holocaust. (Photo: Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld)
Visitors at HMH begin by viewing a film in the Morgan Family Welcome Center. (Photo: Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld)
Buzz editor Joni Hoffman (at right) greets (from left) Jodi Bernstein and Gayla Wilson from Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. (Photo: Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld)
William Oakley, 13, and Paige Albert, 23, whose mom Jennifer Oakley writes for The Buzz, enjoyed Russell Weil’s tour of HMH. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra)
Docent Russell Weil leads visitors through the museum. (Photo: Michael Hoffman)
Buzz writer and long-time HMH docent Russell Weil led his first tour of the newly-expanded Holocaust Museum Houston on Thursday, July 25. (Photo: Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld)
Dena Smolins, Susan Baum and Linda Shapiro pause for a photo after completing a tour of HMH. (Photo: Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld)

The museum features “The Butterfly Loft,” a kaleidoscope of 1,500 butterflies representing the 1.5 million children who died in the Holocaust. (Photo: Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld)

Visitors at HMH begin by viewing a film in the Morgan Family Welcome Center. (Photo: Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld)

Joni Hoffman, Jodi Bernstein, Gayla Wilson,

Buzz editor Joni Hoffman (at right) greets (from left) Jodi Bernstein and Gayla Wilson from Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. (Photo: Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld)

William Oakley, 13, and Paige Albert, 23, whose mom Jennifer Oakley writes for The Buzz, enjoyed Russell Weil’s tour of HMH. (Photo: Pooja Salhotra)

Docent Russell Weil leads visitors through the museum. (Photo: Michael Hoffman)

Buzz writer and long-time HMH docent Russell Weil led his first tour of the newly-expanded Holocaust Museum Houston on Thursday, July 25. (Photo: Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld)