Museum Adds Antisemitism Galleries in Naples
The Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center has opened two new galleries tracing antisemitism from ancient times to today.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Judaism
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In June 2026, the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center opened two new galleries tracing antisemitism from ancient times to the present. The exhibits follow the progression from demonization to the murder of more than 6 million Jews.
Why it matters
The museum said a shocking rise in antisemitism made it feel it could not ignore the issue. The new galleries place recent incidents in the same historical pattern that led to the Holocaust.
The exhibits present more than 6 million Jewish murders in the Holocaust alongside documented modern examples. The source does not indicate visitor figures for the new galleries.
The players
Erin Blankenship
Erin Blankenship is the president and CEO of the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center in Naples, Florida.
Cody Rademacher
Cody Rademacher is the curator of the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center in Naples, Florida.
The details
The first gallery centers on a wall displaying illustrations and copy of 'The International Jew,' a collection of 1920s articles funded and distributed by Henry Ford. An interactive section lets visitors lift panels to compare contemporary versions of old stereotypes with the originals.
Timeline
June 2026: Two new antisemitism galleries open.
2025: A hate crime occurs at a local Chabad, shown on a wall of modern examples.
1920s: Henry Ford funds and distributes the 'The International Jew' articles.
Tuesday through Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Museum visiting hours.
Historical Context
The galleries connect Henry Ford's 1920s distribution of 'The International Jew' to a timeline that runs from ancient antisemitism through the Holocaust and later genocides. The museum presents this sequence as evidence that the same patterns recur over time.
Visitors in Naples can see the galleries Tuesday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The exhibits include an interactive section that lets people compare modern stereotypes with the original sources.
The takeaway
Understanding how antisemitic ideas were spread in the past can help visitors recognize similar stereotypes today. The museum's interactive comparisons are designed to show that connection directly.
Further reading
Explore more Judaism coverage to see how Jewish history and community issues are reported.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WGCU News | PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida.
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