The Holocaust is not an easy subject to address, nor are contemporary war crimes, crimes against humanity or acts of genocide. Outrage can spark social resistance and activism, but also provokes backlash from those who view it as selective or lacking nuance. The result is a public space where emotions collide. At the museum, socially relevant topics are explored.

In a museum that engages with Jewish victimhood and resistance, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict is a particularly sensitive subject. For many, Israel holds a special place within Jewish religion and culture. The history of the Shoah marks a key moment in the Jewish aspiration to live in a state of safety.

After the Second World War, the Holocaust marked a turning point in the development of international law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1948 Genocide Convention were initiatives intended to replace the rule of force with the rule of law. This led to the unconditional protection of human rights for all, regardless of who violates them or who suffers their consequences. In this context, communities sometimes need protection from state actors such as governments and public authorities. Today, billions of people live under the jurisdiction of nearly 195 states. Yet responsibility for respecting – or enforcing – human rights lies not only with states, but also with the international community and individual citizens. The unbearable tension between responsibility and human vulnerability gives rise to indignation.

Recognising current events

As a museum devoted to the Holocaust and human rights, we acknowledge both the uniqueness of the Holocaust and the universal mechanisms it reveals. Patterns of dehumanisation, exclusion and systematic violence that once targeted Jews, Sinti and Roma have since reappeared in other contexts – from Rwanda, Srebrenica and Kosovo to Ukraine and Darfur. More recently, one might think of the Yazidis, Rohingya, Uyghurs, Palestinians and Israelis. Kazerne Dossin deliberately chooses not to shy away from current events, but to acknowledge the tensions and polarisation they may evoke during a visit.

At Kazerne Dossin, visitors are invited to enter into dialogue about the contemporary issues that concern them: war, refugees, discrimination, dehumanisation and genocide. Our work also acknowledges the impact of present-day racism and anti-Semitism. The memory we preserve of the Holocaust’s victims is not an ‘argument’ in current conflicts, but a point of reference — a warning against dehumanisation and the failure of international protection.

Our historical lens can deepen the conversation. We begin from history, make space for questions, refrain from drawing simplistic parallels, and are cautious with comparisons that obscure essential differences. We see history not as a weapon or exclusive truth, but as a resource for understanding the present — a starting point for thinking about what matters today and tomorrow.

Dialogue about the Holocaust and human rights

The language we use — and how we use it — matters. A conversation is not best held through a megaphone. But neither do we remain silent: we choose dialogue. The urge to monologue often makes genuine exchange impossible. We invite visitors to explore multiple perspectives, even when they are uncomfortable or confrontational. Our aim is to give all visitors — whatever their background — the space to feel both safe and intellectually challenged, without the museum imposing a vision on their behalf.

Kazerne Dossin seeks to foster an open and thoughtful dialogue about the Holocaust and human rights, grounded in facts and integrity. The past is actively brought into conversation with the present — not as a closed narrative with a moralising tone, but as a horizon for reflection and dialogue, free of prescribed lessons. By offering multiple voices, context and space for discussion, Kazerne Dossin aims to help visitors recognise patterns, perceive differences, and reflect critically on both past and present. Open to perspectives — but not to the relativisation of facts or fundamental rights.