Prior to legislation for the State Holocaust Memorial at the Empire State Plaza several proposed renderings were offered to suggest what it might look like. This was one of them. Image courtesy of Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial President Dan Dembling.
Governor Hochul signs legislation establishing a New York State Holocaust memorial in Albany
Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation on Dec. 1, 2025, to establish a New York State memorial at the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza in Albany to recognize victims and survivors of the Holocaust. Amid a rise in anti-Semitism in New York State and across the nation, the memorial will help educate students and the public about the Holocaust and serve as a reminder of the dangers of anti-Semitism, racism, and all manifestations of intolerance.
“With the first ever state-sponsored Holocaust Memorial, we are honoring the victims and survivors of the Holocaust while ensuring that all visitors have a place to remember and reflect on what the Jewish community has endured, Hochul said. “New York has zero tolerance for hate of any kind, and with this memorial, we reaffirm our commitment to rooting out anti-Semitism and ensuring a peaceful and thriving future for all.”
Legislation S5784/A7614 directs the state Office of General Services (OGS) to oversee the design, programming and location on the Empire State Plaza in Albany of the New York Holocaust Memorial. The memorial will join others on the Plaza that are sites of remembrance and tribute, offering visitors an opportunity to reflect.
Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial President Dan Dembling said, “Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial, Inc. is deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for making the dream of establishing a State-sponsored permanent Holocaust Memorial in New York a reality. We commend Senator Fahy and Assemblymember Romero for introducing this important legislation. Since our organization’s founding by Dr. Michael Lozman we have been dedicated to creating a permanent space in the Capital Region to honor the victims of the Holocaust and educate future generations. At this time when anti-Semitism is so high and rhetoric is reminiscent of the Nazi era, the need to remember the Holocaust is critically important. As envisioned, this memorial will have statewide impact by helping to educate people about the consequences of prejudice left unchecked and hopefully inspire New Yorkers to stand up against hate in all its forms. We’re looking forward to working together with the New York State Office of General Services in the planning and development of this vitally important New York State landmark.”
Dembling reflected, in a Giving Tuesday note, “we at the Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial, Inc. have made significant accomplishments over the past years that led to this momentous occasion:
- Proposed moving the location of a permanent New York State Holocaust Memorial from its originally proposed location in Niskayuna, New York to state property in Albany near the NYS State Museum;
- Met with members of the New York State Legislature, and through the leadership of Senator Pat Fahy and Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero, legislation was introduced and unanimously passed to establish a permanent New York State Holocaust Memorial in the Empire State Plaza;
- Fully executed our agreement with Echoes and Reflections so that we can now move forward with our interactive online education program;
- Continued the development of our traveling memorial program that will work in conjunction with our online education program at schools, churches, synagogues and community centers to deliver a message of hope and tolerance.
- Partnered with multiple organizations to deliver motivational programs;
- Received nearly 60 letters of support for our mission, vision, and goals from Jewish and other organizations across New York State and beyond.
He concluded, “Our next step is to become the partner of the State of New York in this historic effort. We are truly grateful for the generous pledges supporting the creation of the Memorial, reflecting strong community support for our work. However, raising additional funds remains essential to bring our vision for a permanent Memorial to completion.”
