In honor of what would have been Anne Frank’s 96th birthday, a special initiative titled “Summer of Reflection: The Legacy of Anne Frank” is set to launch this summer.
This citywide campaign aims to expand access to Frank’s story and deepen public engagement with her enduring legacy.
Collaborating with NYC Public Schools, all three of New York City’s public library systems, and the Union Square Partnership, the initiative will begin on Thursday, June 12.
A highlight of the program is the distribution of 10,000 free copies of “Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl,” particularly targeting young readers.
This extensive book donation effort is sponsored by Bank of America and the UJA Federation of New York.
Details regarding participating library branches for the book distribution will be announced soon.
Additionally, Anne Frank The Exhibition, presented by the Anne Frank House and currently on view at the Center for Jewish History, will be extended through October 31, 2025.
This extension follows an overwhelmingly positive public response, as the exhibit initially sold out its limited run within just one week of opening.
Significantly, the exhibition features the only scale recreation of the Secret Annex from the Anne Frank House displayed outside of Amsterdam.
Visitors will have the opportunity to walk through a detailed reproduction of the space where Anne Frank, her family, and four others lived in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
The exhibit offers an immersive storytelling experience of Frank’s tragic life, which unfolds from her younger years in Frankfurt through the rise of the Nazi party, along with her family’s subsequent move to Amsterdam from 1933 to 1934.
Anne lived in Amsterdam for ten years before her arrest in 1944, when she was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, a concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.
Anne Frank tragically passed away at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany at the age of 15.
To facilitate access, free admission to the exhibition will be offered during extended hours on select Fridays throughout the summer on a first-come, first-served basis.
Public library cardholders from the Queens, Brooklyn, or New York Public Library systems can benefit from this offer, with the first free admission event scheduled for Friday, June 13, from 2:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.
In conjunction with the book distribution, participating agencies will also provide a limited number of free tickets to NYC youngsters to encourage learning about Frank’s life and legacy while combating hate and antisemitism.
Ronald Leopold, the executive director of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, emphasized the enduring significance of Anne Frank’s diary, stating, “Her words inspire us to confront injustice and to promote tolerance and human dignity.”
By distributing thousands of copies of her diary and expanding access to the exhibition, Leopold affirmed the commitment to education and remembrance.
He also highlighted the importance of sharing Frank’s unforgettable message, especially given the rising rates of antisemitism today.
“It is what her father, Otto Frank, sought to achieve in his dedicated and courageous pursuit of the Diary’s publication,” Leopold remarked.
Reflecting on the importance of engaging a younger generation, José Tavarez, president of Bank of America New York City, stated, “To help preserve and broaden access to Anne’s story, we were thrilled to expand our sponsorship of Anne Frank The Exhibition through this book distribution.”
This effort aims to connect young people with Anne’s life, writings, experiences, and resiliency.
Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, president of the Center for Jewish History, echoed the sentiment, stating that Frank’s diary remains relevant for young New Yorkers today.
Rosenfeld noted that the book serves as a powerful mirror reflecting the ongoing threats of antisemitism and hatred.
“Her words compel us to confront bigotry with humanity and to replace silence with courage,” he added.
As the campaign commemorates what would have been Anne Frank’s 96th birthday, the Center for Jewish History welcomes everyone to engage with her enduring legacy through the ongoing exhibition, highlighting the need to mobilize Jewish history in combating hate.
The presidents and CEOs of New York City’s library systems—Linda E. Johnson (Brooklyn Public Library), Anthony W. Marx (New York Public Library), and Dennis M. Walcott (Queens Public Library)—expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to distribute Anne Frank’s diary throughout the public library system.
They shared, “By sharing with thousands of New Yorkers the story of Anne Frank and the history she captured, we hope to inspire young readers to deepen their understanding and experience both the joy and importance of reading.”
Eric S. Goldstein, CEO of the UJA-Federation of New York, added that young people can personally connect with Frank’s story, which conveys her hopes and fears amidst unimaginable hatred.
“Particularly now, at a time of sharply rising hatred targeting the Jewish community, our hope is that young readers will be inspired to stand up to hate, to find courage in the face of adversity, and to believe in the power of their own voices,” Goldstein remarked.
The importance of confronting hate and intolerance is underscored by New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, who stated, “In the face of rising antisemitism around the country and world, it is critical that we take steps across our city to combat hate and intolerance.
“Anne Frank’s story is one of hope, humanity, and courage, and it belongs in our classrooms and in our communities as a key part of this work.”
Expressing confidence in the impact of the 10,000 diary copies, Aviles-Ramos recalled her own experiences as a high school English teacher, noting that the distribution will leave a lasting impression on young people.
“The Diary of Anne Frank” is one of the most translated books globally and resonates with readers for its poignant exploration of humanity amidst adversity.
After Frank and her family were arrested in 1944, Miep Gies, who risked her life to help them while in hiding, returned to the Annex and discovered Frank’s diary pages.
Otto Frank was the only member of the Annex to survive the Holocaust, and after encouragement from friends and family, he published his daughter’s diary.
Upon publication, Otto reflected, “How proud Anne would have been if she had lived to see this,” remembering her aspiration to publish a novel about the Secret Annex.
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