The mission of the center is to commemorate those who have perished in the Holocaust and genocides and to celebrate those who survived; to educate upcoming generations to remember for the future; and to dedicate its energies to ongoing research and scholarship. Annual programs include a November conference in commemoration of Kristallnacht; a Yom HaShoah program geared toward middle and high school students; a Gender and Genocide lecture (March); Conversations with Witnesses; and occasional film/lecture/musical programs. The center is completely funded by contributions and membership.

The Holocaust Council of MetroWest is dedicated to commemorating the Holocaust and to educating the community about the Holocaust and genocide in order to combat prejudice, hate, and racism in today’s society. The council’s services and programs include speakers’ bureau; Reel to Reel film series; Lunch ‘n Learn; Bagels and Books; B’nei Mitzvah Twin-with-a- Survivor and Adopt-a-Survivor programs for older teens, as well as various other programs, conferences, and seminars.

The Holocaust Council creates and facilitates trips to museums and other places of interest. The council helps community groups coordinate and publicize commemorations and observances of events, including Kristallnacht and Yom Hashoa.

The council works closely with schools, colleges and universities, museums, synagogues, churches, nursing homes, and civic organizations in commemorating and educating about the Holocaust, genocide, character education, and civic responsibility. It affords scholarships to teachers to travel to Holocaust sites and museums and facilitate organized trips of students to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and conducts workshops for educators.

The council works with survivors and their descendants to record and archive testimonies and provides assistance and guidance on issues relevant to this community, including help with compensation and restitution applications. It also supports the American Red Cross Holocaust Tracing Service, “Operation Search.”