Genesis Prize’s Stan Polovets on the New Holocaust Museum in Greece

The port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, once home to one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe, carries the profound weight of history. During the Holocaust, over 90% of the city’s Jewish population was annihilated, leaving behind fragments of a once-thriving community. The establishment of the Holocaust Museum of Greece in Thessaloniki is a significant step in preserving that legacy and honoring those who perished.

Chairman Stan Polovets co-founded The Genesis Prize Foundation to honor exceptional Jewish individuals who have significantly contributed to society while maintaining their Jewish identity. Historically, Genesis Prize laureates forgo the financial award and redirect the funds to charitable causes, amplifying the prize’s global impact. Dr. Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer and a native of Thessaloniki, directed his 2022 Genesis Prize funds to the museum.

His parents, Mois and Sara, were Holocaust survivors who rebuilt their lives after the war. On LinkedIn, Boula wrote, “When my parents spoke of the Holocaust, they never spoke of anger or revenge. They didn’t teach us to hate those who did this to our family and friends. Instead, they spoke of how lucky they were to be alive and how we all needed to build on that feeling, celebrate life and move forward. Hatred would only stand in the way.”

At the time the Genesis Prize was presented to Dr. Bourla, Stan Polovets stated, “Dr. Bourla personifies two of the most fundamental Jewish values: the commitment to the sanctity of life and to repairing the world. And while the pandemic is far from over, millions of people are alive and healthy because of what Dr. Bourla and his team at Pfizer have accomplished.”

A Community Reclaims Its History

Thessaloniki was once celebrated as a city where Jewish culture and commerce thrived. The deportations to Auschwitz-Birkenau during World War II shattered this vibrancy, with only a fraction of the Jewish population surviving. The Holocaust Museum of Greece is a tribute to the lives lost and an enduring reminder of resilience.

Stan Polovets attended the groundbreaking for the museum and spoke of its planned role in preserving Thessaloniki’s Jewish heritage. “I was honored to participate and was moved by the ceremony, during which German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he ‘felt shame’ and that the memory of what was done to the Jewish people on this site ‘cannot be erased.’ That is why this museum is so important,” Polovets said.

“The memory of this once-vibrant Greek Jewish community and its near destruction by the Nazis — especially during the current wave of rising global antisemitism — must never be erased.”

The Holocaust Museum of Greece is designed as an eight-story, octagonal structure encompassing 9,000 square feet. Set to open to the public in 2026, it will feature exhibits highlighting the community’s prewar life, the devastation of the Holocaust, and the resilience of those who survived. It also includes educational initiatives to teach younger generations about the dangers of intolerance and discrimination.

Stan Polovets shares, “The Holocaust Museum of Greece will honor not only the Jewish community of Thessaloniki but also the 38 Jewish communities that existed in Greece before the war. It will showcase the culture of the Thessaloniki Jews and their multifaceted contributions to the city’s development.”

Spreading awareness and accurate information about the horror of the Holocaust is a mission Bourla fully supports. “Many Holocaust survivors never spoke to their children of the horrors they endured because it was too painful,” Bourla noted. “But we talked about it a great deal in my family. Growing up in Thessaloniki, Greece, we would get together with our cousins on the weekends, and my parents, aunts, and uncles would often share their stories.”

Bourla continued, “They did this because they wanted us to remember. To remember all the lives that were lost. To remember what can happen when the virus of evil is allowed to spread unchecked. But, most important, to remember the value of a human life.”

Stan Polovets: Everyone Must Take a Stand Against Hatred

Through The Genesis Prize Foundation, Polovets has demonstrated how philanthropy can be a powerful tool for preserving history and shaping the future. The museum’s opening reflects the foundation’s enduring commitment to Jewish identity, education, and advocacy.

As Thessaloniki’s Jewish community reclaims its history through the Holocaust Museum, The Genesis Prize Foundation continues its mission to inspire pride and unity within the global Jewish diaspora. Since its inception, the foundation has remained a symbol of excellence and a catalyst for meaningful change.

“Each of us has a responsibility to stand up against all forms of hatred,” says Stan Polovets. This principle was put to the test when the events of Oct. 7, 2023 — when Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel — reshaped the foundation’s immediate priorities.

“The purpose of this year’s award is to raise international awareness of the plight of the hostages and provide humanitarian assistance focused on recovery, rehabilitation, and treatment,” stated Polovets.

He added, “The Genesis Prize is a humanitarian award, and this year, it seeks to achieve three things: ensure the world does not forget the plight of the captives; provide additional aid to organizations focused on assisting the hostages and their families; and, last but not least, honor the selfless work of organizations that spontaneously emerged after Oct. 7. These volunteers are an inspiring example of Jewish strength and unity who have already earned a place in the history of the Jewish people and Israel.”

In November, Stan Polovets traveled to Israel and participated in the rally at Hostage Square, marking 400 days since Hamas began holding men, women, and children captive in Gaza. “The main message of the thousands of participants in the rally was: Do not lose hope,” he said. “Do not let up on pressuring governments to demand the release of [the] hostages still held in unspeakable conditions.”

Polovets marched alongside 5,000 Israelis, joined by international leaders such as Germany’s ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert, who reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to the hostages’ release.

The Genesis Prize Foundation’s swift mobilization during the hostage crisis epitomizes its commitment to transformative philanthropy.

For Polovets, while standing at Hostage Square, the Nova Music Festival site, and the ruins of Kibbutz Nir Oz, the mandate became ever more clear: Secure the hostages’ return and provide their families with steadfast support.

By leveraging its global platform, strategic partnerships, and targeted funding initiatives, The Genesis Prize Foundation has amplified these urgent humanitarian concerns on the world stage. Under Polovets’ leadership, the foundation continues its dual mission: honoring Jewish heritage while forging a path toward a more just and compassionate future — one where the echoes of Oct. 7 remind us of our collective responsibility to stand with Israel and combat antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and all forms of hate.