A Space for Reflection

From the Desk of Todd Glick, Jr., Member at Large, Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center Board of Directors

Hello everyone, and thank you so much for being here tonight.

This evening means a great deal—not just to our Holocaust Center and this museum—but to our community, and honestly, to the world we share. It seems we’re always living in a challenging time—politically, socially, economically. And in these times we need pieces of art like this, we need spaces and moments like this to pause. To reflect.

This mosaic gives us that space. It invites us to remember not only the lives lost in the horrific tragedy of the Holocaust, but to consider the broader loss and impact of the event. And more than that, it reminds us that remembrance isn’t passive—it’s something we’re responsible for carrying forward.

One of the values I’ve always admired in Jewish tradition is Tikkun Olam—the idea of repairing the world. That you take on the hard, often unseen work—not for applause, not for immediate results—but because it’s the right thing to do. Because you want to leave the world better than you found it, even if you never see the full impact.

That belief hits home for me in a very personal way. My grandmother—Queenie, as we lovingly called her—was the reason I joined this organization and eventually stepped into a role as board member several years ago. She always gave back to her community in whatever ways she could. She believed deeply in service and in showing up. She was incredibly proud of my work I did here for this amazing organization And this—tonight—is my way of honoring her legacy.

I’m incredibly proud to have helped support this mosaic project. And I’m even more proud that this piece will now live here, welcoming every visitor who enters the Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center. It’s more than just art—it’s a beacon. A conversation starter. A reminder of our responsibility to remember, to learn, and to build something better.

So as we stand here tonight, my hope is that this mosaic, and this place, stir something in all of us. A commitment to take the lessons of the past—the pain, the resilience, the hard truths—and use them to shape a more just and compassionate future.

I’ll leave you with a simple thought: live each day with an open mind. And do the work that may not always feel easy or glamorous, but that leaves a mark. That builds something lasting. That, in its own way, helps repair the world.

Thank you. And I love you Queenie.