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Broidy - Auschwitz-Birkenau Crematoria Whiteprint (2)

Rare Auschwitz Artifact Acquired

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This piece was originally published in the Boca Raton Observer on December 12, 2025.

Elliott Broidy Secures Historic Whiteprint To Combat Holocaust Denial

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Boca-based philanthropist Elliott Broidy purchased one of only two existing original architectural whiteprints of the Auschwitz-Birkenau crematoria for $1.5 million, a sum chosen to honor the 1.5 million Jewish children murdered during the Holocaust. Drawn in 1941 by SS architect Walter Dejaco under the direction of Rudolf Höss, this artifact marks the chilling start of the systematic, industrialized murder of Jews.

Authenticated by Auschwitz historian Robert Jan van Pelt, the whiteprint represents what would become Crematoria II and III, the main gas chambers of Birkenau — the massive camp adjacent to Auschwitz.

“This whiteprint is physical proof of humanity’s darkest capacity,” Broidy says. “To behold it is to confront the deliberate design of evil.”

The acquisition was facilitated by Rabbi David Baron of the Temple of the Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif., with proceeds funding a global early childhood curriculum promoting empathy, altruism and anti-extremism. Broidy plans to display the artifact at institutions dedicated to Holocaust education and combating antisemitism before donating it permanently.

Experts say the document is among the most significant visual records of the Holocaust’s intentionality.

“This first crematorium drawing captures the moment when Auschwitz entered the technological imagination,” van Pelt says. “An architecture … that was, through successive decisions, adapted into the machinery of destruction that resulted in the Holocaust.”

Michael Berenbaum, former project director at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, calls it “one of the most important visual documents showing how the crematoria were created.”

The announcement coincides with the 80th anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials, underscoring the enduring need to preserve historical truth amid rising antisemitism and Holocaust denial. Broidy’s efforts extend beyond this acquisition, including support for The Counter Extremism Project and the creation of ARCHER at House 88, a research center adjacent to Auschwitz focused on dismantling hate networks and extremist ideologies.

“The Nazis sought to erase the humanity of their victims,” Broidy says. “This artifact — and the education it will support — reasserts that humanity helps ensure the continuity of the Jewish people and works to build ways for all people to see the good in others.”

For more information, visit archer.counterextremism.com.

Elliott Broidy ARCHER at House 88

Boca Raton Resident Returns Home After Witnessing Historic Auschwitz Initiative

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This piece was originally published on Better This World on April 9, 2025.

Elliott Broidy Co-Chairs Effort to Transform Former Nazi Commandant’s Home into Global Center for Combating Extremism

Elliott Broidy, a Boca Raton resident and longtime philanthropist, has returned home after a historic and deeply personal trip to Oświęcim, Poland, where he took part in a groundbreaking initiative to transform the former residence of Auschwitz Commandant Rudolf Höss into a global education and research center. The visit coincided with International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27 and the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation, a solemn moment in history that underscores the urgency of Holocaust education and combating rising antisemitism. Broidy, who serves as co-chair of the Fund to End Antisemitism, Extremism, and Hate, is helping lead the fundraising campaign for ARCHER at House 88, a new initiative housed in the former Nazi leader’s home aimed at educating future generations about the dangers of extremism.

A Personal Commitment to Holocaust Education

For Broidy, the mission is deeply personal. His wife, Robin, lost many members of her family in the Holocaust, a tragedy that has profoundly shaped their shared commitment to fighting antisemitism. “Education is our most powerful weapon against hate,” he said. “We need to teach future generations how antisemitism, and extremism in general, take root—how misinformation spreads, how propaganda shapes perception, and how even good people can be manipulated into supporting dangerous ideologies. This is not a passive fight. We have to actively work to counter these forces before history repeats itself.” Robin Broidy added: “ARCHER at House 88 is not just about remembering the horrors of the Holocaust—it’s about equipping the next generation with the knowledge to actively combat antisemitism in all its forms,” Robin Broidy said. “We cannot let misinformation and propaganda take root, as it has done so many times throughout history. We must help young people recognize how hate spreads, whether it’s coming from a respected university professor, a trusted friend, or an anonymous social media account.” Their words echo the sentiment of Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor and Nobel Prize laureate, who once believed that simply remembering the past would help prevent future atrocities. However, in 1986 Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Wiesel acknowledged that remembrance alone is not enough: “Sometimes we must interfere,” said Wiesel. “Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.”

Transforming a Symbol of Hate into a Center for Hope

Spearheaded by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), ARCHER at House 88 will convert the former commandant’s home into a global hub for research, education, and policy initiatives aimed at countering extremism in all its forms. The center will include:

  • A fellowship program for scholars specializing in extremism research.
  • Educational initiatives for policymakers, educators, and the public.
  • Advocacy efforts to combat hate through actionable policy strategies.

Famed architect Daniel Libeskind, known for his work on the Jewish Museum in Berlin and the master plan for the World Trade Center site, has designed an expansion of the facility to house these critical programs.

An Urgent Need for Action

Broidy’s involvement comes at a time of rising antisemitism globally, particularly on college campuses and online. The latest Global 100 survey conducted by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found that 46 percent of the world’s adult population (an estimated 2.2 billion people) harbor deeply entrenched antisemitic attitudes. This number has increased by more than 100 percent since ADL’s first worldwide survey a decade ago. “We are witnessing an unsettling resurgence of antisemitism worldwide,” Elliott Broidy said. “Simply remembering the past is no longer enough—we must actively fight against the dangerous narratives that fuel hate. ARCHER at House 88 will be a critical tool in that battle.”

Looking Ahead

The fundraising efforts for ARCHER at House 88 are ongoing, with a coalition of philanthropists and global leaders joining the cause. Broidy hopes his Boca Raton community will take an active role in supporting the initiative, recognizing that the lessons of history belong to everyone. “This is not just a Jewish issue—it is a human issue,” he said. “We all have a responsibility to make sure the horrors of Auschwitz are never forgotten and never repeated.”

How to Get Involved

For those interested in supporting ARCHER at House 88, donations can be made at https://www.counterextremism.com/donate.