Dig it! The Museum had a Groundbreaking

We did it. After years of what seemed like one step forward, two steps back, the Museum became more of a certainty, more of a reality, with our September 30 groundbreaking. It was a ceremonial groundbreaking, as demolition of the building on our site had already begun, but nonetheless it was a fantastic, exciting day.

Once again, you can see the view from the Museum is going to be spectacular.

The view above, looking southwest, shows Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center, and some of the approximately 400 people who attended the ceremony.

At the groundbreaking were (from left) Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell; Museum Co-Chairman Ron Rubin; Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street; Dr. Jonathan D. Sarna of Brandeis University, who is leading the team of scholars designing the new Museum; James S. Polshek, the Museum's architect; Patrick Gallagher, whose Gallagher & Associates is designing the core exhibition; and Emmy award-winning filmmaker David Grubin, who is helping to create the Museum's narrative.

Also there (from left) were Ruth Sarner-Libros, the Museum's president emerita; D. Walter Cohen, the Museum's chairman emeritus; Gwen Goodman, the Museum's executive director; U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter; Lyn M. Ross, a Museum trustee and former president; and George M. Ross, the Museum's co-chairman.

The Museum's fearless leader Gwen Goodman and her husband Alan dug the groundbreaking.

I got into the act with some of the stuff I shoveled in my press releases.

And, of course, what would be a ceremonial groundbreaking without Star of David-shaped pretzels given to all the people who attended?

Construction of the Museum is scheduled to begin in December.

Groundbreaking is Nigh

Groundbreaking for the new Museum is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 30, at 11 a.m at 5th and Market streets on Independence Mall. The public is invited to this event, which will be a historic one for Jews locally and across America, and for the Greater Philadelphia region.

The public is invited so if you're in the area, or are thinking about visiting, come by.


I'll be writing more about the groundbreaking as it approaches, and afterward, but this will be the only time I will use the word "nigh." That's my guarantee.

The fantastic Save the Date card, by the way, was done by Debbie Schafer, a good friend of the Museum.