NMAJH E-newsletter
August 22, 2007
Enews August 2007
Greeetings!
Welcome to the electronic newsletter of the National Museum of American Jewish History. This newsletter is designed to keep you informed of exhibitions, programs and other activities of the NMAJH, the only Museum in the country exclusively presenting educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore and celebrate the history of the Jews in America.
___________________________________
1. MUSEUM BREAKS NEW GROUND IN SEPTEMBER
Public Invited to September 30 Ceremony
After years of planning, anticipation, and fundraising, there is finally an official date. On Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007, the Museum will break ground and the construction on its new building will begin.
The public is invited to the ground breaking ceremony at 11 a.m., at 5th and Market streets, on Independence Mall. Attending the program will be elected officials, Museum board members, donors, local clergy, and heads of historic congregations in Philadelphia.
The new Museum, an architecturally distinctive 5-story, 100,000 square foot building will be the pre-eminent national educational and cultural institution presenting American Jewish history. Designed by the leading New York architectural firm Polshek Partnership, the Museum will build on the dynamic interaction between the Museum's location on Independence Mall, the history and traditions of the Jewish people, and the broader national experience. Galleries, exhibition halls, a resource center and an auditorium will be among the features of the new building.
For more information on the official groundbreaking event, please contact Jannine Medrana at 215.923.3811 ext. 111.
2. SHOP BUILDS A MORE USER-FRIENDLY WEBSITE
The Museum shop has revamped its website, allowing shoppers to have a more enjoyable and easy time finding Judaica to give as gifts and for their homes.
Designed to provide the same user-friendly atmosphere as the sites of major companies such as Target and Amazon, the re-designed site features a modern online shopping cart, a bridal registry, a featured artist section, and an overall clean look with more images and choices for the user.
The shop site also features many new items such as this handcrafted pendant (pictured) made of sterling silver and bronze with interchangeable marbles. Designed by Tucson, AZ based artists William A. Skiles and his wife, Lisa Stotska, it is one of the many gifts great for a bar or bat mitzvah on the new site. There are also brand new honey and apple dishes to view, perfect for Rosh Hashanah which is coming up on Thursday, Sept 13.
"Visitors want more merchandise to choose from and this new website allows us to have a wider variety of Judaica and crafts," said Elaine Silverman, shop manager. "We hope the site's clean and updated look will improve the overall shopping experience for everyone."
The Museum Shop is open Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Fridays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and Sundays, noon - 5 p.m.
The Museum Shop carries a wide variety of artists' styles. Visit the Museum Shop at www.judaicashop.net to browse the large assortment of items in all price ranges.
Proceeds from the Museum Shop support the National Museum of American Jewish History.
3. CLOCK TICKING ON FORSHPEIS! EXHIBITION
Time is running out for a final visit to see this clock and other food related objects in the museum exhibition, Forshpeis! A Taste of the Peter H. Schweitzer Collection of Jewish Americana, which closes Sunday, Oct. 21. Admission to the exhibition is free.
Clocks like the one pictured above, advertising kosher meats, can most often be found in delis. Though it originated in Eastern European Jewish immigrant communities, the delicatessen has become a mainstay of contemporary American life. This object is one of many deli related items featured in the museum's exhibition, Forshpeis! A Taste of the Peter H. Schweitzer Collection of Jewish Americana.
Forshpeis! reveals aspects of American Jewish life by looking at food in a range of settings, including in the kitchen and at the deli. Forshpeis! also explores, through the Schweitzer Collection the role food played in helping immigrant Jews adjust to life in the United States and illustrates how Jewish foods, like American Jews themselves, have become a part of the American mainstream.
To schedule a visit to the exhibition and Museum, or to learn about special programs, view the Education Department webpage. The Education Department webpage also has more information about programs and booking tours. Tours and special programs must be scheduled at least six weeks ahead of time.
A slideshow of artifacts from Forshpeis! can be seen on the Museum's Myspace site.
Forshpeis is Yiddish for appetizer.
The Forshpeis! exhibition was made possible in part through the generous support of the Independence Foundation, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund. The Museum receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
4. LIFE STORIES PRESERVED BY MUSEUM DURING DAY OF SERVICE
Jewish Community Event Offers Hundreds of Opportunities to Serve Others.
The Museum will be participating in Mitzvah Mania, a community day of service sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia on Sunday, Oct. 21. Thousands of men, women and children from all areas, interests and backgrounds will come together for one day to perform mitzvot. Throughout the region there will be hundreds of projects that afford volunteers many opportunities to repair the world, one day at a time.
Doing its part, the Museum will be conducting an oral history project for Mitzvah Mania in conjunction with the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center. Selected by Museum historians, Jews born in Philadelphia before 1930 will be interviewed about growing up Jewish in the city.
"This project is of great benefit to the participants as well as the larger Jewish community. Preserving the lives of Jews who grew up in Philadelphia during the early part of the twentieth century ensures the longevity of these important life stories for generations to come and illuminates the everyday stories that comprise our city's history of immigration, integration, religion, and community relations," said Josh Perelman, Museum historian and deputy director of programming.
To find a project that's perfect for you, visit www.jewishphilly.org/mitzvahmania or call 215-832-0564
Mitzvah Mania is being supported by: Jewish Federation Real Estate Group; Deb Shops; Jewish Exponent; KYW Newsradio 1060; Canada Dry Delaware Valley; Comcast; Citizens Bank Foundation; Susanna Lachs Adler and Dean Adler; Beth and Jerry Frezel; Marjorie and Jeffrey Honickman; Lainey and Beryl Simonson and EBE Entertainment.
5. FREE TICKETS OFFERED TO NEW DOCUMENTARY
Brian Steidle, an official United States military observer, had access to parts of Darfur that no journalist could go through. The Museum is now offering 10 free pairs of tickets to a new film, The Devil Came On Horseback, exposing the tragedy taking place in Darfur as seen through Steidle's eyes.
Using the exclusive first-hand testimony of the former U.S. Marine Captain, this 85- minute film opening at Ritz Theatres in Philadelphia on August 24, takes the viewer on an emotionally charged journey into the heart of Darfur, Sudan. In January 2005, the U.N. International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur concluded that the violations of humanitarian and human rights, which could be considered crimes "no less heinous than genocide," had occurred.
While in Darfur, Steidle was fired upon, taken hostage, and unable to intervene to save the lives of young children. Unprepared for what he had witnessed and experienced and frustrated by the lack of action from the international community, Steidle resigned and returned to the U.S. to expose the images and stories of lives systematically destroyed.
The Devil Came On Horseback was an official selection of the Sundance, Cinevegas, and Tribeca Film Festivals, and has won many awards.
Free tickets will go to the first 10 E-newsletter subscribers to respond with an e-mail to nmajh@nmajh.org. Put the words "NMAJH E-newsletter subscriber" in the subject line and include you name and address in the body.
For more information about the film visit http: //www.thedevilcameonhorseback.com/.
To find out more about Ritz Theatres in Philadelphia visit http://www.ritztheaters.com/.
6. SEPTEMBER 23 IS MUSEUM DAY AT NMAJH
On Sunday, Sept. 23, the Museum will participate in "Museum Day," presented by Smithsonian magazine and Hyundai Motor America. Museum Day is a day when museums and cultural institutions nationwide open their doors free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and www.smithsonian.com visitors.
Celebrating culture, learning and knowledge, Museum Day reflects the spirit of the magazine, and emulates the free-admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution's Washington, DC-based facilities. This year's Museum Day is also supported by CITGO Petroleum Corporation and, for the third consecutive year, TIAA- CREF.
Last year, approximately 30,000 people attended Museum Day. Forty-nine states were represented by 448 participating museums, including 55 Smithsonian affiliates.
The Museum Day Admission Card is available in the September issue of Smithsonian magazine and a downloadable version is available on the Museum Day website at www.smithsonian.com/museumdaycard. The general public is welcome to participate by going to the Smithsonian.com website and downloading the Museum Day Admission Card. Listings and links to other participating museums' and sponsors' sites can be found at www.smithsonian.com/museumday.
In the fall of 2002, the Museum became a Smithsonian Affiliate, a partnership with the Smithsonian Institution. The Museum now has greater access to the Smithsonian's collections and resources, permitting it to borrow artifacts from the Smithsonian's estimated 142 million piece collection - from Irving Berlin's piano to Colonial American Judaica and fine art - to be shown as part of special exhibitions or to be incorporated into our permanent exhibition.
This affiliation also allows the Museum to take advantage of the Smithsonian's educational resources and expertise in the areas of conservation, collections care and exhibit development for both staff training and consultation. The Museum is able to call upon Smithsonian experts to present programs on behalf of the Museum, as has already been done with great success. Our members now have the opportunity to become Smithsonian affiliate members at a minimal additional cost.
___________________________________
On September 8, 1945, Bess Myerson became the first Jew to ever win the Miss America pageant.
National Museum of American Jewish History
Independence Mall East
55 North 5th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2197
Tel: 215.923.3811 Fax: 215.923.0763
www.nmajh.org
Welcome to the electronic newsletter of the National Museum of American Jewish History. This newsletter is designed to keep you informed of exhibitions, programs and other activities of the NMAJH, the only Museum in the country exclusively presenting educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore and celebrate the history of the Jews in America.
___________________________________
1. MUSEUM BREAKS NEW GROUND IN SEPTEMBER
Public Invited to September 30 Ceremony
After years of planning, anticipation, and fundraising, there is finally an official date. On Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007, the Museum will break ground and the construction on its new building will begin.
The public is invited to the ground breaking ceremony at 11 a.m., at 5th and Market streets, on Independence Mall. Attending the program will be elected officials, Museum board members, donors, local clergy, and heads of historic congregations in Philadelphia.
The new Museum, an architecturally distinctive 5-story, 100,000 square foot building will be the pre-eminent national educational and cultural institution presenting American Jewish history. Designed by the leading New York architectural firm Polshek Partnership, the Museum will build on the dynamic interaction between the Museum's location on Independence Mall, the history and traditions of the Jewish people, and the broader national experience. Galleries, exhibition halls, a resource center and an auditorium will be among the features of the new building.
For more information on the official groundbreaking event, please contact Jannine Medrana at 215.923.3811 ext. 111.
2. SHOP BUILDS A MORE USER-FRIENDLY WEBSITE
The Museum shop has revamped its website, allowing shoppers to have a more enjoyable and easy time finding Judaica to give as gifts and for their homes.Designed to provide the same user-friendly atmosphere as the sites of major companies such as Target and Amazon, the re-designed site features a modern online shopping cart, a bridal registry, a featured artist section, and an overall clean look with more images and choices for the user.
The shop site also features many new items such as this handcrafted pendant (pictured) made of sterling silver and bronze with interchangeable marbles. Designed by Tucson, AZ based artists William A. Skiles and his wife, Lisa Stotska, it is one of the many gifts great for a bar or bat mitzvah on the new site. There are also brand new honey and apple dishes to view, perfect for Rosh Hashanah which is coming up on Thursday, Sept 13.
"Visitors want more merchandise to choose from and this new website allows us to have a wider variety of Judaica and crafts," said Elaine Silverman, shop manager. "We hope the site's clean and updated look will improve the overall shopping experience for everyone."
The Museum Shop is open Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Fridays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and Sundays, noon - 5 p.m.
The Museum Shop carries a wide variety of artists' styles. Visit the Museum Shop at www.judaicashop.net to browse the large assortment of items in all price ranges.
Proceeds from the Museum Shop support the National Museum of American Jewish History.
3. CLOCK TICKING ON FORSHPEIS! EXHIBITION
Time is running out for a final visit to see this clock and other food related objects in the museum exhibition, Forshpeis! A Taste of the Peter H. Schweitzer Collection of Jewish Americana, which closes Sunday, Oct. 21. Admission to the exhibition is free.Clocks like the one pictured above, advertising kosher meats, can most often be found in delis. Though it originated in Eastern European Jewish immigrant communities, the delicatessen has become a mainstay of contemporary American life. This object is one of many deli related items featured in the museum's exhibition, Forshpeis! A Taste of the Peter H. Schweitzer Collection of Jewish Americana.
Forshpeis! reveals aspects of American Jewish life by looking at food in a range of settings, including in the kitchen and at the deli. Forshpeis! also explores, through the Schweitzer Collection the role food played in helping immigrant Jews adjust to life in the United States and illustrates how Jewish foods, like American Jews themselves, have become a part of the American mainstream.
To schedule a visit to the exhibition and Museum, or to learn about special programs, view the Education Department webpage. The Education Department webpage also has more information about programs and booking tours. Tours and special programs must be scheduled at least six weeks ahead of time.
A slideshow of artifacts from Forshpeis! can be seen on the Museum's Myspace site.
Forshpeis is Yiddish for appetizer.
The Forshpeis! exhibition was made possible in part through the generous support of the Independence Foundation, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund. The Museum receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
4. LIFE STORIES PRESERVED BY MUSEUM DURING DAY OF SERVICE
Jewish Community Event Offers Hundreds of Opportunities to Serve Others.
The Museum will be participating in Mitzvah Mania, a community day of service sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia on Sunday, Oct. 21. Thousands of men, women and children from all areas, interests and backgrounds will come together for one day to perform mitzvot. Throughout the region there will be hundreds of projects that afford volunteers many opportunities to repair the world, one day at a time.
Doing its part, the Museum will be conducting an oral history project for Mitzvah Mania in conjunction with the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center. Selected by Museum historians, Jews born in Philadelphia before 1930 will be interviewed about growing up Jewish in the city.
"This project is of great benefit to the participants as well as the larger Jewish community. Preserving the lives of Jews who grew up in Philadelphia during the early part of the twentieth century ensures the longevity of these important life stories for generations to come and illuminates the everyday stories that comprise our city's history of immigration, integration, religion, and community relations," said Josh Perelman, Museum historian and deputy director of programming.
To find a project that's perfect for you, visit www.jewishphilly.org/mitzvahmania or call 215-832-0564
Mitzvah Mania is being supported by: Jewish Federation Real Estate Group; Deb Shops; Jewish Exponent; KYW Newsradio 1060; Canada Dry Delaware Valley; Comcast; Citizens Bank Foundation; Susanna Lachs Adler and Dean Adler; Beth and Jerry Frezel; Marjorie and Jeffrey Honickman; Lainey and Beryl Simonson and EBE Entertainment.
5. FREE TICKETS OFFERED TO NEW DOCUMENTARY
Brian Steidle, an official United States military observer, had access to parts of Darfur that no journalist could go through. The Museum is now offering 10 free pairs of tickets to a new film, The Devil Came On Horseback, exposing the tragedy taking place in Darfur as seen through Steidle's eyes.
Using the exclusive first-hand testimony of the former U.S. Marine Captain, this 85- minute film opening at Ritz Theatres in Philadelphia on August 24, takes the viewer on an emotionally charged journey into the heart of Darfur, Sudan. In January 2005, the U.N. International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur concluded that the violations of humanitarian and human rights, which could be considered crimes "no less heinous than genocide," had occurred.
While in Darfur, Steidle was fired upon, taken hostage, and unable to intervene to save the lives of young children. Unprepared for what he had witnessed and experienced and frustrated by the lack of action from the international community, Steidle resigned and returned to the U.S. to expose the images and stories of lives systematically destroyed.
The Devil Came On Horseback was an official selection of the Sundance, Cinevegas, and Tribeca Film Festivals, and has won many awards.
Free tickets will go to the first 10 E-newsletter subscribers to respond with an e-mail to nmajh@nmajh.org. Put the words "NMAJH E-newsletter subscriber" in the subject line and include you name and address in the body.
For more information about the film visit http: //www.thedevilcameonhorseback.com/.
To find out more about Ritz Theatres in Philadelphia visit http://www.ritztheaters.com/.
6. SEPTEMBER 23 IS MUSEUM DAY AT NMAJH
On Sunday, Sept. 23, the Museum will participate in "Museum Day," presented by Smithsonian magazine and Hyundai Motor America. Museum Day is a day when museums and cultural institutions nationwide open their doors free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and www.smithsonian.com visitors.
Celebrating culture, learning and knowledge, Museum Day reflects the spirit of the magazine, and emulates the free-admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution's Washington, DC-based facilities. This year's Museum Day is also supported by CITGO Petroleum Corporation and, for the third consecutive year, TIAA- CREF.
Last year, approximately 30,000 people attended Museum Day. Forty-nine states were represented by 448 participating museums, including 55 Smithsonian affiliates.
The Museum Day Admission Card is available in the September issue of Smithsonian magazine and a downloadable version is available on the Museum Day website at www.smithsonian.com/museumdaycard. The general public is welcome to participate by going to the Smithsonian.com website and downloading the Museum Day Admission Card. Listings and links to other participating museums' and sponsors' sites can be found at www.smithsonian.com/museumday.
In the fall of 2002, the Museum became a Smithsonian Affiliate, a partnership with the Smithsonian Institution. The Museum now has greater access to the Smithsonian's collections and resources, permitting it to borrow artifacts from the Smithsonian's estimated 142 million piece collection - from Irving Berlin's piano to Colonial American Judaica and fine art - to be shown as part of special exhibitions or to be incorporated into our permanent exhibition.
This affiliation also allows the Museum to take advantage of the Smithsonian's educational resources and expertise in the areas of conservation, collections care and exhibit development for both staff training and consultation. The Museum is able to call upon Smithsonian experts to present programs on behalf of the Museum, as has already been done with great success. Our members now have the opportunity to become Smithsonian affiliate members at a minimal additional cost.
___________________________________
On September 8, 1945, Bess Myerson became the first Jew to ever win the Miss America pageant.
National Museum of American Jewish History
Independence Mall East
55 North 5th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2197
Tel: 215.923.3811 Fax: 215.923.0763
www.nmajh.org
posted by nmajh @ 8/22/2007 
