NMAJH E-newsletter
November 21, 2007
Enews November 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 SEEKS FEEDBACK ON NEW TEMPORARY EXHIBITION
Shaping Space, Making Meaning Opens December 16
Feedback wanted!
Shaping Space, Making Meaning, the new temporary exhibition at the National Museum of American Jewish History, offers visitors the opportunity to learn how a museum creates a major exhibition and at the same time have input into developing the show prior to opening. The NMAJH's exhibition design team is now in the process of creating the 22,000-square-foot exhibition for the new Museum now under construction and scheduled to open in 2010.
Opening Sunday, Dec. 16, Shaping Space, Making Meaning will have design sketches, computer-generated images, video and text that will offer an insider's look at the process of developing a landmark exhibition about more than 350 years of American Jewish life.
Shaping Space, Making Meaning will allow visitors to offer feedback to the NMAJH design team through three interactive experiences. "This is a unique opportunity for the public to get inside the mystery of exhibition design and really let their opinions be known," said Josh Perelman, NMAJH deputy director and museum historian. "We want our visitors to have a frank, healthy discussion with us about the history of the country and the future of our institution."
Shaping Space, Making Meaning's first interactive element uses touch screens to engage visitors in a conversation about the Museum's major themes, which include freedom, immigration, religious tolerance, as well as short quiz to help the Museum learn about its audiences' knowledge of American Jewish history.
The second section of the exhibition gives visitors the chance to help determine the tone with which the museum will speak to its audience. Visitors will be introduced to some of the colorful individuals from the past who will be found in the new exhibition and then asked to read two different versions of text about each person. They will then have the opportunity to vote on which they like best.
According to Perelman, "Finding the right voice is essential to the creation of a major exhibition. Like any conversation, museums seek to draw people in, make them feel comfortable, and communicate a message. Our goal is to tell stories and convey information in a tone that engages and inspires people."
Controversial topics will be addressed in the third section of the exhibition, "Drawing the Line: A Contemporary Issues Forum." Should American Jewish organizations continue to send millions of dollars to Israel? Is it fair for rabbinical seminaries to refuse to ordain gay and lesbian rabbis? Does intermarriage represent the triumph of American pluralism? These are among the many subjects that will be explored in an interactive presentation that will present information about current issues, ask provocative questions, and allow visitors to respond. Their answers will give the NMAJH's exhibition design team a sense of the opinions among visitors, and if there are certain trends that can be discerned.
"We value feedback," said Deputy Director Perelman. "Museums are public institutions and therefore it is essential to the development of this new museum that we hear from our audience. We want to know what they like, what they did not understand, or what they just wish will be in the new building. These comments enrich the design process and make create a fulfilling connection between the museum its visitors."
2. MUSEUM SHOP OFFERS DISCOUNT ON HANUKKAH PRESENTS
In preparation for Hanukkah, the Museum Shop has acquired a variety of new items, including this unique menorah (pictured) by Susan Fullenbaum. Dreidels, menorahs, books, and other Hanukkah items will be discounted 20 percent as part of a special Hanukkah promotion for last-minute shopping by E-newsletter subscribers from Nov. 29 through Dec. 4.
Susan's Tree of Life Menorah is made of stained glass with a dark green or blue beveled base. The glass adds dimensions of dynamic beauty through the interplay of colored glass with the candlelight.
For more than 25 years, Susan has created handcrafted stained glass art emphasizing Judaic themes. Most of her recent work has focused on these themes and on her own developing awareness of Jewish tradition.
Based in Silver Spring, Maryland, Susan's commissioned art pieces are displayed in galleries, synagogues, homes and are represented in juried art shows and exhibitions worldwide. Susan is a member of Artsites, the National Capital Stained Glass Guild, and the American Guild of Judaic Artists. This menorah is one of a variety of Hanukkah related items being sold at the Museum Shop and at its online store.
The Museum Shop carries Judaica from a variety of artists. Visit the Museum Shop to browse the large assortment of items in all price ranges. For more information contact Museum Shop Managers, Eva Schlanger, or Elaine Silverman, or call the Museum Shop at 215.923.0262.
The Museum Shop is open Mondays-Thursdays 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and Sundays 12 noon - 5 p.m. Proceeds from the Museum Shop support the National Museum of American Jewish History.
3. BE JEWISH AT CHRISTMAS AT NMAJH
Peter & Ellen Allard to Perform for First Time at BJAC
Captivating children's performers Peter & Ellen (left) are highlighting this year's annual "Being Jewish at Christmas" program of family fun at the National Museum of American Jewish History, which features music, comedy, puppets and more, on Tuesday, Dec. 25, noon - 4 p.m.
Peter & Ellen are award-winning recording artists, performers, musicians, and educators specializing in music for young children. Drawing on a rich tradition of musical experiences, they help children and families strengthen their Jewish identities through their lively performance and engaging, participatory shows.
Joining Peter & Ellen are returning BJAC entertainers Michael Rosman (pictured), whose amazing feats of all-ages comedy has been seen on The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; 2006 "Best of Philly" Party Entertainer Ken Fink from Wondergy, who fuels curiosity by making science fun and exciting; and the Mark Segal Puppet Theatre, and its zany cast of characters, which has been a part of BJAC in years past. Refreshments are provided and all children will receive a goodie bag.
Tickets to the event are $5 per person (children three and under are admitted free.) There is no charge to Museum members. Tickets will be available only at the door. For more information call 215-923-3811 x 120. "Being Jewish at Christmas" is funded by the Robert Saligman Jewish Heritage Fund.
4. HOLOCAUST LEGACY BROUGHT TO LIFE IN BATTLESHIP EXHIBITION
The Museum has teamed with Battleship New Jersey (pictured) to offer E-newsletter subscribers a two-for-one admission discount to The exhibition, The Holocaust and Genocide: the Betrayal of Humanity.
The Holocaust and Genocide: the Betrayal of Humanity, a multimedia traveling exhibition about the history of the Holocaust and its lasting legacy, made its debut on the Battleship New Jersey on Nov. 10. The opening of the exhibition was timed to coincide with the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the night in 1938 when the Nazis broke the windows of Jewish businesses and homes and desecrated synagogues.
The admission discount is included with all battleship tours until June 15, 2008.
Donations in support of the exhibition were made by Mr. & Mrs. Ed Feldman (in memory of Carl Ehrlich), the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, the Goodwin Holocaust Museum and Education Center, the N.J. Commission on Holocaust Education, and the Jewish Community Foundation.
To redeem the two-for-one offer, bring a printout of this story with you to the Battleship New Jersey or mention that you are a NMAJH E-newsletter subscriber when ordering tickets by phone. The ship is open daily for tours from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm.
Located on the Camden Waterfront across the Delaware River from Center City Philadelphia, the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial is a non-profit historic ship museum that offers guided and self-guided tours and gives visitors a variety of ways to experience the ship. For more information on the ship's many programs, visit www.battleshipnewjersey.org.
5. MOVIE POPS THE BUBBLE ON LIVES OF YOUNG ISRAELIS
Museum Offers Tickets for Movie At Ritz Theatres
The Museum is making available ten passes for two to The Bubble, a new film opening at Philadelphia's Ritz Theatres Nov. 23. The film tells the story of three Israelis who share an apartment in Tel Aviv's hippest neighborhood. Trying to put aside political conflicts and focusing on their lives and loves, these progressive 20-somethings are accused of living in an escapist bubble.
From the director of Walk On Water, Eytan Fox, The Bubble is as much a love song to the city as it is an exploration of the claim that people in Tel Aviv are isolated from the rest of the country and the turmoil it's going through.
The apartment mates include Lulu, a headstrong woman who works in a bath products boutique; flamboyant Yali, who manages a trendy cafe; and Noam, who spends his weekends serving in the National Guard at checkpoints and falls in love with a Palestinian man named Ashraf, who he and his friends conspire to help stay illegally in Tel Aviv. The Bubble was an official selection in the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006 and the Berlin International Film Festival in 2007.
To claim one of the ten complimentary tickets to The Bubble, respond to enews@nmajh.org with your name and address and write "The Bubble" in the subject line. Each pass admits two, good Monday-Thursday except holidays. Visit the official The Bubblewebsite for more information about the film. Visit Ritz Theatres for more information about the film.
6. HAPPY HANUKKAH FROM THE NMAJH
The Board, staff and volunteers of the Museum wish you a happy Hanukkah (and Thanksgiving).
This compact and portable Hanukkah lamp, whose eight oil reservoirs can be concealed within its sofa-shaped case when not in use, has survived a lot. It dates back to the early 1700s, from a Sephardic Jewish family. They lived on the island of Curaçao in the Caribbean. Many islands in the Caribbean during this time were home to Jews who were involved in the shipping trade.
Curaçao, like New Amsterdam where the first Jews settled in North America in 1654, was a Dutch colony and therefore undoubtedly friendlier to Jews than other places, given the greater religious tolerance practiced by the Dutch at home and abroad. The lamp's portable and inconspicuous design speaks to the itinerant nature of the Jewish people and also perhaps to the tradition of practicing Judaism in secrecy, especially after the Jews were expelled from Spain and Portugal in 1492 and then scattered.
___________________________________
On December 2, 1763, members of the Jewish community of Newport, Rhode Island, consisting of perhaps 20 families, witnessed the dedication of the Touro Synagogue. The Georgian-style building, designed by Peter Harrison, is now the oldest North American synagogue and was declared a national historic site in 1946.
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 SEEKS FEEDBACK ON NEW TEMPORARY EXHIBITION
Shaping Space, Making Meaning Opens December 16
Shaping Space, Making Meaning, the new temporary exhibition at the National Museum of American Jewish History, offers visitors the opportunity to learn how a museum creates a major exhibition and at the same time have input into developing the show prior to opening. The NMAJH's exhibition design team is now in the process of creating the 22,000-square-foot exhibition for the new Museum now under construction and scheduled to open in 2010.
Opening Sunday, Dec. 16, Shaping Space, Making Meaning will have design sketches, computer-generated images, video and text that will offer an insider's look at the process of developing a landmark exhibition about more than 350 years of American Jewish life.
Shaping Space, Making Meaning will allow visitors to offer feedback to the NMAJH design team through three interactive experiences. "This is a unique opportunity for the public to get inside the mystery of exhibition design and really let their opinions be known," said Josh Perelman, NMAJH deputy director and museum historian. "We want our visitors to have a frank, healthy discussion with us about the history of the country and the future of our institution."
Shaping Space, Making Meaning's first interactive element uses touch screens to engage visitors in a conversation about the Museum's major themes, which include freedom, immigration, religious tolerance, as well as short quiz to help the Museum learn about its audiences' knowledge of American Jewish history.
The second section of the exhibition gives visitors the chance to help determine the tone with which the museum will speak to its audience. Visitors will be introduced to some of the colorful individuals from the past who will be found in the new exhibition and then asked to read two different versions of text about each person. They will then have the opportunity to vote on which they like best.
According to Perelman, "Finding the right voice is essential to the creation of a major exhibition. Like any conversation, museums seek to draw people in, make them feel comfortable, and communicate a message. Our goal is to tell stories and convey information in a tone that engages and inspires people."
Controversial topics will be addressed in the third section of the exhibition, "Drawing the Line: A Contemporary Issues Forum." Should American Jewish organizations continue to send millions of dollars to Israel? Is it fair for rabbinical seminaries to refuse to ordain gay and lesbian rabbis? Does intermarriage represent the triumph of American pluralism? These are among the many subjects that will be explored in an interactive presentation that will present information about current issues, ask provocative questions, and allow visitors to respond. Their answers will give the NMAJH's exhibition design team a sense of the opinions among visitors, and if there are certain trends that can be discerned.
"We value feedback," said Deputy Director Perelman. "Museums are public institutions and therefore it is essential to the development of this new museum that we hear from our audience. We want to know what they like, what they did not understand, or what they just wish will be in the new building. These comments enrich the design process and make create a fulfilling connection between the museum its visitors."
2. MUSEUM SHOP OFFERS DISCOUNT ON HANUKKAH PRESENTS
In preparation for Hanukkah, the Museum Shop has acquired a variety of new items, including this unique menorah (pictured) by Susan Fullenbaum. Dreidels, menorahs, books, and other Hanukkah items will be discounted 20 percent as part of a special Hanukkah promotion for last-minute shopping by E-newsletter subscribers from Nov. 29 through Dec. 4.Susan's Tree of Life Menorah is made of stained glass with a dark green or blue beveled base. The glass adds dimensions of dynamic beauty through the interplay of colored glass with the candlelight.
For more than 25 years, Susan has created handcrafted stained glass art emphasizing Judaic themes. Most of her recent work has focused on these themes and on her own developing awareness of Jewish tradition.
Based in Silver Spring, Maryland, Susan's commissioned art pieces are displayed in galleries, synagogues, homes and are represented in juried art shows and exhibitions worldwide. Susan is a member of Artsites, the National Capital Stained Glass Guild, and the American Guild of Judaic Artists. This menorah is one of a variety of Hanukkah related items being sold at the Museum Shop and at its online store.
The Museum Shop carries Judaica from a variety of artists. Visit the Museum Shop to browse the large assortment of items in all price ranges. For more information contact Museum Shop Managers, Eva Schlanger, or Elaine Silverman, or call the Museum Shop at 215.923.0262.
The Museum Shop is open Mondays-Thursdays 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and Sundays 12 noon - 5 p.m. Proceeds from the Museum Shop support the National Museum of American Jewish History.
3. BE JEWISH AT CHRISTMAS AT NMAJH
Peter & Ellen Allard to Perform for First Time at BJAC
Captivating children's performers Peter & Ellen (left) are highlighting this year's annual "Being Jewish at Christmas" program of family fun at the National Museum of American Jewish History, which features music, comedy, puppets and more, on Tuesday, Dec. 25, noon - 4 p.m.Peter & Ellen are award-winning recording artists, performers, musicians, and educators specializing in music for young children. Drawing on a rich tradition of musical experiences, they help children and families strengthen their Jewish identities through their lively performance and engaging, participatory shows.
Joining Peter & Ellen are returning BJAC entertainers Michael Rosman (pictured), whose amazing feats of all-ages comedy has been seen on The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; 2006 "Best of Philly" Party Entertainer Ken Fink from Wondergy, who fuels curiosity by making science fun and exciting; and the Mark Segal Puppet Theatre, and its zany cast of characters, which has been a part of BJAC in years past. Refreshments are provided and all children will receive a goodie bag.Tickets to the event are $5 per person (children three and under are admitted free.) There is no charge to Museum members. Tickets will be available only at the door. For more information call 215-923-3811 x 120. "Being Jewish at Christmas" is funded by the Robert Saligman Jewish Heritage Fund.
4. HOLOCAUST LEGACY BROUGHT TO LIFE IN BATTLESHIP EXHIBITION
The Museum has teamed with Battleship New Jersey (pictured) to offer E-newsletter subscribers a two-for-one admission discount to The exhibition, The Holocaust and Genocide: the Betrayal of Humanity.The Holocaust and Genocide: the Betrayal of Humanity, a multimedia traveling exhibition about the history of the Holocaust and its lasting legacy, made its debut on the Battleship New Jersey on Nov. 10. The opening of the exhibition was timed to coincide with the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the night in 1938 when the Nazis broke the windows of Jewish businesses and homes and desecrated synagogues.
The admission discount is included with all battleship tours until June 15, 2008.
Donations in support of the exhibition were made by Mr. & Mrs. Ed Feldman (in memory of Carl Ehrlich), the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, the Goodwin Holocaust Museum and Education Center, the N.J. Commission on Holocaust Education, and the Jewish Community Foundation.
To redeem the two-for-one offer, bring a printout of this story with you to the Battleship New Jersey or mention that you are a NMAJH E-newsletter subscriber when ordering tickets by phone. The ship is open daily for tours from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm.
Located on the Camden Waterfront across the Delaware River from Center City Philadelphia, the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial is a non-profit historic ship museum that offers guided and self-guided tours and gives visitors a variety of ways to experience the ship. For more information on the ship's many programs, visit www.battleshipnewjersey.org.
5. MOVIE POPS THE BUBBLE ON LIVES OF YOUNG ISRAELIS
Museum Offers Tickets for Movie At Ritz Theatres
The Museum is making available ten passes for two to The Bubble, a new film opening at Philadelphia's Ritz Theatres Nov. 23. The film tells the story of three Israelis who share an apartment in Tel Aviv's hippest neighborhood. Trying to put aside political conflicts and focusing on their lives and loves, these progressive 20-somethings are accused of living in an escapist bubble.From the director of Walk On Water, Eytan Fox, The Bubble is as much a love song to the city as it is an exploration of the claim that people in Tel Aviv are isolated from the rest of the country and the turmoil it's going through.
The apartment mates include Lulu, a headstrong woman who works in a bath products boutique; flamboyant Yali, who manages a trendy cafe; and Noam, who spends his weekends serving in the National Guard at checkpoints and falls in love with a Palestinian man named Ashraf, who he and his friends conspire to help stay illegally in Tel Aviv. The Bubble was an official selection in the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006 and the Berlin International Film Festival in 2007.
To claim one of the ten complimentary tickets to The Bubble, respond to enews@nmajh.org with your name and address and write "The Bubble" in the subject line. Each pass admits two, good Monday-Thursday except holidays. Visit the official The Bubblewebsite for more information about the film. Visit Ritz Theatres for more information about the film.
6. HAPPY HANUKKAH FROM THE NMAJH
The Board, staff and volunteers of the Museum wish you a happy Hanukkah (and Thanksgiving).
This compact and portable Hanukkah lamp, whose eight oil reservoirs can be concealed within its sofa-shaped case when not in use, has survived a lot. It dates back to the early 1700s, from a Sephardic Jewish family. They lived on the island of Curaçao in the Caribbean. Many islands in the Caribbean during this time were home to Jews who were involved in the shipping trade.Curaçao, like New Amsterdam where the first Jews settled in North America in 1654, was a Dutch colony and therefore undoubtedly friendlier to Jews than other places, given the greater religious tolerance practiced by the Dutch at home and abroad. The lamp's portable and inconspicuous design speaks to the itinerant nature of the Jewish people and also perhaps to the tradition of practicing Judaism in secrecy, especially after the Jews were expelled from Spain and Portugal in 1492 and then scattered.
___________________________________
On December 2, 1763, members of the Jewish community of Newport, Rhode Island, consisting of perhaps 20 families, witnessed the dedication of the Touro Synagogue. The Georgian-style building, designed by Peter Harrison, is now the oldest North American synagogue and was declared a national historic site in 1946.
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
