January 23, 2009
Enews February 2009
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.
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Topping Off Ceremony Held Upon Finish of Structure of New Building
National Museum of American Jewish History Constructing Iconic Building on Independence Mall
The steel frame of the National Museum of American Jewish History currently under construction on Independence Mall in Philadelphia was "topped off" Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, completing a significimageant milestone for the building that will serve as a cornerstone of the modern-day American Jewish community.
With a crowd including construction workers, Museum board members and staff, and others associated with the project watching in excited anticipation, the final 31-foot beam was placed on the northwest corner of the 121-foot high, 100,000-square-foot, five-story building. The participants were joined by curious office workers along with tourists and students who got more than they expected while visiting Philadelphia's historic district.
The final beam was festooned with banners from the Museum, Ironworkers Local Union 401, and INTECH Construction Inc., the Museum's contractor. Also included was an American flag and an evergreen tree, traditional symbols of the ironworkers' topping off ceremony. Cheers and clapping erupted from the onlookers as the beam was lifted above the structure and then secured in place.
With the steel structure completed, the next steps for the building are the pouring of its concrete floors and the construction of the north and west walls. Designed by Polshek Partnership Architects of New York and in the heart ofimage historic Philadelphia, the Museum will join Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center, the Liberty Bell and other landmarks at the site of America's birth. The new Museum will open in late 2010.
The west wall facing Independence Mall will be a glass prism, expressing the accessibility of the Museum and the openness of America, as well as the perennial fragility of democracy. The north wall will be constructed of terra cotta, expressing the strength of Jewish survival and the protective shelter of American freedom. "With this phase of the construction complete, and as the Museum takes shape on Independence Mall, I think it becomes clear that there could not be a more fitting place for a museum that will explore the promise and challenges of liberty through the lens of the American Jewish experience," said Gwen Goodman, the NMAJH's Executive Director/CEO.
The new National Museum of American Jewish History will be the first and only major museum dedicated to chronicling the American Jewish experience. Through intriguing exhibits, rare artifacts and interactive displays, the Museum will mark the trials and triumphs of American Jews through every imagephase of the country's history. It will explore the challenges of identity and assimilation they faced and celebrate the contributions they have made to every facet of American life. And since other immigrant ethnic groups have faced similar challenges, the Museum will ultimately be a place for all Americans to explore, offering an experience that is thought-provoking and informative.
The National Museum of American Jewish History is dedicated to telling the still unfolding story of Jews in America - who embraced freedom with its choices and challenges as they shaped, and were shaped by, our nation. The Museum envisions its new home as a place that welcomes all people, inviting them to discover what they have in common with the Jewish experience in America, and to explore the features that make this history distinctive.
For information on the Museum's $150 million Capital Campaign contact Irv Hurwitz, the Museum's Director of Institutional Advancement at 215.923.3811 x 133.
___________________________________
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
___________________________________
Topping Off Ceremony Held Upon Finish of Structure of New Building
National Museum of American Jewish History Constructing Iconic Building on Independence Mall
The steel frame of the National Museum of American Jewish History currently under construction on Independence Mall in Philadelphia was "topped off" Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, completing a significimageant milestone for the building that will serve as a cornerstone of the modern-day American Jewish community. With a crowd including construction workers, Museum board members and staff, and others associated with the project watching in excited anticipation, the final 31-foot beam was placed on the northwest corner of the 121-foot high, 100,000-square-foot, five-story building. The participants were joined by curious office workers along with tourists and students who got more than they expected while visiting Philadelphia's historic district.
The final beam was festooned with banners from the Museum, Ironworkers Local Union 401, and INTECH Construction Inc., the Museum's contractor. Also included was an American flag and an evergreen tree, traditional symbols of the ironworkers' topping off ceremony. Cheers and clapping erupted from the onlookers as the beam was lifted above the structure and then secured in place.With the steel structure completed, the next steps for the building are the pouring of its concrete floors and the construction of the north and west walls. Designed by Polshek Partnership Architects of New York and in the heart ofimage historic Philadelphia, the Museum will join Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center, the Liberty Bell and other landmarks at the site of America's birth. The new Museum will open in late 2010.
The west wall facing Independence Mall will be a glass prism, expressing the accessibility of the Museum and the openness of America, as well as the perennial fragility of democracy. The north wall will be constructed of terra cotta, expressing the strength of Jewish survival and the protective shelter of American freedom. "With this phase of the construction complete, and as the Museum takes shape on Independence Mall, I think it becomes clear that there could not be a more fitting place for a museum that will explore the promise and challenges of liberty through the lens of the American Jewish experience," said Gwen Goodman, the NMAJH's Executive Director/CEO.
The new National Museum of American Jewish History will be the first and only major museum dedicated to chronicling the American Jewish experience. Through intriguing exhibits, rare artifacts and interactive displays, the Museum will mark the trials and triumphs of American Jews through every imagephase of the country's history. It will explore the challenges of identity and assimilation they faced and celebrate the contributions they have made to every facet of American life. And since other immigrant ethnic groups have faced similar challenges, the Museum will ultimately be a place for all Americans to explore, offering an experience that is thought-provoking and informative.
The National Museum of American Jewish History is dedicated to telling the still unfolding story of Jews in America - who embraced freedom with its choices and challenges as they shaped, and were shaped by, our nation. The Museum envisions its new home as a place that welcomes all people, inviting them to discover what they have in common with the Jewish experience in America, and to explore the features that make this history distinctive.
For information on the Museum's $150 million Capital Campaign contact Irv Hurwitz, the Museum's Director of Institutional Advancement at 215.923.3811 x 133.
___________________________________
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 @ 1/23/2009 
