Program Also To Include “Ben & His Traveling Trunk”

Celebrate Presidents’ Day and George Washington's Birthday on Monday, Feb. 20, noon, at the National Museum of American Jewish History with a program featuring the reading of a letter written by President Washington to historic Congregation Mikveh Israel affirming religious freedom. The guest speaker at the program will be Dr. Rosalind Remer, executive director of the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary.

Also at the celebration will be the “Ben & His Traveling Trunk” program. “Ben & His Traveling Trunk” includes a Benjamin Franklin re-enactor; a theatrical trunk filled with costumes for kids and adults to dress up like Franklin with shirts, vests, bifocals, wigs and tricorner hats; and give-aways like temporary tattoos and flashy pins featuring Franklin.

Joining the celebration will be the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, music by the Fifes and Drums of the Delaware Militia and re-enactors from the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment. And if that isn’t enough, cherry pie will be served at the close of the program.

The letter the President Washington re-enactor will read was sent to Mikveh Israel and Jewish congregations in Charleston, New York and Richmond in 1790 after they wrote to congratulate him following his inauguration. In his reply Washington wrote, "The liberality of sentiment towards each other, which marks every political and religious denomination of men in this Country, stands unparalleled in the history of nations."

Program participants can also visit the free NMAJH exhibition, “Benjamin Franklin and Religious Liberty,” which examines Jewish life in the eighteenth century and illustrates Franklin’s key role in forging a pluralistic America. The free Presidents’ Day and George Washington Birthday celebration is co-sponsored by Congregation Mikveh Israel, which shares its location with the Museum. The Museum is located at Independence Mall East, 55 North 5th Street, Philadelphia.

The National Museum of American Jewish History presents educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore and celebrate the history of Jews in America. For more information, contact the Museum at 215-923-3811 or visit www.nmajh.org.


FOR ART, CONTACT JAY NACHMAN AT 215-923-5978, OR BY EMAIL AT JNACHMAN@NMAJH.ORG