National Museum of American Jewish History In Philadelphia To Honor Magicians Houdini And David Copperfield

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia-based National Museum of American Jewish History will honor two men who entertained the world with their magic.

The museum announced on Thursday it will induct illusionists Harry Houdini and David Copperfield into its hall of fame on Dec. 12. The museum says the award recognizes the achievements and contributions of American Jews “who share and exemplify the ideals of the stories explored in the museum.” Houdini was born Erik Weisz in Hungary in 1874 and came to America when he was 4 years old. The son of a rabbi, he toured the U.S. and the world as a magician until his death in 1926 at age 52.

Copperfield, 64, was born David Kotkin in New Jersey. He has earned 21 Emmy Awards, and will accept the honor from his International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts in Las Vegas. “From immigrant Harry Houdini to first-generation American David Copperfield, this event clearly demonstrates what’s possible when individuals are simply given the chance to be great,” said museum trustee Sharon Tobin Kestenbaum. Previous recipients of the museum’s award include the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and director Steven Spielberg.

National Museum Of American Jewish History Explores Successful Human Rights Campaign In Power Of Protest: The Movement To Free Soviet Jews

Panel Exhibition on view through March 15, 2020

Traveling exhibition Power of Protest: The Movement to Free Soviet Jews has returned to the National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH), where the exhibition was created. Power of Protest explores one of the most successful human rights campaigns to date. The panel exhibition showcases Americans’ efforts in the late 1960s through 1990 to free refuseniks—Jews who lived in the Soviet Union and were denied the rights to live freely, practice Judaism, or leave the country due to their religion. It is on view at NMAJH through March 15, 2020 and is included in free admission.

“The successful movement to free Soviet Jews has compelling connections to modern-day advocacy, highlighting how grassroots efforts can have an enormous impact. This exhibition serves as a reminder of how individuals can help preserve, protect, and expand America’s unique promise of religious freedom, even for individuals on the other side of the world,” says Dr. Josh Perelman, NMAJH chief curator and director of exhibitions and interpretation.

Power of Protest: The Movement to Free Soviet Jews walks visitors through the human rights campaign that took place on behalf of Soviet Jews, one that brought together organizations, student activists, community leaders, and thousands of individuals—and reached the highest echelons of the American government. Americans staged public demonstrations across the country, held massive rallies, and called for politicians to speak out. The exhibition celebrates the struggles and successes of this movement, as well as the experiences of Jewish emigrants from the U.S.S.R. who came to the United States and have contributed in countless ways to American society and culture. Their stories of courage offer meaningful opportunities for conversations and activism surrounding immigration, the reception of refugees, and the continuing limits on political and religious freedom placed on minorities around the world.

Power of Protest: The Movement to Free Soviet Jews highlights stories of everyday Americans who performed extraordinary acts of bravery to help Soviet Jews, from Philadelphians Elaine and David Ravich who smuggled out tape recordings of conversations during their 1978 visit to the Soviet Union, to Leslie Schaffer of Reno, Nevada who used gum wrappers to discreetly transport information about refuseniks in 1982, to Constance and Joseph Smukler of Philadelphia who helped several well-known Soviet Jews win their freedom. Visitors will learn about individual refuseniks, from human rights activist and Israeli politician Natan Sharansky to Google co-founder Sergey Brin. The exhibition features a number of powerful graphics, rather than physical artifacts. A handbill advertising a performance by musician Mary Travers—of Peter, Paul, and Mary—at a 1984 rally for Soviet Jewry represents the singers, musicians, and artists who raised their voices in protest. A 1981 letter written by Sheryl Sandberg (now COO of Facebook) to her bat mitzvah “twin” exemplifies the thousands of American children who “twinned” their Jewish coming-of-age ceremonies with Soviet peers denied that experience. Inspired by protest buttons popular across movements around the world, visitors can take home a pin featuring the hashtag #PowerofProtest to celebrate the exhibition, commemorate the historic milestone, and highlight the contemporary significance of fighting for one’s beliefs.

Power of Protest: The Movement to Free Soviet Jews is a small-scale, free-standing exhibition consisting of 11 panels designed to travel—giving small galleries, libraries, synagogues, Jewish community centers, universities, and historic societies across the country the opportunity to revisit and raise awareness of this important movement. To inquire about bringing the panel exhibition to your community, contact exhibitions@nmajh.org.

For more information, visit NMAJH.org/sovietjews.

The National Museum of American Jewish History was awarded a generous $150,000 grant by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to support the exhibition’s development. The grant is part of IMLS’s Museums for America program, which backs projects that strengthen the ability of an individual museum to serve its public.

The exhibition was organized by the National Museum of American Jewish History’s Chief Curator, Director of Exhibitions and Interpretation Josh Perelman and former content coordinator Yigal Kotler. The exhibition’s advisory committee includes Gal Beckerman (historian, journalist, and author), Sandra Cahn (Co-Founder, Limmud FSU), Margy-Ruth Davis (Founder and Chair, Perry Davis Associates; Former Executive Director, Greater New York Conference on Soviet Jewry), Marina Furman (Regional Director, Jewish National Fund), Zvi Gitelman (Preston R. Tisch Professor of Judaic Studies, University of Michigan), Jerry Goodman (Founding Executive Director, National Conference on Soviet Jewry), Malcolm Hoenlein (Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; Founding Executive Director, Greater New York Conference on Soviet Jewry), Pamela Nadell (Patrick Clendenen Chair in Women's and Gender History and Director of the Jewish Studies Program, American University), Jonathan Sarna (NMAJH’s Chief Historian; University Professor and Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History, Brandeis University), Roman Shmulenson (Executive Director, Council of Jewish Emigre Community Organizations), David Shneer (Louis P. Singer Endowed Chair in Jewish History, University of Colorado), Lance Sussman (Rabbi at Congregation Keneseth Israel), and Beth Wenger (Moritz and Josephine Berg Professor of History and Chair of the History Department, University of Pennsylvania).

Power of Protest was created by the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. The exhibition is supported, in part, through a Museums for America grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a government agency dedicated to advancing innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Additional support provided by Alkemy X, the Charlestein Family in memory of Malvina and Morton Charlestein, and the Genesis Philanthropy Group.
 

 

About the National Museum of American Jewish History
The National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH), located on historic Independence Mall in Philadelphia, brings to life the more than 360-year history of Jews in America. Tracing the stories of how Jewish immigrants became Jewish Americans, the Museum invites visitors of all backgrounds to share their own stories and reflect on how their histories and identities shape and are shaped by the American experience. An open door for all, NMAJH honors the past and contributes to a better future by sharing the power of imagination and ideas, culture and community, leadership and service, in ways that turn inspiration into action.

Visiting NMAJH
NMAJH is located at 101 South Independence Mall East at the corner of Fifth and Market Streets in Philadelphia. Museum hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am - 5:30 pm. NMAJH is closed most Mondays, including federal holidays and some Jewish holidays. Admission to the core exhibition is free through February 2020. Children 12 and under, Museum Members, and active military with ID are always free. For more information on hours and admission, visit NMAJH.org or call 215.923.3811. Connect with the Museum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

National Museum Of American Jewish History To Present East Coast Premiere Of NOTORIOUS RBG The Life and Times Of Ruth Bader Ginsburg October 4, 2019 – January 12, 2020

First museum retrospective of the Supreme Court Justice–turned–cultural icon,

based upon the Internet phenomenon and bestselling book

PHILADELPHIA, PA—The National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH) will be the premier East Coast venue for Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first-ever exhibition about the trailblazing associate justice. Based on the New York Times bestselling book of the same name and created in partnership with its authors, Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik, the exhibition will take a deeply personal journey through historic change with an entertaining yet rigorous look at the life and work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) and the Supreme Court. It will also examine her varied roles as a student, life partner, mother, change-making lawyer, judge, women’s rights pioneer, and pop culture icon. Notorious RBG will be on view at NMAJH from October 4, 2019 through January 12, 2020. Presenting this special exhibit will kick off our celebration of the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote.

Justice Ginsburg’s life and nomination to the Court are not new to NMAJH. She has been featured in the Museum’s core exhibition since our grand re-opening in 2010 as part of our exploration of contemporary Jewish life in America and has been a longstanding Museum member. In addition to exploring her work as a Supreme Court Justice, the special exhibition delves into her roles as student, wife, mother, lawyer, trailblazer—and pop culture icon. NMAJH’s location on Independence Mall provides the unique and ideal backdrop for exploring Justice Ginsburg’s story and the circumstances that brought her to the Court. It places the Justice’s story at the very location where the United States was founded and the US Constitution established the Supreme Court.

“Notorious RBG continues NMAJH’s commitment to marginalized voices whose stories give us richer understanding of the American experience. In Sara Berman’s Closet, we placed a women’s closet on Independence Mall, putting it in conversation with its male-centered monuments and offering a new perspective on immigration and making a life in America. This fall, I am thrilled to celebrate Justice Ginsburg’s groundbreaking career as an activist, advocate, icon, and the first Jewish woman to serve on the Supreme Court,” says Josh Perelman, PhD, Chief Curator and Director of Exhibitions and Interpretation.  “Justice Ginsburg’s life and career are an essential reminder that the freedoms promised here in Philadelphia are the right of every person in the country.”

The exhibition Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg was organized by the Skirball Cultural Center, in Los Angeles. Through archival photographs and documents, historical artifacts, contemporary art, media stations, and gallery interactives, it explores the American legal system and civil rights movements through the lens of Justice Ginsburg’s personal experiences and public service. Like the book, it tells the parallel stories of her remarkable life and the efforts she joined to expand “We the People” to include those long left out of the Constitution’s promises.

Justice Ginsburg acquired the nickname “Notorious RBG” after a series of fiery, record-breaking dissents she gave from the Supreme Court bench in 2013. Most vividly, she protested the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, comparing the decision to “throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.” Ginsburg’s brave and bracing voice inspired Americans dismayed by the court’s rulings, and moved then-NYU law student Shana Knizhnik to create the Notorious RBG tumblr, referencing  rap star Notorious B.I.G. In homage to Notorious B.I.G., the exhibition section titles are inspired by his lyrics.

No other Justice, however scrutinized or respected, has so captured the public’s imagination. Her every utterance is clickbait, and since 2013 there have been thousands of homemade RBG costumes, cocktails, ice cream flavors, and more. Comedian Kate McKinnon made her a recurring Saturday Night Live character, and Felicity Jones has played her in the 2018 biopic, On the Basis of Sex. The 2015 book Notorious RBG is a runaway success and three other Ginsburg-related books have gone on to become bestsellers. The adoring portrayal of a woman like RBG as both fierce and knowing “is a crucial expansion of the American imagination with regard to powerful women,” wrote feminist author Rebecca Traister.

The exhibition marries immersive 3-dimensional environments with historic artifacts to bring key moments in Justice Ginsburg’s personal and professional story to life. These environments will bring key moments to life, such as recreations of Justice Ginsburg’s childhood Brooklyn apartment and of the Supreme Court bench, where visitors can take a seat and imagine making their own opinions heard. Visitors will also gain insight into RBG’s marriage to Martin “Marty” Ginsburg, her partner of more than fifty years, through family snapshots and other materials from their life together, including some of Marty’s favorite recipes as the accomplished amateur chef of the Ginsburg household. Finally, reflecting RBG’s effect on pop culture, Notorious RBG will include contemporary art and expression that she has inspired, by such artists as Maira Kalman and Ari Richter.

The exhibition is narrated through a combination of the Justice’s writings, opinions, and interviews. Along with objects linked to Justice Ginsburg and the Supreme Court, visitors to the exhibition will tour the whimsical yet powerful world of Notorious RBG memes, fan art, and parody – from a cartoon action figure named Wrath Hover Ginsbot to renderings of the Justice’s likeness on t-shirts, nail decals, and even as tattoos.

 

For more information, visit nmajh.org/RBG.

The exhibition Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is organized by the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles. It is made possible by support from the following Lead Donor:

Lynda and Stewart Resnick – The Wonderful Company

Along with generous support from the following donors:

Angell Foundation

Engaging the Senses Foundation

Rebekah and Howard Farber

Karsh Family Foundation

Women for Justice and [t]Ruth

This exhibition was made possible thanks to the generous support of one of the great many admirers of RBG. 

About the National Museum of American Jewish History
The National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH), located on historic Independence Mall in Philadelphia, brings to life the more than 360-year history of Jews in America. Tracing the stories of how Jewish immigrants became Jewish Americans, the Museum invites visitors of all backgrounds to share their own stories and reflect on how their histories and identities shape and are shaped by the American experience. An open door for all, NMAJH honors the past and contributes to a better future by sharing the power of imagination and ideas, culture and community, leadership and service, in ways that turn inspiration into action.

Visiting NMAJH
NMAJH is located at 101 South Independence Mall East at the corner of Fifth and Market Streets in Philadelphia. Museum hours are Wednesday to Friday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am - 5:30 pm. Museum admission is $15.00 for adults, $13.00 for senior citizens and youth, free for children 12 and under, Museum Members, and active military with ID; reduced prices available if purchased online. Connect with the Museum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For more information, visit NMAJH.org or call 215.923.3811.

About the Skirball 
The Skirball Cultural Center is a place of meeting guided by the Jewish tradition of welcoming the stranger and inspired by the American democratic ideals of freedom and equality. We welcome people of all communities and generations to participate in cultural experiences that celebrate discovery and hope, foster human connections, and call upon us to help build a more just society. For general information, the public may call (310) 440-4500 or visit skirball.org.

Free Admission In July 2019 At National Museum Of American Jewish History In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA—The National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH) is pleased to announce free admission for all visitors throughout the month of July, thanks to the support of Parkway Corporation.

Free admission includes complimentary access to the Museum’s Core Exhibition highlighting more than 360 years of life in America, told through a Jewish lens, plus complimentary access to the current special exhibition, Sara Berman’s Closet.

In addition to regular Museum hours, NMAJH will now be open Mondays from 10am–5pm starting on July 8, and open late on Thursdays, from 10am-7pm, starting July 11.

“This year the Museum will be free for the entire month of July! Come and share the gratitude we have for our freedoms and the opportunities they provide all of us. Celebrate your ‘Only in America’ story by learning about our ‘Only in America’ story,” says NMAJH Board Chair, Phil Darivoff.

Parkway Corporation’s Chairman and NMAJH Trustee, Joe Zuritsky says, “Tourists and local residents come to Independence Mall, especially in July, to explore America’s founding through our nation’s most treasured buildings and artifacts. The National Museum of American Jewish History helps bring that history to life through the specific but universal stories of how an immigrant community and religious minority shaped, and was shaped, by this country.”

Parkway Corporation’s support is making free admission in July possible.

The Museum is thrilled to feature extraordinary original documents and images from defining moments in American history that speak to the ideal of freedom:

 George Washington’s handwritten 1789 proclamation establishing November 26 as a national day of thanksgiving. Washington celebrated the “tranquility, union, and plenty” that had accompanied Constitution’s ratification, highlighting “the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed.”

These words foreshadow Washington’s historic 1790 letter to the Jewish community of Newport in which he bravely proclaimed that the nation’s new government would give “to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance,” and quoted the prophet Micah to assure “the Children of the Stock of Abraham” all Americans “shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.”

 And they are recalled in a signed copy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms Speech, his 1941 State of the Union Address – on view at NMAJH for the first time – in which he declared that all people had a right to the freedom of speech, the freedom of worship, the freedom from want, and the freedom from fear.

 Roosevelt’s speech will be accompanied by original printings of the four iconic Norman Rockwell posters depicting each of the four freedoms, later reproduced in the Saturday Evening Post. According to a 1945 New Yorker article, these images were “received by the public with more enthusiasm, perhaps, than any other paintings in the history of American art.”

FDR’s speech and Rockwell’s posters will be displayed on the Museum’s first floor along with a visitor-centered interactive asking visitors to suggest what they believe should be a fifth freedom. “These documents and images vividly illustrate our nation’s essential values,” states Dr. Josh Perelman, Chief Curator and Director of Exhibitions and Interpretation, “and remind us about our roles as ensuring they are extended to all, now and in the future.”

On July 4, in conjunction with Wawa Welcome America, visitors are invited to celebrate Independence Day here at NMAJH. Visitors can watch Philadelphia’s 4^thof July parade from the Museum’s fifth floor terrace with sweeping views of Independence Mall, and enjoy interactive gallery talks, story time, arts and crafts projects, and meet celebrated artists Maira Kalman and Alex Kalman, who created the Museum’s buoyant current special exhibition, Sara Berman’s Closet, about Sara’s journey from Belarus to Tel Aviv to New York and making a life of meaning.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Free Admission throughout July
Admission is free for all visitors during the month of July, and includes complimentary access to the Museum’s core exhibition highlighting more than 360 years of life in America told through a Jewish lens and complimentary access to current exhibition, Sara Berman’s Closet. Advanced tickets are not required but recommended. To reserve, nmajh.org/letfreedomring.

Visitor Guides are available in five languages at the Museum and online. A new guide for July will be available in three languages.

Throughout the Summer
“Sara Berman was wild about Fred Astaire and watched all his movies.” Enjoy drop-in screenings of Sara Berman’s favorite Fred Astaire and Danny Kaye films. For dates, nmajh.org/sbc.

For more information, visit nmajh.org.

Summer And Fall 2018 At The National Museum Of American Jewish History In Philadelphia

Free Days at NMAJH offer perfect time to see Bernsteinbefore it closes on September 2 FREE FRIDAY AFTERNOONS  The Museum is proud to offer free admission on Friday afternoons from 1 to 5 pm through August 24. Free Friday afternoons are part of a special initiative to make NMAJH accessible to all thanks to a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities towardsLeonard Bernstein: The Power of Music.LEARN MORE BLUE STAR  As a Blue Star Museum, we offer free admission to the nation's active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. LEARN MORE  LENNY'S BIRTHDAY   The Museum will be open and FREE on Saturday, August 25 from 10 am to 5:30 pm on what would have been musical icon Leonard Bernstein's 100th birthday. Visitors will have access to the entire Museum as the special exhibition Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music enters its final week on view. LEARN MORE  Bernstein Updates YOUNG FRIENDS BIRTHDAY BASH On Saturday, August 25, the Young Friends of NMAJH will gather for their annual summer party! This year the Young Friends are celebrating Lenny's 100th birthday from 8 pm to midnight with a night full of music, dancing, and a late night view of the special exhibition Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music. Drinks and light fare are included with your ticket. #Bernsteinat100 LEARN MORE The mission of the Young Friends of NMAJH is to inspire and involve the young professional community (ages 21-40) of Greater Philadelphia through social, educational, networking, and philanthropic programming celebrating American Jewish history and culture. NMAJH'S BERNSTEIN IN THE NEWS Read some of our press features below: USA Today Online, The Best Museum Exhibits in the USA for Summer 2018, June 4 Times of Israel, The Art of Summer, June 12 WNET, NYC Arts, Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music, June 21 Keep Your Flip Flops On, But Get Excited for Fall Fun UPCOMING EXHIBITION  We are delighted to announce that the The Art of Rube Goldberg will open on October 12! This special exhibition celebrates the groundbreaking artwork of the one-and-only Rube Goldberg (1883 - 1970), one of the most influential and prolific cartoon illustrators of the 20th century. Also a Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist, Rube Goldberg is best known for his zany and fun invention drawings. You won't want to miss this unique chance to get to know the man behind the machine with an intimate and whimsical look into the life and legacy of one of the keenest and wittiest observers of modern times. The Art of Rube Goldberg was conceived by Creighton Michael; developed in cooperation with Heirs of Rube Goldberg, LLC, NY, NY; and curated by Max Weintraub. Tour organized by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC. SECOND ANNUAL SIGNATURE GOLF CLASSIC Join us for a beautiful fall day on the links! Monday, October 8 is our Second Annual Signature Golf Classic at White Manor Country Club in Malvern. The tournament is co-chaired by Zach Golen, Michael Swift, and Alex Weiner. Awards will be presented to the first and second place teams, and to various other contest winners in this four-person scramble. Become a sponsor, register as a foursome, or a single player. LEARN MORE What We've Been Up To AMAZING JULY 4th AT THE MUSEUM Yesterday, on Independence Day, the Museum welcomed more than 3,000 visitors for FREE! Visitors explored an original letter written by George Washington to the Jewish Community of Newport, Rhode Island, and enjoyed interactive gallery talks, story time, and Independence Day-themed arts and crafts projects. In partnership with Wawa Welcome America.   SOCIAL MEDIA DAY On June 28 the Museum hosted Slice Communications Annual Social Media Day. More than 200 thought leaders and influencers gathered for one of the world's premier conferences for social media and digital marketing professionals and honed their skills in more than 25 sessions. If you're thinking about hosting a conference or professional development gathering, the Museum offers flexible gathering spaces with plenty of room for anything from a large seminar to intimate breakout spaces. LEARN MORE It's Never Too Late (or Too Early) to Book Your Group Visit Take advantage of discounted pricing and private tours for groups of 15 or more. Call Beth at 215.923.3811 ext. 141 or email groups@nmajh.org today. With only two months remaining to explore our exhibition that the New York Times called one of "the most notable homages to Mr. Bernstein" among the centennial celebrations, be sure to book your group visit today! Limited dates remain between now and September 2 when the exhibition closes. The Art of Rube Goldberg will be on view October 12, 2018 through January 21, 2019. This exhibition is the perfect opportunity to learn about the 'man behind the machine' -- also a Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist.  Sure to educate and inspire artists and inventors of any age.   The Museum's core exhibition, on view year round, offers visitors the chance to explore more than 360 years of American history through the lens of Jewish experience -- take a journey through American history like never before with our skilled guides.   "Our trip was filled with wonder." - group leader from Oceanside, NY, May 2018 We'd love to welcome your group to the Museum! LEARN MORE  NMAJH on the Road    EXHIBITIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY Chasing Dreams: Baseball and Becoming American - Breman Museum in Atlanta, GA through July 15  Chasing Dreams: Baseball and Becoming American pop-up - Katz Center in Margate, NJ August 8 through September 20 1917: How One Year Changed the World - National WWI Museum in Kansas City, MO through October 29 Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music - Brandeis University in Boston, MA this fall You've Made NMAJH a Top 10 "Thing to Do" on TripAdvisor!   A recent TripAdvisor Reviewer from San Francisco writes: "This was my favorite part of my visit to Philadelphia. The building is great, the exhibits are great and the staff is super friendly. I learned quite a bit about American Jewish history which surprised me as I thought I knew pretty much everything there was to know." Thank you for all of your wonderful feedback. We're proud to be among the top 10 things to do in Philadelphia on TripAdvisor! Have you recently visited the Museum? For a chance to have your experience featured in an upcoming newsletter add your review to TripAdvisor today by clicking here. STAY CONNECTED: