Museum Director's Blog

Two New Documentaries

2011-11-15T17:30:00.002-05:00

I will be in two major documentary films, both premiering this evening at 9:00 pm. One, Elusive Justice, by Jonathan Silvers, will be on PBS (check you local listings) and was the subject of a glowing review in last Friday's Wall Street Journal. The other, a project of Creative Differences, was reviewed in this morning's New York Times and will air on The History Channel.

Polish Medal

2011-10-04T12:38:00.000-04:00

Knight's Cross Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland I was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland last week by the Predisent of Poland at the Polish Consulate in New York City. Needless to say, this was a high honor and big surprise. The award was the result of my work with the Museum's Auschwitz Jewish Center in Oswiecim and its contribution to

Acorns

2011-09-11T13:34:00.002-04:00

At least two of the dwarf chestnut oak trees in Andy Goldsworthy’s Garden of Stones, the Museum’s Memorial Garden, produced their first acorns recently. I discovered them late last week while giving a tour to a visitor. We had been told that the trees would produce acorns years earlier, and for several autumns, I searched carefully. After a while, I simply gave up the

Perfect Storm

2011-08-30T17:55:00.000-04:00

The impact of Irene was predicted to be especially threatening for us – arguably one of the most vulnerable buildings in lower Manhattan. Meetings at Battery Park City Authority on Friday morning imparted the warning of an 8 to 12 foot surge combined with the effects of heavy rain, high tide, and a full moon, which led us to take significant precautions against the storm.

Annual Gathering of Remembrance

2011-05-02T18:50:00.000-04:00

Annual Gathering of Remembrance, Temple Emanu-El (photo by Melanie Einzig) Yesterday we held our annual Holocaust commemoration day with more than 2000 people in attendance. The following are the remarks that I delivered: Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, I welcome you to this annual gathering,

Two Books

2011-03-27T12:08:00.000-04:00

Two books which we were involved in arrived at the Museum last week, hot off the presses. Last Folio: Textures of Jewish Life in Slovakia, published by Indiana University Press in record time -- less than two months -- accompanies our newest exhibition, which opened this week. Recipes Remembered: A Celebration of Survival, a wonderful cookbook by June Hersh and published by Ruder Finn, has

March 16

2011-03-17T15:05:00.000-04:00

Excerpt from Document Reproduced in Justice Department Report on Mengele Yesterday we held our 12th Annual Fanya Heller Conference for Educators on the subject, The Medical Profession and the Holocaust. The two hundred or so teachers had the opportunity not only to hear Fanya Heller discuss her own experience during the Holocaust, but also to listen to two scholars on the subject, Dr.

Hannah

2010-10-14T09:33:00.004-04:00

Hannah Senesh Self-Portrait (Courtesy of the Senesh Family) We opened our wonderful new Special Exhibition on Tuesday. Here are my introductory remarks: I want to welcome you to this opening celebration of our newest special exhibition, Fire in My Heart: The Story of Hannah Senesh. I am fond of saying that our Museum – a museum about 20th Century Jewish History and the Holocaust --

A Lovely Evening in Sagaponack

2010-08-23T18:34:00.000-04:00

The Rennert's Lovely Dining room We were privileged and honored to be the focus of a remarkable benefit dinner hosted by Inge and Ira Rennert at their magnificent home in Sagaponack,NY on August 8. The theme of the dinner was inspired by our special exhibition, Project Mah Jongg, and the evening was punctuated with Asian-accented decor and delicious menu. We were so pleased that so many

The Visit of Wally

2010-07-23T11:49:00.000-04:00

Egon Schiele (1890 - 1918) Portrait of Wally Neuzil, 1912 Leopold Museum, Vienna As you may have read, the disposition of Egon Schiele’s Portrait of Wally has been settled. The Leopold Foundation in Vienna will pay the estate of Lea Bondi Jaray $19 million, and the painting will be returned to the Leopold Museum in Vienna. However, according to the terms of the

New Americans

2010-05-28T16:08:00.006-04:00

Phong Thanh Nguyen, Franklin Manuel Sans, and Kens Germain We hosted a citizenship ceremony at the Museum yesterday, during which 127 new citizens were sworn in. These newest Americans, coming from 47 different countries, took their oath of citizenship from Federal Judge, Robert Katzmann. I had the distinct privilege and honor

Project Mah Jongg

2010-05-05T18:17:00.007-04:00

Illustration by Christoph Niemann for Mah Jongg: Crak, Bam, Dot, a 2wice Books publication We opened Project Mah Jongg earlier in the week. It was, by far, the most fun we have had at any Museum opening and included the debut of a commissioned cocktail, the Mah Jongg Martini. I include below an excerpt from my remarks at the opening which

Traces of Memory

2010-03-17T11:15:00.006-04:00

Installing Traces of Memory In the fall of 2005, I visited Krakow for the first time in nearly twenty years. Poland occupied the chair of the International Task Force for Cooperation of Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research, and I was a member of the US Delegation. My previous trips to Krakow were in connection with my work at the Office

Holocaust Commemoration

2010-01-27T13:31:00.001-05:00

Ban Kee Moon Opening the Exhibition at the United Nations Today is the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. This day has been chosen by many countries, and by the United Nations, to commemorate victims of the Holocaust. To mark the occasion, the UN has orchestrated a series of events at the headquarters in New York. Last night, I attended the opening of a small exhibition

Kennedy Assassination

2009-11-24T12:34:00.001-05:00

This past Sunday, November 22nd, my thoughts turned as they do each year to that day in 1963 when President Kennedy was murdered. I was in the sixth grade and can remember clearly that I was in class when one of the teachers came in with a concerned face and reported that the president had been shot. We left class, and I can remember watching Walter Cronkite (on one of those big

The Morgenthaus

2009-11-13T14:10:00.003-05:00

The Morgenthaus: Henry Sr., Henry Jr., Joan, Henry III, Robert We held our press preview this morning for our newest special exhibition, The Morgenthaus: A Legacy of Service, which opens to the public on Monday, November 16th Visit our Exhibition Website to discover more about this remarkable family and their contribution. Here are my remarks from this morning's event: I

Kristallnacht and the Return of a Stolen Bible

2009-11-10T07:13:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, we hosted an event that saw the return of a 16th century bible to the Jewish community of Vienna, from which it was looted 71 years ago on Kristallnacht. Here are my introductory remarks at the ceremony: I want to welcome you to the Museum and to this important event that marks the return of a priceless book to its rightful owners after more than seven decades.

The Berlin Wall: Twenty Years

2009-11-09T15:09:00.004-05:00

Fragment of the Berlin Wall Over the weekend, I attended a reunion of Americans (Army, State Department, civilians) who were present in Berlin when the wall fell twenty years ago. I saw many old friends and colleague, and my memories flew back to that most exciting and surreal night. I had a front-row seat at one of the most remarkable events in modern history. The fall of the wall and

Fred Gottschalk

2009-09-14T18:54:00.003-04:00

Fred Gottschalk and DGM, Spring 2001 (Photo by Melanie Einzig) Dr. Alfred Gottschalk died on Saturday after a long struggle to recover from injuries that he received in an automobile accident last fall. I attended his funeral today at the Plum Street Temple in Cincinnati. Fred was my boss for a number of months when I first arrived at the Museum. He had

September 11th

2009-09-11T12:40:00.002-04:00

View From My Apartment Window It's impossible today not to focus on memories, and my mind keeps circling back to an event that we held at the Museum in early 2002 for the community to offer thoughts on healing after 9/11. Here are the remarks that I delivered at that emotional event: Remembering and rebuilding represent the essential themes of this Museum. Carefully carved

70 Years Ago...

2009-09-01T17:44:00.007-04:00

German soldiers prepare to enter Poland World War II began seventy years ago today with the German invasion of Poland, and the world was forever changed. I recall that on the 50th anniversary -- 20 years ago -- (I was living in Berlin and serving as the Director of the Berlin Document Center) I was invited to participate in an international conference on the start of World War II, which

Goodbye, Irène...

2009-08-27T09:54:00.007-04:00

Irène Némirovsky and her family, August 1939. (Courtesy of IMEC) Seventy years ago the Némirovsky family had no idea of the tragedy that the next years would bring. They were a family intact with successful parents and beloved daughters, who believed that they had every prospect of continuing as they were. The photo above captures the last moments of this family before the beginning

Julia!

2009-08-23T18:47:00.007-04:00

Jonathan Wenk/Columbia Pictures I saw "Julia and Julie" last weekend and was very moved. I suppose my reaction had much to do with my own relationship with Julia Child. I used to joke that I took Julia to bed with me most nights at college -- I meant the book, of course. I read both volumes cover to cover, and I cooked my way through most of the recipes. I also watched her various TV

Inglourious Basterds

2009-08-18T11:06:00.007-04:00

Francois Duhamel/Courtesy of the Weinstein Company We had a sneak preview of Quentin Tarantino's new film, Inglourious Basterds, last week at the Museum. The screening was introduced by Harvey Weinstein, and Tarantino hosted a Q&A after the film joined by Melanie Laurent, the female lead. I will confess that I was nervous about this screening given the nature of our audience and the

90th Birthday

2009-07-31T15:19:00.007-04:00

Robert M. Morgenthau during WWII I attended the 90th birthday party of our Chairman Robert M. Morgenthau last night. It was a wonderful celebration for family and friends. One guest remarked that Morgenthau was one of the few people he knew who had to leave work early to attend his 90th birthday. It is indeed remarkable that "the Boss" is still so active and engaged, not only in his day job

New Homepage Design for JewishGen

2009-07-29T15:36:00.007-04:00

We launched a new design for the JewishGen website homepage this week in advance of the annual meeting of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS), which opens this weekend in Philadelphia. If you haven't visited JewishGen, now would be a good time to try it. There is a special introduction for beginners, and the JewishGen FAQs offer a comprehensive guide to

2009-06-23T10:14:00.002-04:00

Officer Johns (Note: This post was originally published on June 14th, but got lost somehow in the ether...) Yesterday, I had just started my walk. I was in the City by myself (my wife was on an annual weekend retreat with her book group) and was looking forward to an uptempo crossing of the Brooklyn Bridge -- a route that offers a surprising incline and the most dramatic views of Brooklyn

New Life Exhibition

2009-05-20T17:11:00.009-04:00

Henryk Schönker and his Grandson, Ori(Photo by Hamutal Davidl) On May 5, I was in Poland and had the great pleasure of attending the opening of the latest exhibition at the Auschwitz Jewish Center in Oświęcim, which is an affiliate of our Museum. Entitled, New Life, the exhibition is a photographic tribute to Holocaust survivors from Oświęcim, Poland who live in Israel today. The exhibition

Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow

2009-05-01T15:53:00.008-04:00

Ernst Borinski teaching at Tougaloo College, MS, CA 1960. (Photo courtesy Tougaloo College Archives and The Mississippi Department of Archives and History) Last night, we opened our latest special exhibition, Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow: Jewish Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges. It was a very warm event with former students, and the families of professors, from the colleges represented in

Yom Hashoah

2009-04-22T14:51:00.007-04:00

Hsinju Lin and Yenming Chen in the Museum (photo by Melanie Einzig) Here are the short remarks I delivered at the Museum's staff and volunteer Yom Hashoah commemoration: I had a professor in college who used to point out the paradox that people would gather together to carry out an essentially private act – learning. "You can only learn by yourself," he said, "yet you come together to learn.

The Visit of the Cardinals

2009-03-24T13:38:00.006-04:00

Dr. Bernard Lander, Cardinal Vingt-Trois, DGM(AP Photo/Museum of Jewish Heritage and Touro College, Diane Bondareff) I have already written several time about Father Patrick Desbois and his important work. Our exhibition, The Shooting of Jews in Ukraine: Holocaust by Bullets, closed today. Among its last visitors was a delegation of Catholic leaders, who were shown through the exhibition by

The Boss

2009-03-03T13:20:00.005-05:00

Robert M. Morgenthau and David G. Marwell (Photo by Melanie Einzig) We learned last week that Robert M. Morgenthau, the Chairman of the Museum, has decided not to seek reelection and will step down as District Attorney of New York County (Manhattan) at the end of his ninth term in December. The Boss (as he is called), who will turn 90 in July, has been a remarkable force in New York public life

My thoughts on The Reader

2009-02-19T07:59:00.008-05:00

A lot of ink -- and gigabytes -- have been devoted to Steven Daldry's film, The Reader, which is up for a number of Oscars, including Best Picture. Much of what has been written is full of praise, while some is seething in its criticism. Perhaps the most vehement example of the latter is the Slate article by Ron Rosenbaum, which accuses The Reader

Mendelssohn

2009-01-26T17:21:00.004-05:00

We are all very excited about our upcoming concert featuring thirteen never-performed pieces by Felix Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn, who was enormously popular during his lifetime, published only a small fraction of his work before his death at 38. There are a number of factors that explain the surprising fact there are literally hundreds of unpublished, unperformed, and unknown Mendelssohn pieces.

Berlin

2009-01-21T13:43:00.011-05:00

The Steering Committee at the Haus der Wannsee Konferenz (Photo by Eileen Eder) I have just returned from a week in Germany where I attended a conference at the new Bergen-Belsen memorial museum, see Michael Kimmelman's article in today's New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/arts/design/22abro.html?_r=1&ref=arts). The centerpiece of the trip, however, was meeting up with the

Holocaust by Bullets

2008-11-24T17:33:00.008-05:00

Father Patrick Desbois at the Museum We opened our newest special exhibition on Sunday night. Here are the remarks I delivered at the opening: Good evening ladies and gentlemen, my name is David Marwell, and I am the director of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. Opening an exhibition must surely be among a Museum Director’s most welcome responsibilities.

Rosa

2008-11-10T16:49:00.002-05:00

Rosa Strygler at our Generation to Generation Dinner We had our 20th annual Generation to Generation Dinner at the Museum last week and honored Rosa Stryler, our Trustee Emerita, who did so much to help establish the Museum. Rosa is a remarkable woman with a remarkable personal history. The following is an excerpt from my remarks at the dinner. I can’t imagine a better place to honor Rosa or

JewishGen

2008-08-27T13:46:00.012-04:00

I returned from Ireland (no opportunity to post, but I include a photo from the walk here) and went directly to the Conference of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) in Chicago. I attended the conference to announce an exciting new relationship that we have just worked out with Ancestry.com, the commercial genealogical website. The agreement with Ancestry

I was away...

2008-07-30T11:10:00.005-04:00

Moonrise over Lake Winnipesaukee Apologies for the absence of new posts. I was away in New Hampshire for a few days and am terribly occupied with two new exhibitions, which will open at the Museum this fall: Women of Letters: Irène Némerovsky and Suite Française, which has been the subject of several posts, and Holocaust by Bullets, about Father Patrick Desbois and his search for mass

Némirovsky Exhibition

2008-07-09T17:01:00.008-04:00

Sarah Griswold, Exhibitions Project Manager, with the famous valise The artifacts for our exhibition, Woman of Letters: Irène Némirovsky and Suite Française arrived from France recently, the first time any of them (with the exception of the manuscript of Suite Française) has ever been out of France. You can imagine our excitement in unpacking the crates and examining the powerful objects,

Documentary Film

2008-06-22T13:28:00.009-04:00

I have just returned from ten days in Germany, where I was working on a documentary film about the search for and prosecution of Nazi war criminals (working Title: Elusive Justice). I have been working with Jonathan Silvers, the film's director, for the past year or so and joined him and the crew (including the very talented cameraman, Bob Caccamise) in Berlin; from there, we traveled to

Dr. Ruth

2008-06-05T19:15:00.004-04:00

Dr. Ruth hoisted aloft at her party Last night, the Museum was the venue for a remarkable event -- our Trustee, Dr. Ruth Westheimer's 80th birthday party. Ruth and her family hosted their 350+ guests to a night to remember. It was was described by one veteran party-goer as "the best celebration ever." Dr. Ruth wore a beautiful tangerine-colored silk brocade jacket with silk pants.

Imre Hecht

2008-05-16T13:43:00.003-04:00

Imre and Vera Hecht We lost a good friend recently. Imre Hecht died at 98, only a short time after his beloved wife Vera. I delivered these remarks at Imre's funeral on May 4th: I didn’t meet Imre Hecht until he was 90 years old. Now if you first meet someone only after they have lived nine decades, you might expect to encounter a person of significantly diminished capacity. You might

Holocaust Remembrance Day

2008-04-30T17:09:00.004-04:00

We mark this day in a number of meaningful ways at the Museum. One of the most important elements is bringing survivors to our galleries to talk with students and other visitors. These men and women share their wisdom, strength, and life lessons freely with the understanding that their stories will not be forgotten. As more than one student has told us, reading about the Holocaust cannot

"To Return to the Land…”

2008-04-23T13:54:00.005-04:00

Kibbutz Ramat Yohanan, 1943 As we approached the 60th anniversary of Israel’s statehood, the Museum staff thought about how to mark this important anniversary. We could think of no better way to honor the birth of the State of Israel than by showing the powerful images of its struggle and its triumphs. "To Return to the Land…” Paul Goldman’s Photographs of the Birth of Israel does just that

Suite Française.

2008-04-08T13:25:00.005-04:00

Today we had a press conference announcing our upcoming exhibition, which will open on September 24th. Here are the remarks that I delivered this morning: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We are extremely excited and pleased to be able to introduce our upcoming exhibition, Women of Letters: Irene Nemirovsky & Suite Française. We hope to see all of you in September when the exhibition

JewishGen

2008-04-04T17:05:00.005-04:00

(Gift of Ione Steigler) Last week, the Museum moved the offices of its affiliate, JewishGen, from Texas to New York. The move coincided with the departure from JewishGen of its founder and longtime managing director, Susan King (I am including excertps from our recent press release). The move will allow us to integrate JewishGen more intimately with the Museum's programs and mission, and I

Sosúa (again)

2008-03-24T10:18:00.006-04:00

Settlers on the beach The staff continues to be delighted by the response from the Dominican community with regard to our exhibition, Sosúa: A Refuge for Jews in the Dominican Republic, on view through July 25. A wonderful article appeared in the Feb. 21, 2008 edition of The Riverdale Press, “A Haven from the Holocaust in an unlikely place” by N. Clark Judd. (http://www.riverdalepress.com/

Fanya

2008-03-11T15:55:00.004-04:00

One of the great pleasures of working at the Museum has been getting to know remarkable survivors, who dedicate their lives to Holocaust education. One such person, Fanya Gottesfeld Heller, is an asset to the Museum in so many ways. At the Museum and at schools throughout the country, she speaks passionately about her experiences during the war, providing students with honest and frank

Sosúa Exhibition

2008-02-23T17:48:00.008-05:00

We are often told about Jews being turned away from country after country, but last month the Museum opened a new exhibition that will give us the chance to tell a different kind of story. Sosúa: A Refuge for Jews in the Dominican Republic brings to light the rarely-told history of Jews who found a haven, half-a-world away. Despite the indifference and intolerance many Jews faced in Europe

Honorary Degree

2008-01-14T17:53:00.000-05:00

DGM Addressing Graduates at Fontbonne University (Photo: Fontbonne University) In December, I had the rare honor of receiving an honorary degree from Fontbonne University in St. Louis. Fontbonne had just completed an innovative semester dedicated to the exploration of Jewish history and culture, with courses across many disciplines. The entire experience was extremely meaningful and moving

Martin Luther King Day

2008-01-09T14:17:00.000-05:00

Dr. Carolyn Goodman at the Museum Last summer, the Museum lost a longtime friend and inspiration, Dr. Carolyn Goodman. Many of you know her name from her commitment to the Civil Right Movement. In 1964, members of the KKK murdered her son Andrew, along with Michael Schwerner and James Cheney, civil rights workers who had gone down to Mississippi to register Black voters. Following the

Guest Blog: Abby Spilka's Trip to Poland

2007-12-26T12:54:00.000-05:00

My colleague, Abby Spilka, the director of communications for the Museum, recently went to Poland for a week. This was her first trip, and she made a point of sending e-mails almost daily to share her experiences with us in New York. I have asked her to “guest blog” about her trip and share her experiences with you. Guest Blog As David mentioned, I traveled to Poland earlier this month to help

Thou shalt not stand idly by...

2007-12-18T19:39:00.000-05:00

(Photo by Richard Levine) This month we are pleased to announce the launch of two new initiatives to educate students and the public about the crisis in Darfur. The Education Department has created a new workshop for middle and high school students, Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By. As an institution devoted to educating all who walk through its doors about the Holocaust and the universal lessons

Blog from Prague II

2007-12-08T16:50:00.000-05:00

Flags of ITF Member Countries I attended the final Plenary Session of the Czech Chairmanship of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research in Prague. This meeting was also my last as the Chair of the Museums and Memorials Working Group. Beyond the real meanginful work of the Task Force, these meetings provide a useful opportuinity to

Paris

2007-11-18T16:30:00.000-05:00

I traveled to Paris for a remarkably productive several days with my deputy, Ivy Barsky. I was particularly fortunate that my wife Judy could also come along on this trip. Our main activity was working on the Irene Nemirovsky exhibition, which is scheduled to open in New York in June of next year with the title, Woman of Letters: Irene Nemirovsky and Suite Francaise. Ivy, Amy Forman,who will

Amsterdam

2007-11-04T15:02:00.000-05:00

It has been a very busy and hectic time, which explains why I have failed to post for a while. Now with a little time to breathe, I hope to catch up a bit.... At the beginning of November, I was in Amsterdam for a meeting of a special working group of the International Task Force on Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research which was convened to consider how the work of the Task Force

Jewish Resistance Reconsidered

2007-10-23T17:31:00.000-04:00

If you have any interest in Jewish resistance during the Holocaust, plan to come to the Museum on Sunday,October 28 for our symposium, Jewish Resistance Reconsidered. You will have the rare opportunity to hear two towering figures in Holocaust scholarship, Professors Israel Gutman and Yehuda Bauer, who will be traveling from Israel to make rare New York City appearances. This symposium is

Daniel Pearl World Music Days

2007-10-10T14:39:00.000-04:00

Idan Raichel Tonight, we will hold the third in a series of concerts dedicated to the memory of Daniel Pearl and held in conjunction with the Daniel Pearl World Music Days. Israeli Idan Raichel will perform along with Colombian singer/songwriter, Marta Gomez; New African Jazz and Soul artist, Somi; Ethiopian-Israeli singer, Cabra Casay; and percussian master, Itamar Doari. Daniel Pearl's

Ruth Gruber at 96

2007-09-26T16:47:00.000-04:00

Ruth Gruber at the Museum (Photo by Melanie Einzig) One of the genuinely great pleasures of my job has been the opportunity to get to know the legendary Ruth Gruber, and to be able, on occasion, to be in her presence. For those who do not know of Ruth, I have appended excerpts from a recent press release, which outlines her career. Ruth Gruber has led one of the 20th Century's most remarkable

The UN, Iran, and Albania...

2007-09-25T10:42:00.000-04:00

NYPD Security Post with Museum in the Background Every year at the end of September, New York is transformed. The United Nations General Assembly meets, and leaders from around the world come to New York. Located, as we are, across the street from the Ritz Carlton Hotel, our lives are affected each year by the annual migration. For whatever reason, the Ritz is considered an appropriate place for

9/11 and our 10th Anniversary

2007-09-10T12:54:00.000-04:00

The Museum and the World Trade Center (Photo by Peter Goldberg) The Museum was dedicated on September 11, 1997, and this week, along with remembering the sixth anniversary of 9/11, we are marking the tenth anniversary of the Museum. Last week, I received an email from Jonathan Mark, one of the most thoughtful and talented writers at The Jewish Week, and in the entire Anglo-Jewish press, for

Mengele

2007-08-27T12:23:00.000-04:00

Mengele Investigation, Brazil (April, 1986) Readers of The New York Times will have noticed the obituary last week of Dr. Leslie Lukash, former Nassau County medical examiner. Dr. Lukash was one of the team of forensic experts sent to Sao Paulo, Brazil in June of 1985 by the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles to examine the purported remains of Josef Mengele, the notorious Auschwitz

Armenian Genocide

2007-08-22T09:21:00.000-04:00

Museum Program on the Armenian Genocide, 2005 The subject of the Armenian Genocide was in the news over the past few days. The Regional Director of the ADL in Boston, Andrew Tarsy, was fired by the National Director, Abe Foxman, for openly challenging the policy of the ADL to avoid using the term, "genocide," in connection with the Armenian tragedy. The precipating event involved intense

Remembering Raul Hilberg

2007-08-16T16:13:00.000-04:00

The Jewish Week asked me to write a tribute to Raul Hilberg. The following, an edited and expanded version of the previous blog, was published today, in the August 17th issue. Documenting The Horror Remembering the pioneering work, and presence, of Raul Hilberg. David G. Marwell - Special To The Jewish Week When I learned last week that professor Raul Hilberg had died from lung cancer

Raul Hilberg, 1926-2007

2007-08-07T10:21:00.000-04:00

Raul Hilberg at the Museum, January 2005 I first encountered Raul Hilberg in the form of his magisterial book, The Destruction of the European Jews, which I had been assigned -- all 790 pages -- as the reading for a particular week in a seminar I took in my junior year of college in the spring of 1972. The two-inch-thick-plus paperback, which cost $3.95, is on my bookshelf today, and I still

Visits to the Camps

2007-07-19T15:22:00.000-04:00

Treblinka Over four days, we visited Treblinka, Majdanek, and Auschwitz-Birkenau. Each of the sites and memorials have a different history and impact. Treblinka was completely destroyed by the Nazis, and what is left is a stark and powerful memorial on the site of the former camp. A field of stones – each of a different size and shape – representing the destroyed communities occupies the

Krakow Jewish Culture Festival

2007-07-15T15:41:00.000-04:00

[Note: Travel and technical issues have prevented me from maintaining a regular blogging schedule, for which I apologize. Over the next week, I will be posting a number of entries related to the Museum's recent mission to Berlin and Poland with the hope that my delay in getting them out will not lessen their impact or interest.] We were in Krakow for the final day of the Jewish Culture

More Photos from the Mission...

2007-06-27T19:14:00.000-04:00

Checkpoint Charlie Building at the Allied Museum The Reichstag Battle of Berlin Walking Tour Memorial at the Grunewald Train Station

News from the Mission...

2007-06-26T16:48:00.000-04:00

Rosenstrasse Memorial in Berlin Berlin Document Center I'm writing from Berlin to report from our mission. I have been so busy (and so exhausted) that it has been difficult to write, but here are some photos. We have been on the go from the very start,and my only fear is that we have scheduled too many activities. I am gratified that so many of my friends and colleagues received our

The Berlin Document Center

2007-06-19T20:27:00.000-04:00

Guardhouse at Entrance to the BDC Compound As I noted several blogs ago, I will lead a Museum mission to Germany and Poland this summer. In fact I leave for Berlin tomorrow. In preparing for the trip, I was going through some papers at home and found the photographs that I am including in this posting. I was the last director of the Berlin Document Center (BDC), which was one of the most

The Other Promised Land

2007-06-16T11:32:00.000-04:00

Last week, we opened our newest special exhibition, The Other Promised Land: Vacationing, Identity, and the Jewish-American Dream , an exploration of the tradition of Jewish vacationing. Here is an excerpt from the remarks I delivered at the opening: When my colleagues, Ivy Barsky and Lou Levine, and I first saw this exhibition at the Jewish Museum of Maryland last fall, we were immediately

Blog from Prague...

2007-06-09T03:47:00.000-04:00

Jewish Cemetery in Prague I'm in Prague attending a meeting of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research . To learn more about the Task Force, see http://www.holocausttaskforce.org/. This year, I am the Chair of the Museums and Memorials Working Group. Our task this meeting was to examine the question of the identification and marking of

Cadets and Midshipmen

2007-06-03T15:41:00.000-04:00

2007 ASAP Participants in the Garden of Stones We had the kickoff for this year's American Service Academies Program (ASAP). Each summer, we send twelve cadets and midshipmen (four each from West Point, the Air Force Academy, and Annapolis) on a three week study tour to Poland. These remarkable young men and women spend a few days here in New York, a few days in Washington, and then fly to

High School Apprentice Graduation

2007-05-29T19:10:00.000-04:00

2007 MJH High School Apprentices This week, we held the graduation ceremony for our High School Apprentices -- one of my favorite events on the Museum's calendar. Why? Well, first, the kids are simply great -- inquisitive, eager, smart, grateful for the experience. Second, they bring their teachers and their families to share in their achievement. And, third, the whole program serves to

Mission to Berlin and Poland

2007-05-16T16:14:00.000-04:00

Krakow Main Square Last night, we had a gathering at the Museum in advance of our Mission to Berlin and Poland taking place at the end of June. It has been 10 years since the last Mission, and the excitement is palpable. This trip has the potential to be life-changing for members of the Museum family who will be able to see the sites of Jewish culture and the shadows of once thriving Jewish

Yom HaShoah

2007-05-16T13:44:00.000-04:00

Lighting Candles of Remembrance I wanted to let you all know about an extraordinary event that took place at the Museum on April 15th -- Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Commemoration Day). More than 1100 Holocaust survivors and their families braved one of the fiercest storms in modern memory to come to the Museum and take part in the Annual Gathering of Remembrance. I think my report on this