No. 6 Spring/Summer 2001

Diverse Programming Offers LBI Master ‘Something for Everyone’ Catalogue Goes ‘On-Line’ During Center’s Inaugural Year In a major step forward in access to the unique collec- ast approaching the conclu- SYMPOSIUMS tions housed at the Center, the sion of its inaugural year, Leo Baeck Institute master cat- the Center for Jewish AND MAJOR EVENTS alogue is now on-line, accessi- History has emerged as one ble to Internet users throughout of the preeminent sites in Professionals from Jewish museums the world. This catalogue con- New York City for the around the country and abroad gathered sists of the Institute’s archive, Fintellectual exploration of the Jewish for the Annual Conference of the Council library and periodical collec- experience. A diverse program of lec- of American Jewish Museums, hosted at tions. The catalogue can be tures, symposiums, films, concerts and the Center January 21 to 24, 2001. Held accessed through either the other special events—each sponsored in conjunction with the Council of Leo Baeck website by one of the Center’s five partner insti- Archives and Research Libraries in Jewish (www.lbi.org) or through the tutions or by another leading organiza- Studies, the conference featured website of the Center for tion in Jewish life—has entertained and Jewish History (www.cjh.org). Continued on page 2 enlightened thousands of participants The combined library and since the Center’s formal opening to archive collections of the Leo the public in October 2000. Baeck Institute encompass the most comprehensive documen- tation available for the study of the history of German-speaking Jewry. The master catalogue provides information on and descriptions of more than 10,000 archival records, 1,250 memoirs, 70,000 books and 750 periodicals. It also con- tains unique access to the Institute’s Austrian Heritage Collection. The creation of the on-line catalogue was a project

Miller Photography of more than ten years’ dura- A. M. Rosenthal, former executive editor tion that included the retro- and columnist at The New York Times, poses spective conversion of card a question to the panel during “Israel and catalogs. the Arabs: The Illusion of Change.” Professor Elie Wiesel addresses the memorial tribute to his Eminence John Cardinal O’Connor, jointly sponsored at the Center by the American Jewish Historical Society, the Jewish Community Relations Council and UJA-Federation of New York. Continued on page 4 The Center for Jewish History News Spotlight On: Published by the Center for Jewish History 15 West 16th Street New York, NY 10011 212-294-8301 New Acquisitions Fax: 212-294-8302 Web site: www.cjh.org

he American Jewish Historical Society has added a number Board of Directors of personal papers and letters to its archival collections: John Bruce Slovin, Chair Hancock, dated June 24, 1771, to Aaron Lopez, which is Kenneth J. Bialkin, Vice Chair included in the Society’s current exhibit, “Seeing Ourselves”; Erica Jesselson, Vice Chair Salomon Carvalho to Isaac Leeser; a petition signed by Judah P. Joseph Greenberger, Secretary Benjamin; and a printed letter from Daniel L. Peixotto to Isaac Leeser,T dated 1832, regarding fasting during the cholera epidemic. Michael A. Bamberger The Society also has acquired 11 reels of film about the Catskills in New Joseph D. Becker York for its Catskills Institute Archive. The films provide a unique record of George Blumenthal recreational life in the Catskills in the 1950s and 1960s before the decline of Marlene Brill the region and are an example of early home movies in color. Eva Cohn *********** Henry L. Feingold A generous grant from the Irving Tershel Book Fund in Latvian and Baltic Michael Jesselson Jewish Studies has enabled the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research to bolster Leon Levy its collection of Judaica from the former Soviet Union, especially the Baltic Theodore N. Mirvis States of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The YIVO Library has entered into Edgar J. Nathan, 3rd an agreement with MIPP International, a dealer specializing in publications Nancy T. Polevoy from the Baltics, and has added to its collections such works as the exhibition Robert Rifkind catalogue, Vilna Ghetto Posters-Jewish Spiritual The Center for Jewish History Resistance; The Estonian Lois S. Cronholm Folklore Archives; The Great Vice President Synagogue of Vilnius, a detailed description of its Ira Berkowitz Chief Financial Officer architecture and history; Hands Bringing Life and Suzanne Maltz Director of Development Bread, an illustrated work on Lithuanians who risked their Barbara Goldberg lives rescuing Jews during the Director of Public Relations Holocaust; and The Book of Lynne Winters Sorrow, containing illustra- Program Coordinator tions and descriptions of more Michael Winter than 200 sites of the Nazis’ Director of Operations mass murder of Jews.

American Jewish Historical Society Michael Feldberg, Executive Director American Sephardi Federation John Hancock writes to Jewish Vivienne Roumani-Denn, merchant Aaron Lopez, June 24, 1771. (From the collections of the American Executive Director Jewish Historical Society) Leo Baeck Institute Carol Kahn Strauss, Executive Director YIVO Institute For Jewish Research Carl J. Rheins, Executive Director The public facilities at the Center for Jewish History, includ- Yeshiva University Museum ing the auditorium, the Great Hall, the mezzanine and class- Sylvia Herskowitz, Director rooms, are available to rent by organizations and individuals. A recently published brochure provides details on the Center’s rental facilities. For further information and a copy The Center Newsletter is made possible, in part, by of the brochure, please contact Lynne Winters, program coor- The Liman Foundation. dinator, at 212-294-8307. Jessica Weber Design, Inc., NYC Design

12 Continued from page 1 Subsequent lectures sponsored by the American Jewish Historical Society covered diverse topics and periods in a keynote address by Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, the Salo W. American history and included “The Jewish Confederates” Baron Professor of Jewish History, Culture and Society at with author Robert N. Rosen; “President Ulysses S. Grant Columbia University, visits to many of New York’s leading and Anti-Semitism,” presented by Professor John Y. Simon museums, and workshops on such topics as exhibition devel- of Southern Illinois University; John Atlas, author of the opment, issues of conservation, and Holocaust art restitution. recently published Bellow: A Biography, speaking on “Saul February brought to the Center a two-day symposium, Bellow’s Adventures in America”; “President Franklin D. sponsored by Tel-Aviv University, Brandeis University, the Roosevelt and the Holocaust” with Ambassador William American Jewish Committee and the Zalman Shazar Center, Vanden Heuvel, chairman of the Franklin and Eleanor on “Israeli Historical Revisionism: From Left to Right.” Roosevelt Institute; and “President John F. Kennedy: the Some of academia’s leading scholars on Jewish history and Family Legacy and the Jewish Vote” with Kennedy advisor thought, from the United States, Canada and Israel, con- and author Theodore C. Sorenson. vened to discuss and debate, in often controversial and emo- The American Sephardi Federation sponsored a Scholars tional sessions, issues of history, culture and memory. Series, which brought several distinguished speakers to the Against the background of continuing violence in the Center to discuss topics in Sephardic thought and history. Middle East, The New Republic brought together at the On January 10, Professor Nitzhia Shaked of San Francisco Center on April 25 a panel of well-known writers and State University discussed “Maimonides: The Man, The thinkers to debate “Israel and the Arabs: The Illusion of Rabbi, The Philosopher,” and on May 10 Sjimon den- Change.” Panelists included Martin Peretz, chairman and Hollander arrived from the University of Leiden, The editor-in-chief of The New Republic; Leon Wieseltier, literary Netherlands, to speak on “Christianity, Islam and Judaism— editor of The New Republic; Michael Walzer, co-editor of One Man’s Journey.” Dissent and professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies, The Leo Baeck Institute sponsored a number of lectures Princeton University; Mort Zuckerman, editor-in-chief of on a wide range of topics, all touching on its mission as the U.S. News & World Report; and Laurence Grafstein, manag- world’s foremost resource on the history of German- ing director of Gramercy Communications Partners. speaking Jewry. “Art, Music and Education as Strategies for His Eminence John Cardinal O’Connor was warmly Survival: Theresienstadt, 1941–45” was discussed by Anne remembered in a tribute sponsored on May 15 by the E. Dutlinger on March 29; Melinda G. Guttman, professor American Jewish Historical Society, the Jewish Community of speech, theater and media studies, John Jay College, Relations Council and UJA-Federation of New York. spoke on “The Enigma of Anna O: A Biography of Bertha Among those offering reminiscences were His Eminence Pappenheim”; Edwin Black discussed his recent book, Edward Cardinal Egan, former mayor Edward I. Koch, Mrs. IBM and the Holocaust. Mary O’Connor Ward and Elie Wiesel. Yeshiva University Museum sponsored several discus- sions, talks and gallery tours with the artists whose works were featured in exhibitions this year. The Museum also LECTURES hosted Dr. Alan Brill, assistant professor of Jewish mysti- cism at Yeshiva University, for a talk on “Legends and The American Jewish Historical Society started off 2001 Traditions of the 36 Righteous Ones.” with a lecture by Victor Navasky, publisher and editorial director of The Nation and author of Naming Names. Mr. Navasky’s topic was “McCarthy, the Blacklist and American Jews.”

Isabella Rossellini is interviewed by Center film curator Antonio Monda, following the screening of Left Luggage.

Professor Anita Shapira of Tel-Aviv University makes a point to her fel- low panelists (left to right) Professor Itamar Rabinovich, president of Tel- Aviv University, Professor Jehuda Reinharz, president of Brandeis University, and Professor Peter Hudson Shad performs the Rosenblatt, chair of the Institute of music of the Comedian American Jewish-Israeli Relations at Harmonists and The Revelers. the American Jewish Committee, during the opening session of “Israeli Historical Revisionism: Barbara Goldberg From Left to Right.” 2 Lectures sponsored by the YIVO Institute for Jewish University, as the discussant; Left Luggage, sponsored by Research explored many aspects of Jewish history and Yeshiva University Museum and the American Jewish culture and brought numerous outstanding speakers to the Historical Society, with special guest Isabella Rossellini, who Center. On January 30, The Natalie and Mendel Racolin stars in the film; The Kastner Trial, sponsored by the YIVO Memorial Lecture was delivered by Beatrice Lang-Caplan Institute for Jewish Research, accompanied by a discussion of Columbia University on “In the Spirit of Torah and between screenwriter Motti Lerner and Dr. Eric Goldman, Tradition: Orthodox Yiddish Literature in Interwar Poland.” YIVO film curator; Sunshine, sponsored by YIVO Institute In February, Leslie Epstein, director of the Creative Writing for Jewish Research and featuring a talk by its co-screen- Program at Boston University and author of King of the writer, Israel Horovitz; and Nobody’s Business, sponsored Jews, spoke on “Growing Up with Hollywood and the by the American Jewish Historical Society in collaboration Holocaust: Personal Reflections.” Anna Foa, professor of with Image and Identity, a project of the National history at the University of Perugia, Italy, discussed “The Foundation for Jewish Culture, with a grant from the Jews of Europe from the 14th Century to the Present: National Endowment for the Humanities. Identity and Creativity,” while Cynthia Ozick and Sidney Offit dialogued on literature and ideas in a program sponsored by YIVO with the Sholom Aleichem Memorial CONCERTS Foundation. Fanya Gottesfeld Heller, author of Strange and Unexpected Love: A Teenage Girl’s Holocaust Memoirs, The music of Jewish communities throughout the world spoke on “Again and Again: Ensuring the Legacy of the filled the Leo and Julia Forchheimer Auditorium in a program Holocaust,” while Prof. Adam Rubin of Hebrew Union of concerts that journeyed from the Balkans to Broadway. College-Jewish Institute of Religion delivered the Inaugural Highlights of this past season in music included “Two Dina Abramowicz Memorial Lecture, “The Politics of Guitars at a Balkan Banquet” with Flory Jagoda and Tim Yiddish Folklore Collection in Interwar Poland.” Sparks, sponsored by the American Sephardi Federation and Sephardic House; “Hudson Shad: Crossing the Waters” a concert of music of the Comedian Harmonists and The FILM Revelers, sponsored by the Leo Baeck Institute; “Yossi Piamenta in Concert,” presenting songs of the Middle East, The Monday evening film series—which for the spring sponsored by American Sephardi Federation and Sephardic season added matinees—continued to play to a sold-out House; Ofri Eliaz and Sahar Ensemble, sponsored by house. The film series is distinguished in that each presenta- Yeshiva University Museum, Sephardic House and the tion is sponsored by one of the Center’s five partner organi- Office of Cultural Affairs of the Consulate General of Israel zations and relates to its academic mission and is in New York City; “Tell Everyone, Everyone about Us: accompanied by a noted guest speaker and film notes. Artists in Exile,” sponsored by the Leo Baeck Institute and Films presented this past spring included The Comedian Elysium-Between Two Continents with support from the Harmonists: Six Life Stories, sponsored by the Leo Baeck Austrian Cultural Institute, New York, and Lufthansa Institute; Triumph of Survival: A Jew from Hungary, German Airlines; pianist Emily Corbató, who performed the sponsored by YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, with works of Jewish composers ranging from Mendelssohn to Dr. Dennis B. Klein, director of Jewish studies at Kean Gershwin, sponsored by the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and the Sholom Aleichem Memorial Foundation; and the Annual Concert of Contemporary Jewish Music, presented by the American Jewish Historical Society and the American Society for Jewish Music.

The New Republic brought together a panel of prominent jour- nalists and intellectuals to discuss “Israel and the Arabs: The Illusion of Change”: (left to right) Mort Zuckerman, editor-in- THEATER chief, U.S. News & World Report; Leon Wieseltier, literary editor, The New Republic; Michael Walzer, co-editor, Dissent; Laurence Grafstein, managing director, Gramercy Communications While plans are in the works for bringing a regularly Partners; and Martin Peretz, chairman and editor-in-chief, scheduled program of theatrical performances to the The New Republic. Center, the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research with the Sholom Aleichem Memorial Foundation delighted audi- ences this year with two evenings of dramatic readings. On Isaac Alon February 12, theater and film actor Joseph Wiseman joined director/choreographer Pearl Lang to present readings in both English and Yiddish from the works of Sholom Aleichem and Itsik Manger, while on June 6, Winnie the Pooh came to life as Vini-der-pu in readings in Yiddish and English by Leonard Wolf and Suzanne Toren. And, for the second year, Roots and Branches, a non-profit theater com- pany that creates theater out of intergenerational conversa- tions, storytelling and improvisations, held its annual Miller Photography program at the Center.

3 Genealogy Institute Welcomes Researchers in Family History

hom do you call when you want to The Genealogy Institute serves as an introduction to the locate relatives who immigrated to extraordinary partner collections available through the Buenos Aires in 1928—and you don’t Lillian Goldman Reading Room. Yizkor books and lands- read or speak Spanish? Where do you manschaft records at YIVO, family and community histories go when you want to locate the town at the Leo Baeck Institute and military records at the of your grandmother’s birth? What do American Jewish Historical Society are just a few of the rich youW do when you don’t know your great grandfather’s name, primary sources open to researchers at the Center. And via and it is time to name a newborn child? a microfilm loan program with the Church of Latter-Day The Genealogy Institute at the Center for Jewish History Saints Family History Library in Salt Lake City, the largest is the place where individuals can begin a challenging, excit- genealogy library in the world, Genealogy Institute patrons ing and emotional search for their own history. Center can borrow microfilms of vital records, from 19th century Genealogy staff and volunteers can show nearly everyone of Poland for example, and examine them at the Center. Jewish descent how to find information relevant to his or her own history. The Center Genealogy Institute (which can be reached at Every day individuals walk into the Center wondering, “Is 212-294-8324) is open Monday through Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. there anything here for me?” “Where is my history?” Jewish to 5:30 p.m., and Thursday, 12 noon to 8 p.m. The Institute family history research can be daunting and challenging, also is open one Sunday a month from 12:30 to 2 p.m., when with multiple languages and records in different repositories the Jewish Genealogical Society of New York hosts its monthly around the world. Even the multiplicity of databases on the meeting at the Center. The first Thursday of the month features Internet can be overwhelming. a free 20-minute workshop on beginning Jewish family history With a browsable genealogy reference collection, created research. The Institute also welcomes mail, fax and e-mail with financial support and input from the Jewish inquiries; it is preferred that e-mail inquiries be sent through the Genealogical Society of New York, and with on-site public Center’s website, www.cjh.org. computers offering internet access (including free access to Volunteers who can translate Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian and Ancestry.com, a fee-based site), the Genealogy Institute staff other languages are on-site regularly or can be contacted to and volunteers can make taking the first steps in genealogi- assist patrons in translating short letters, postcards and docu- cal research uncomplicated and easy to understand. Fact ments. All basic services are provided free of charge and sheets on frequently asked questions and on the Center’s arrangements may be made for group tours and visits. vast collections introduce its resources and repositories.

Continued from page 1 logue a valuable resource business and public illustrators, architects, as well. records dating back more satirists and graphic Individuals now will be The 70,000-volume than three centuries and designers. The catalogs able to do preliminary library of the Leo Baeck touching upon virtually of the Institute’s photog- research off-site, before Institute is recognized as every aspect of German- raphy and art collections coming to the Center, and the foremost reference Jewish life. A unique col- are not yet included in send LBI archivists and source in its field. It is lection of memoirs, the Internet master cata- librarians a list of the rich in rarities ranging largely unpublished and logue on-line, but are materials they wish to from early 16th century written from 1790 to the available on-site at the access in advance. This writings to volumes sal- present, offers rare Center. will be a great aid to the vaged from famous insights into the lives of *********** many academics and Jewish libraries that were German-speaking Jews The American Sephardi graduate students who confiscated and dispersed from all walks of life. Federation is scheduled come from abroad and by the Nazis. The library Supplementing these to go on-line in the near throughout the United includes a comprehensive collections are the future with its catalogue States to pursue research collection of belles lettres Institute’s holdings of of books, periodicals and in the Institute’s collec- by Jewish writers, exten- 30,000 photographs and genealogical records. The tions. Family historians sive material on anti- an art collection encom- growing collection cur- who wish to avail them- Semitism and more than passing paintings, sculp- rently includes more than selves of the Institute’s 750 periodicals of Jewish tures, drawings, 600 books, 100 periodi- collection of thousands of interest published from watercolors and prints. cals and 50 family histo- family trees, community the 18th to 20th cen- Many are the works of ries and is increasing at records and other related turies. The archives leading German and the rate of 50 book titles genealogical information includes family papers, Austrian artists of the and 25 family histories will find the on-line cata- community histories and past 100 years, including per week. 4 Volunteers Enhance Top Ten List At the Center Shop Visitor Services Looking to read a good Jewish book? Visitors to the Center Shop have made the following selections our top ten bestsellers. eed help finding your seat at a Center concert or film? Usher June Walzer will be happy to assist you. Confused about how to reach the Reading Room on the third floor? Just ask Jerry Rodman seated at the information desk. NSince its inauguration this past fall, the Center’s Volunteer Program has trained and placed 50 men and women in key positions around the building, day and evening, fulfilling a SOME OF number of important functions. THE “TOP Among the first people visitors meet when they visit the TEN” ON Center are the information docents. They sit at the information DISPLAY AT THE desk in the 16th Street lobby, greeting and orienting visitors CENTER and distributing literature about the Center and the five part- Barbara Goldberg SHOP. ner organizations. The information desk currently is staffed Tuesday through Thursday, and Sunday will be added in the Jewish Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia near future. Edited by Paula E. Hyman and Deborah Dash Moore Another group of volunteers works as docents in the recep- American Jewish Historical Society/ tion area for the Reading Room and the Center Genealogy Routledge $79.95 Institute. They greet and register visitors, direct them to the Jewish Roots in Ukraine and Moldova appropriate services, and answer general questions. The Miriam Weiner Center’s ticket-takers and ushers for events in the Leo and Routes to Roots Foundation/ Julia Forchheimer Auditorium also are trained volunteers. YIVO Institute for Jewish Research $60 Other volunteers assist the professional staff in various Synagogues of New York City— offices around the Center. Their tasks may include coordinat- History of a Jewish Community ing mailings, preparing inventories of books, addressing and Oscar Israelowitz stuffing envelopes, answering phones and making phone calls. Israelowitz Publishing Co. $35 A team of highly trained and knowledgeable tour guides leads all public tours at the Center (see related story, page 8). When Boxing was a Jewish Sport Allen Bodner A new group of volunteers, who will work as gallery guides in Praeger $21.95 the Yeshiva University Museum, are scheduled to be trained by the Museum’s curators. Gallery guides will be stationed in the Boychiks in the Hood exhibition galleries to answer visitors’ questions and monitor Robert Eisenberg HarperCollins $12 the exhibits. Interested in volunteering? (In addition to the satisfaction of The Jewish Confederates their valuable contribution to the Center for Jewish History, Robert N. Rosen volunteers receive either complimentary or discounted admis- University of South Carolina Press $39.95 sion to Center events and a percentage discount at the Center Jewish Communities in Exotic Places Shop and Date Palm Café.) Please call 917-606-8225. Ken Blady and Steven Kaplan Jason Aaronson, Inc. $30 Great Jews in Sports (2000 edition) Robert Slater Jonathan David Publishing $25.95 Strange and Unexpected Love: A Teenage Girl’s Holocaust Memoirs Fanya Gottesfeld Heller KTAV Publishing House $14.95 Schwebel David’s Journey Schwebel A Stabilized Chaos Publication/ Yeshiva University Museum $40

The Center Shop is open Monday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, Barbara Goldberg 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and preceding evening events. Can I help you? Jerry Rodman volunteers at the Center’s Information Desk. 5 Profile: Temima Gezari

ixty Years of More personally, through gious feeling,” Ms. Gezari throve, contributing some Art in Jewish this sensational window into reminds visitors in the intro- excellent examples of fine “ Education,” the challenging subject of ductory panel at the gallery mosaic floor work and the recent art and the child, the exhibit entrance. Born in Pinsk, warm, earth colored mural exhibition at illumines the inspiration Russia, in 1905, Ms. Gezari painting for synagogues.” the Betty and career of its organizing spent her girlhood in She continues by noting andS Walter L. Popper personality, Temima Brooklyn and was educated that Jewish art as such Gallery of the Yeshiva Gezari—artist, educator, at Columbia University, the became dormant with the University Museum, offers humanist. New School for Social dispersion of the Jewish more than a dynamic and “Creative process gives Research, Hunter College, people throughout the evocative encounter with meaning to life,” the Parsons School of Design, world. “Artists who were children’s art. indomitably jaunty Ms. the Art Students League Jews were painting in every The show of more than Gezari notes. “The art of and alongside such land, but they painted in the 150 works, sponsored by children has elements of renowned artists as Diego idiom of those lands— Yeshiva University Museum greatness, part of the broad Rivera. France had Pisarro; Italy and the Board of Jewish ocean of art flowing Her affirmation of the had Modigliani. Not until Education of Greater New through the ages,” she “natural birthright of feel- the return to Israel and the York, ranges in media well insists. “In children’s art we ing, brain, imagination as development of a new state beyond familiar bounds of frequently find the counter- creative force” has been has it become possible for art classroom tempera paint. part of the art of the adult explored and cultivated for Jewish art really to begin to From glass to fabrics, world on another level, no generations of teachers and flourish again.” from clay to pencil, from oil matter what the idiom, young people since 1935 in “The Art Teacher as an to ink, from foamcore to expressing the secure and her roles as dean of the Ever-Flowing Fountain” is glitter, the collection strong foundation of a phi- Teachers Institute of the the title one section of undoubtedly celebrates the losophy of life.” Jewish Theological Footprints; it can easily intuitive vitality of the “In the field of religious Seminary and as director of describe Ms. Gezari as well. child’s sense of color, tex- education, art plays a the Department of Art Approaching her ninety- ture, form and energy per- prominent role and deals Education which she initiat- sixth year, she has just hung vading every stroke or grasp with profound feelings— ed at the Board of Jewish the bulk of the trove of of brush or finger. one of which is deep reli- Education in 1940. works from which the “I am convinced the Yeshiva University approach to children must Museum’s exhibit was be the creative one, with selected—a five-story exhi- patient understanding, bition of children’s art expert guidance and which opened mid-June at genuine faith in their poten- the Board of Jewish tialities,” she notes in Foot- Education headquarters, prints and New Worlds, 426 West 58th Street, New published in 1957 and now York City. In August she in its fourth edition. holds the annual exhibit of In sharing how she intro- her works at her studio in duces the history of art to Rocky Point, near Port curious youngsters, she Jefferson, Long Island, and notes that unlike Egyptians, a September show at Stony Greeks or Mexicans, “the Brook will follow. Jews were away from the “I don’t believe in com- art-producing soil so long. petition in the arts,” she That fact, added to the firmly stated. “Children’s strict prohibition contained art should be honored for in the Second Command- the hard work it represents ment, kept them from pro- and to show we appreciate Sylvia Herskowitz (left) with Temima Gezari viewing “60 Years of Art in ducing art on a scale of any what they have done. Jewish Education.” (Photo courtesy of Yeshiva University Museum) importance. In times of “With art,” she smiled, leniency, however, art “we each have wings!” 6 History Comes Alive for Researchers in Reading Room

cholars, schoolchildren, visitors from as far away as China and Japan, are among the hundreds of patrons each month conduct- ing research in the Lillian Goldman Reading Room at the SCenter. The Reading Room is the gateway to the Center’s unparalleled holdings of 100 million archival documents, half a million books and tens of thousands of pho- tographs, artifacts and other materials. For Lori Gemeiner, a 31-year-old gradu- ate student at the University of Sussex in Brighton, England, the Reading Room pro- vides access to resources and a cross-section of material from collections of four of the Center’s five partner organizations that probably cannot be found at any other insti- tution in the world. Ms. Gemeiner, the recipient of a German Academic Exchange Barbara Goldberg Program/Leo Baeck Institute Fellowship, Lori Gemeiner at work in the Lillian Goldman Reading Room. has been in New York since February. She spends between three and four days each week at the Reading Room, a minimum of four hours per day. Sussex. I was thrilled to discover it here as it was written The title of Ms. Gemeiner’s thesis is “The Transfer and expressly to help Americans understand German-Jewish Transformation of German-Jewish Culture in the Everyday refugees and is an absolute goldmine of information for Life of Refugees in New York and London, 1938–1945.” my work. Her grandparents left Frankfurt, Germany, in 1938 and “I particularly love archival material, like letters and per- made their way to Washington Heights in New York City, sonal notes,” she continued, “but in truth diaries and mem- with stops in London and Paris. Ms. Gemeiner graduated oirs reveal a lot more. I spent two weeks straight, for from the State University of New York at Binghamton in instance, reading through the diaries of Rudolph Katz, 1991 and, after obtaining an MA in secondary education which also are found in the Leo Baeck collections.” and teaching for a few years, decided to pursue a doctorate Ms. Gemeiner hopes to return to the University of Sussex at the Centre for German-Jewish Studies at the University later this summer to defend her thesis and will then seek an of Sussex. academic teaching position in the United States. She point- “My dissertation examines the ways in which German- ed out that without the Center’s collections, her work would Jewish refugees retained, rejected and negotiated aspects of have been much more difficult. German-Jewish culture and identity within their new set- “Without the original source material at the Center,” she tings,” she explained. “I utilize memoirs, diaries, correspon- noted, “I would have had to do many more individual inter- dence and oral history interviews in order to reveal the views and I would not have wanted my thesis to be based so transformation of German-Jewish life in the private sphere. heavily on personal recollections; it is much better to be The differences between these processes in New York able to research material written at that point in time. compared to London will also be explored.” “I also found that one member of the Reading Room Describing herself as feeling like “a kid in a candy store,” staff would lead me to another. I would be talking to some- Ms. Gemeiner is steadily working her way through diaries, one from YIVO and he or she would indicate that I really letters, memoirs, personal papers, books and taped inter- ought to talk to someone from the American Jewish views that span the collections of the American Jewish Historical Society and on and on. Having everything in one Historical Society, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University building allowed me to use my time much more efficiently Museum and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. and the interaction between staff added a wonderful “For example,” she explained, “the collections of the dynamic to my work.” Leo Baeck Institute include a book by Gerhard Saenger The Reading Room is open to the public, free of charge, called Today’s Refugees, Tomorrow’s Citizens, written in Monday to Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on 1941 before the United States entered the war. I couldn’t Friday by special appointment. Please call 212-294-8325 for find this book in the British Library or at the University of additional information.

7 Forchheimer Auditorium Dedicated

he Leo and Julia Forchheimer Auditorium was for- mally dedicated at the Center for Jewish History, Tuesday Tevening,T May 2. Almost 100 guests, many of whom were personally acquainted with the late Mr. and Mrs. Forchheimer, joined in honor- Photos by Andrew French ing their legacy of philanthropy and dedication to the business, art and Jewish communities. Pictured in photo right at the dedication are Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Forchheimer (center) surrounded by family mem- bers (Mr. Rudolph Forchheimer is the nephew of Mr. Leo Forchheimer), and in photo far right Mrs. Erica Jesselson, vice chair of the Center’s Board of Directors, who organized the dedication ceremonies. Seats in the Forchheimer Auditorium may be endowed for donations ranging from $10,500 to $1,800. A plaque with the donor’s name, or another selected designation, will be permanently affixed to each endowed seat. Please call the Development Office (212-294-8310) for further details.

Center Intern Be Our Guest... Honored For a Guided Tour rom September 2000, to June formal program of guided tours has been inaugurated 2001, James Burke interned at the Center. Led by trained docents, tours are in the Finance Office at the offered every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 p.m. Center for Jewish History as Reservations in advance are not required for individu- a participant in the national als; group tours may be scheduled by special arrange- Kauffman Entrepreneurial ment with the Center. InternshipF Program. James, a student at AATours encompass all areas of the Center dedicated to public Baruch College in New York City, was chosen service, including the Reading Room, Genealogy Institute and the one of four outstanding interns in this year’s major exhibitions of the American Jewish Historical Society, Leo Baeck Kauffman Program and traveled to St. Louis Institute, and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. Visitors also tour the this past spring where he spoke, at the orga- areas available for special events, including the auditorium and “Great nization’s national convention, about the mis- Hall,” and are welcome to browse in the Center Shop, eat in the Date sion of the Center and his experiences here. Palm Café, and avail themselves of the Center’s services in tracing A full-time student in Baruch’s Master in family histories. Groups from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Public Administration Program, James will Massachusetts, Oregon and throughout the metropolitan New York graduate in December 2001. He plans to con- area, as well as hundred of individuals, have participated in Center tinue his education by either pursuing a Ph.D. tours during the past few months. in political science or in a dual degree pro- The Center requests a contribution of $6 per person, $4 for seniors gram in law and international relations. and students, with the funds used to support educational programs. For During his Center internship James assisted visitors wishing to include the Yeshiva University Museum galleries in in the creation of a general ledger accounting their tour, special combination tickets may be purchased at a cost of $10 system, prepared grant proposals to founda- per person, $6 for seniors and students. All tickets may be purchased in tions and government agencies, and audited the Center Shop. the Center Shop receipts and Box Office For further information, or to arrange a group tour, please call Julie ticket sales. Kaplan at 917-606-8226. 8 Current Exhibitions

the Leo Baeck Institute is presenting bronze presentation cup designed by “Credit Due: Eight German-Jewish the artist. Artists Persecuted by the Nazis.” The Museum’s other major new Composed of paintings, photos, and exhibition, “60 Years of Art in Jewish prints, complemented by historical Education,” presents drawings, paint- documentation, “Credit Due” explores ings, wall hangings, murals, stained the work and traces the journey of glass, ceramics and sculpture, created eight painters, sculptors and illustra- by children throughout the world. tors, none internationally prominent, This retrospective, sponsored with the as they fled the Nazis and wandered as Board of Jewish Education of Greater refugees from country to country. New York, pays tribute to Temima Much of the research for this exhibit is Gezari who since 1940 has brought based on unpublished manuscripts and visual arts into the Jewish school documents in the Leo Baeck Institute curriculum, motivating and guiding Archives. hundreds of art teachers to encourage Charlotte von Rothschild as a Bride, painted by Moritz Daniel Oppenheim, 1836. Oil on Two new exhibitions at the Yeshiva and develop children’s innate creativi- canvas. Collection of The Israel Museum, University Museum have been attract- ty. (See interview with Ms. Gezari, Jerusalem, Israel. ing larger than average crowds. page 6.) everal major new exhibi- “Moritz Daniel Oppenheim: Jewish The Yeshiva University Museum tions highlight the spring/ Identity in Nineteenth Century Art,” also is currently exhibiting “Reach for summer season at the features the work of the German artist the Moon: When Art and Medical Center, while visitors considered by many art historians to be Science Intersect—Paintings by Ruth continue to enjoy the the greatest Jewish genre painter of his Dunkell”; “Introspective Retro- long-term and permanent time. The exhibition was organized by spective: Contemporary Glass by Sexhibits on display. the Jüdisches Museum der Stadt Sidney Cash”; and, in the sculpture The YIVO Institute for Jewish Frankfurt am Main, and is being shown garden, “In Search of Ancestors: Research has mounted “Ida Kaminska exclusively at the Yeshiva University Sculpture by Simon Gaon.” (1899–1980): Grande Dame of the Museum in the United States. Drawn Other exhibitions continuing at the Yiddish Theater” which explores the from private and public collections in Center include “Seeing Ourselves,” the long and eventful life of the great Germany, Switzerland, Israel, France, American Jewish Historical Society’s actress and her Yiddish theater family. England and the Untied States, portrait of Jewish life in America; “The The exhibit “Oppenheim” Jewish House of Learning,” an exhibi- includes theater showcases more tion jointly curated by the Center’s five posters, film stills than 90 paintings, partner organizations; and “The Jewish and a great variety 14 works on paper Writer,” a series of black and white of photographs and a silver and photographs by Jill Krementz. and memorabilia. Following its Visitors attending “60 Years of Art in Jewish Education” react with delight to inaugural exhibit The Circus, glazed terra cotta, inspired by Alexander Calder. From a group on German Jewish installation created by the third and four grades and their art instructors, Marilyn Davidson and Hanna Larish, at Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East history in modern Day School in New York City. times,

(Left) Poster announcing a performance of Ida Kaminska in the title role of Jacob Gordon’s Mirele Efros, Vilna, late 1930s. (Above) Ms. Kaminska in Sholom Aleichem’s Mentshn Photo courtesy of the Yeshiva University Museum (People). (Photos courtesy of YIVO Institute for Jewish Research) 9 Gala Dinner Honors Donors he “guests of chronicled the Center’s first honor” were year of operation. the major Featured speaker at the donors to the event was former United Center for States Senator Bob Kerrey, Jewish History who now serves as president TatT a gala dinner, Tuesday of the New School evening, June 5, held to pay University. Mr. Kerrey tribute to all those whose spoke of the New School’s support and significant gifts history as a haven for made the creation of the German-Jewish intellectuals Center possible. fleeing the Nazis and “You are our donors who discussed his view of the believed in this Center,” mission of the Center for commented Bruce Slovin, Jewish History. chairman of the Board of “One of the problems of a Andrew French Directors, in his opening free society,” he noted, “is Former United States Senator John Kerrey, currently serving as president of the New School University, was the featured speaker at the June 5th din- remarks. “And it is with that we begin to take our ner honoring major donors to the Center for Jewish History. (left to right): great emotion that I wel- freedom for granted. The Bruce Slovin, chairman of the Center’s Board of Directors; President come this opportunity to study of history in this build- Kerrey; Michael Feldberg, executive director of the American Jewish Historical Society; and Lois Cronholm, executive director of the Center. thank you and to assure you ing should teach us the that the best is yet to come.” importance of guarding Mr. Slovin’s welcome was these freedoms. A highlight of the evening presentation was a joint followed by a presentation “At the Center,” he con- was the surprise presentation project of the Center’s of the Center’s website cluded, “men and women to Mr. Slovin of a framed Genealogy Institute, the (www.cjh.org) by executive will learn stories that will collage of documents, trac- Conservation Laboratory director Dr. Lois Cronholm, enable them to make not ing his personal family histo- and the Center Shop, with which provided a virtual only the United States, but ry beginning with the special assistance from Mrs. tour of the Center, its the world a more humane immigration of his ancestors Francesca Slovin. resources and programs, and and just place.” to the United States. The

International Scholars Conference Scheduled for October Hold the Date!

o commemorate the inau- Creation and Dissemination of “Climbing the guration of the Center for Knowledge”; and “Modern Jewish Jewish History as a major Studies and the American Context.” Family Tree” resource in Jewish studies, A distinguished panel of university and A Day of Films an International Scholars college professors is coordinating arrange- and Workshops Conference will convene, ments for the conference. They include TOctoberT 28 to 29, 2001, hosted by the Elisheva Carlebach, Queens College; Exploring Center’s Academic Council. The confer- Robert Chazan, New York University; Jewish Family ence, entitled “Centers of Modern Jewish Henry Feingold, Baruch College; Jane Studies,” is expected to attract Judaic Gerber, City University of New York; History scholars from around the world and will Michael Meyer, Hebrew Union College- feature individual sessions for both acade- Jewish Institute of Religion; Pamela mic and general audiences. Nadell, American University; Alvin Sunday, Major sessions will include Rosenfeld, University of Indiana at November 4, “Contemporary Jewish Scholarship: Bloomington; Lawrence Schiffman, New International Perspectives” with noted York University; Chava Weissler, Lehigh 2001 academics from Israel, Germany, France, University; Beth Wenger, University of England and Spain; “Creating Modern Pennsylvania; and Steven Zipperstein, Jewish Studies”; “Jewish Museums: The Stanford University. 10 ARNOLD AND ARLENE GOLDSTEIN EUGENE AND EMILY GRANT FAMILY FOUNDATION Sharing Our Commitment CLIFF GREENBERG LORELEI AND BENJAMIN HAMMERMAN The Center for Jewish History thanks the following donors for their most generous partici- JAMES HARMON ELLEN AND DAVID S. HIRSCH pation in this exciting endeavor to preserve the Jewish past and ensure the Jewish future. ADA AND JIM HORWICH This roster includes major benefactions received through May 30, 2001. Many significant HSBC BANK PAUL T. J ONES II gift opportunities remain available at the Center, including the naming of various outstand- GERSHON KEKST ing facilities. Please call our Development Office at 212-294-8310. JANET AND JOHN KORNREICH KPMG LLP FOUNDERS DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE BUILDERS CONSTANCE AND HARVEY KRUEGER S. DANIEL ABRAHAM, DR. EDWARD MICHAEL AND KIRK DOUGLAS JOSEPH ALEXANDER FOUNDATION WILLIAM LANDBERG L. STEINBERG - SDA ENTERPRISES, INC. THE DAVID GEFFEN FOUNDATION DWAYNE O. ANDREAS - ARCHER AND LOUISE CRANDALL ANONYMOUS GEORGICA ADVISORS LLC DANIELS MIDLAND FOUNDATION LAQUILA CONSTRUCTION ESTATE OF SOPHIE BOOKHALTER, M.D. WILLIAM B. GINSBERG ANONYMOUS LEHMAN BROTHERS LEO AND JULIA FORCHHEIMER NATHAN AND LOUISE GOLDSMITH BEATE AND JOSEPH D. BECKER EILEEN AND PETER M. LEHRER FOUNDATION FOUNDATION ANTHONY S. BELINKOFF DENNIS LEIBOWITZ LILLIAN GOLDMAN CHARITABLE TRUST JACK B. GRUBMAN HALINA AND SAMSON BITENSKY ABBY AND MITCH LEIGH FOUNDATION KATHERINE AND CLIFFORD H. GOLDSMITH FANYA GOTTESFELD HELLER ANA AND IVAN BOESKY LIBERTY MARBLE, INC. THE JESSELSON FAMILY SUSAN AND ROGER HERTOG CITIBANK KENNETH AND EVELYN LIPPER THE KRESGE FOUNDATION MR. AND MRS. PAUL KAGAN VALERIE AND CHARLES DIKER FOUNDATION BARBARA AND IRA A. LIPMAN AND SONS LEAH AND MICHAEL KARFUNKEL ERNST & YOUNG LLP CAROL AND EARLE I. MACK NEW YORK CITY SIMA AND NATHAN KATZ AND FAMILY MR. AND MRS. BARRY FEIRSTEIN MACKENZIE PARTNERS, INC. DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS BARCLAY KNAPP RICHARD AND RHODA GOLDMAN FUND BERNARD L. AND RUTH MADOFF NEW YORK STATE - MR. AND MRS. HENRY R. KRAVIS THE SIDNEY KIMMEL FOUNDATION FOUNDATION GOVERNOR GEORGE E. PATAKI SIDNEY AND RUTH LAPIDUS GERALD AND MONA LEVINE JOSEPH MALEH NEW YORK STATE - RONALD S. LAUDER THE LIMAN FOUNDATION MR. AND MRS. PETER W. M AY ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SHELDON SILVER MR. AND MRS. THOMAS H. LEE MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC. THE MAYROCK FOUNDATION RONALD O. PERELMAN LEON LEVY LOIS AND RICHARD MILLER DRS. ERNEST AND ERIKA MICHAEL BETTY AND WALTER L. POPPER GEORGE L. LINDEMANN CAROL F. AND JOSEPH H. REICH ABBY AND HOWARD MILSTEIN RELIANCE GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. THE MARCUS FOUNDATION THE MARC RICH FOUNDATION MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER INGEBORG AND IRA LEON RENNERT - MARK FAMILY FOUNDATION MAY AND SAMUEL RUDIN AGAHAJAN NASSIMI AND FAMILY THE KEREN RUTH FOUNDATION CRAIG AND SUSAN MCCAW FOUNDATION FAMILY FOUNDATION, INC. THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY ANN AND MARCUS ROSENBERG LEO AND BETTY MELAMED I. B. SPITZ BERNARD AND TOBY NUSSBAUM THE SLOVIN FAMILY EDWARD AND SANDRA MEYER SHARON AND FRED STEIN PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, JOSEPH S. AND DIANE H. STEINBERG FOUNDATION JANE AND STUART WEITZMAN WHARTON & GARRISON DR. SAMUEL D. WAKSAL DEL AND BEATRICE P. M INTZ DAPHNA AND RICHARD ZIMAN DORIS AND MARTIN D. PAYSON THE WINNICK FAMILY FOUNDATION FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION ARTHUR AND MARILYN PENN RUTH AND THEODORE N. MIRVIS GUARDIANS CHARITABLE TRUST NEW YORK STATE - PHILIP MORRIS COMPANIES INC. SPONSORS MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL AARONS SENATOR ROY M. GOODMAN DAVID AND CINDY PINTER STANLEY I. BATKIN WILLIAM AND KAREN ACKMAN NUSACH VILNE, INC. ROSA AND DAVID POLEN JOAN AND JOSEPH F. C ULLMAN 3RD MR. AND MRS. MERV ADELSON SUSAN AND ALAN PATRICOF NANCY AND MARTIN POLEVOY DIANE AND MARK GOLDMAN JOSEPH ALEXANDER FOUNDATION ANNE AND MARTY PERETZ YVONNE AND LESLIE POLLACK HORACE W. G OLDSMITH FOUNDATION MARJORIE AND NORMAN E. ALEXANDER JUDITH AND BURTON P. R ESNICK FAMILY FOUNDATION THE GOTTESMAN FUND ANONYMOUS RIGHTEOUS PERSONS FOUNDATION - GERI AND LESTER POLLACK THE SMART FAMILY FOUNDATION MARCIA AND EUGENE APPLEBAUM STEVEN SPIELBERG FANNY PORTNOY TISCH FOUNDATION HILARY BALLON AND ORIN KRAMER LOUISE AND GABRIEL ROSENFELD, R & J CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION THEODORE AND RENEE WEILER BANK OF AMERICA HARRIET AND STEVEN PASSERMAN ANNA AND MARTIN J. RABINOWITZ FOUNDATION SANFORD L. BATKIN DR. AND MRS. LINDSAY A. ROSENWALD JAMES AND SUSAN RATNER BEAR, STEARNS & CO., INC. SAMBERG FAMILY PHILANTHROPIC FUND PATRONS VIVIAN AND NORMAN BELMONTE S. H. AND HELEN R. SCHEUER ARLEEN AND ROBERT S. RIFKIND JACK AND MARILYN BELZ ANONYMOUS FAMILY FOUNDATION ANITA AND YALE ROE MEYER BERMAN FOUNDATION JUDY AND RONALD BARON FREDERIC M. SEEGAL THE FAMILY OF EDWARD THE BLOOMFIELD FAMILY JAYNE AND HARVEY BEKER THE SELZ FOUNDATION AND DORIS ROSENTHAL BOGATIN FAMILY FOUNDATION ROBERT M. BEREN FOUNDATION THE SKIRBALL FOUNDATION JACK AND ELIZABETH ROSENTHAL RALPH H. BOOTH II BIALKIN FAMILY FOUNDATION - THE SHELDON H. SOLOW FOUNDATION SHAREN NANCY ROZEN ETHEL BRODSKY ANN AND KENNETH J. BIALKIN DAVID AND CINDY STONE - THE HARVEY AND PHYLLIS SANDLER CALIFORNIA FEDERAL BANK EMILY AND LEN BLAVATNIK FREEDMAN & STONE LAW FIRM FOUNDATION PATRICIA AND JAMES CAYNE GEORGE AND MARION BLUMENTHAL ROBYNN N. AND ROBERT M. SUSSMAN CAROL AND LAWRENCE SAPER CENTER SHEET METAL, INC. - ABRAHAM AND RACHEL BORNSTEIN HELENE AND MORRIS TALANSKY MORRIS AND ALMA SCHAPIRO FUND VICTOR GANY LILI AND JON BOSSE WACHTELL, LIPTON, ROSEN & KATZ ALLYNE AND FRED SCHWARTZ CHASE MANHATTAN CORPORATION LOTTE AND LUDWIG BRAVMANN FRANCES AND LAURENCE A. WEINSTEIN IRENE AND BERNARD SCHWARTZ CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON THE ELI AND EDYTHE L. BROAD GENEVIEVE AND JUSTIN WYNER JOSEPH E. SEAGRAM & SONS, INC. ELLA CWIK-LIDSKY FOUNDATION DALE AND RAFAEL ZAKLAD SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT IDE AND DAVID DANGOOR THE CONSTANTINER FAMILY BARBARA AND ROY J. ZUCKERBERG SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER DASSA AND BRILL - MARLENE BRILL MR. AND MRS. J. MORTON DAVIS & FLOM LLC ESTHER AND ROBERT DAVIDOFF SONY CORPORATION OF AMERICA ANTHONY DEFELICE - WILLIS JERRY I. SPEYER/KATHERINE G. FARLEY THE PHILIP DEVON FAMILY FOUNDATION MEI AND RONALD STANTON ROSALIND DEVON JUDY AND MICHAEL STEINHARDT BERNICE AND DONALD DRAPKIN ANITA AND STUART SUBOTNICK Planned Giving Opportunities E. M. WARBURG, PINCUS & CO., LLC LYNN AND SY SYMS HENRY, KAMRAN The many ways in which you may include the Center LYNNE AND MICKEY TARNOPOL AND FREDERICK ELGHANAYAN TRIARC COMPANIES-NELSON PELTZ for Jewish History in your estate planning include a MARTIN I. ELIAS AND PETER MAY charitable gift annuity, a gift of appreciated securi- GAIL AND ALFRED ENGELBERG WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES CLAIRE AND JOSEPH H. FLOM ties, a bequest in your will or the naming of the PETER A. WEINBERG FOREST ELECTRIC CORPORATION Center as a beneficiary of funds in your retirement HOWARD S. WELINSKY DAVID GERBER ERNST AND PUTTI WIMPFHEIMER - account. Please do not hesitate to call the AND CAROLYN KORSMEYER ERNA STIEBEL MEMORIAL FUND Development Office at 212-294-8310 to discuss ROBERT T. AND LINDA W. G OAD HOPE AND SIMON ZIFF GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. these options. THE ZISES FAMILY

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