CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY AAmericanmerican Jewish JewishHistorical S Historicalociety Society (ALL FACILITIES CLOSED SATURDAYS) AAmericanmerican Sephardi Sephardi Federation Federation EXHIBITION HOURS YESHIVA UNIVERSITY MUSEUM HOURS Leo Baeck Institute Mon–Thurs 9:30am–5:30pm Sun, Tues, Wed, Thurs 11am–5pm Leo Baeck Institute Fri 9:30am–3pm Sun 11am–5pm GENEALOGY INSTITUTE YYeshivaeshiva University University Museum Museum Mon–Thurs 9:30am–5pm CONTACT INFO YIYIVOVO Institute Institute for Jewish for Research Jewish Research Box Office 917-606-8200 Reading Room 917-606-8217 LILLIAN GOLDMAN READING ROOM Mon–Thurs 9:30am–5pm Genealogy Institute 212-294-8318 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY FALL/WINTER NO. 14 Fri By appointment only General Information 212-294-8301 Group Tours 917-606-8226 CONSTANTINER DATE PALM CAFÉ PARTNERS Sun–Thurs 11am–4pm American Jewish Historical Society 212-294-6160 www.ajhs.org LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN American Sephardi Federation 212-294-8350 www.asfonline.org FANYA GOTTESFELD HELLER BOOKSTORE The coming of Jews to America in the 20th century is one of the history and heritage exciting and accessible to a new generation, Leo Baeck Institute 212-744-6400 www.lbi.org Mon–Thurs 11am–6pm Yeshiva University Museum 212-294-8330 www.yumuseum.org Sun 11am–5pm ten most important events in Jewish history. And that story is whether through interactive exhibitions, or by engaging young YIVO Institute for Jewish Research 212-246-6080 www.yivo.org (Also open on select evenings; call 917-606-8220) one among tens of thousands of others that are chronicled in the people in a personal quest to trace their own family roots. archives housed at the Center for Jewish History. Yet there is something about the words “history” and “archives” that tends to Six years ago, few would have thought it possible for five distinct, make people think of dusty books and crumbling faded parchment. independent Jewish organizations to come together under one VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.CJH.ORG roof, unify the incredible assets and knowledge each has to offer, So when anyone asks me about my work at the Center for Jewish and create a unique focal point for the celebration of the modern History, I’m prepared to see their eyes glaze over – until I start Jewish experience. But that is what the Center has become: not filling them in on all the lively, vibrant, and stimulating events and only the leading national repository for documents and materials activities that go on at the Center every day. Those activities are that detail Jewish life around the world and across the centuries, bringing Jewish history to life in a way that has never been done but a living institution that draws young and old, spiritual and before ... and equally important, they are adding to that history in secular, together to share ideas, to share memories, and simply ways that were unimaginable years ago. to share a moment in time. As you scan the pages of this newsletter, you will see how the The Center for Jewish History Center for Jewish History is bringing together the past, the is not just a vivid window into present, and the future of the Jewish experience. It is the Center, the past, but also an active through the work of its Partners that is helping to preserve the portal to the future. We invite stories of our ancestors – from those who settled in New York you to explore further all that in the last century, to those who helped rescue Jews from Soviet the Center has to offer; and oppression. The story of Jewish people is told in many different we thank you deeply for your ways at the Center for Jewish History. continued support. On any given day, one could visit the Center and learn about Jewish insight into the world-renowned theories of Freud – and gain a new understanding of the crisis in Iraq through an wwww.cjh.org exploration of that country’s once strong and influential Jewish Bruce Slovin New York, NY 10011 10011 NY York, New population. And it is the Center that is finding ways to make Jewish Chairman 15 West 16th Street 16th West 15 YIVO Institute for Jewish Research Jewish for Institute YIVO eshiva University Museum University eshiva Y 4568 O . NO Leo Baeck Institute Baeck Leo IT ERM P NY - RK YO W E N American Sephardi Federation Sephardi American D pai GE posta S U American Jewish Historical Society Historical Jewish American RG O OFIT R P NON THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY ANNUAL HEDGE FuND EvENT IN MEMORIAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jane Gerber On November 15, the Center for Jewish History will once again The Center for Jewish History mourns the passing of its architect Richard Blinder and one of its founders Leon Levy, who also served as the Bruce Slovin, Chairman Graduate Center - CUNY host a special evening for hedge fund managers, investors, and former chairman of the American Sephardi Federation. Both men were instrumental in having the wisdom and vision to create the Center Joseph D. Becker, Vice Chair Jeffrey Gurock Kenneth J. Bialkin, Vice Chair Yeshiva University service providers, exploring “The History of Jewish Involvement and make it one of the most important historic and cultural institutions dedicated to preserving and presenting the Jewish experience. Erica Jesselson, Vice Chair Michael A. Meyer in Business and Finance.” The event, chaired by William A. Ackman Joseph Greenberger, Secretary Hebrew Union College and Joseph S. Steinberg, will include a keynote address, dinner, Michael A. Bamberger Deborah Dash Moore Norman Belmonte University of Michigan and breakout sessions on a variety of stimulating business-related George Blumenthal Riv-Ellen Prell topics of historical significance. TEENS TRACK CLUES TO THEIR JEWISH ROOTS IN SUMMER Eva B. Cohn University of Minnesota Paul Shapiro David E. R. Dangoor Highlighting the event will be a keynote presentation by author RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM Henry L. Feingold US Holocaust Memorial Museum Chava Weissler Tal Ben-Shahar, a lecturer at Harvard University who teaches Max Gitter How do you get a group of teenagers excited records of his long-lost great-grandparents Michael Jesselson Lehigh University business leaders and students how to lead happy lives. His Beth S. Wenger about exploring their Jewish roots? It’s easier in the YIVO collections at the Center. The Samberg Family History Program is Sidney Lapidus course on “Positive Psychology” – often taught to a standing-room Leon Levy z”l University of Pennsylvania than you might think: You offer them a Fellowship open to high school students, ages 14-18, Theodore N. Mirvis Steven J. Zipperstein only attendance – is the most popular course at Harvard, in the Samberg Family History Program… and offers students an opportunity to Nancy T. Polevoy Stanford University while his course on “The Psychology of Leadership” is the third Prior to the summer, Joey knew little of his give them the tools and skills to trace their learn genealogical research methods, Robert S. Rifkind most popular. He is the author of The Question of Happiness: family’s ancestry and had never seen a photo David Solomon CENTER STAFF family tree… throw in some film, food, field visit areas of historic significance to Bruce Slovin On Finding Meaning, Pleasure, and the Ultimate Currency, and of his great-grandparents. Jewish people in New York City, and BOARD OF OVERSEERS Chairman of the Board trips and other teen-friendly perks – and voilà! is currently on sabbatical writing a new book, The Permission conduct independent research on their William A. Ackman Michael S. Glickman You’ve got a group of teenagers with newfound to Be Human. Jonathan Baron Chief Administrative Officer enthusiasm for Jewish history and a deeper But with guidance in genealogical research own family histories. Stanley I. Batkin Ira A. Berkowitz techniques from the Samberg Program staff Joseph D. Becker Chief Financial Officer Following Ben-Shahar’s keynote address, attendees will personal connection to their Jewish heritage. Tuition is provided by a generous grant and mentors, and access to the wealth of Tracey Berkowitz Robert Sink participate in one of six breakout sessions. Topics and speakers from The Samberg Family Foundation. Kenneth J. Bialkin Chief Archivist and Project Director This summer marked the fourth annual session archives housed by the five partners at Robert Friedman are: “Trailblazers of Capitalism: Jews and Commerce in a Global Leonard Blavatnik the Center, the New York City high school George Blumenthal Director, Genealogy Institute Perspective,” Derek Penslar, University of Toronto; “Show Me in the Samberg Family History Program, an Abraham H. Foxman Diane Spielmann the Money: American Jews and the Pursuit of Material Success,” initiative of the Center for Jewish History with student found articles, photographs, and Director, Public Services Mark Goldman its partner the American Jewish Historical other records and was able to learn that his Joan L. Jacobson Stanley Bergman Jenna Weissman-Joselit, Princeton University; “The Almighty Ira H. Jolles Director, Cahnman Preservation Laboratory Dollar: American Jews and their Overseas Philanthropy,” Society – and it was the most successful to date, great-grandfather was one of three founders Harvey M. Krueger Tony Gill Rebecca Kobrin, Columbia University. graduating a record 44 Fellows. Among them of the First Tarlow Congregation of Tarlow, Director, Gruss Lipper Digital Laboratory Sidney Lapidus was 15-year-old Joey Katz, who had a particularly Poland, where he served as president Leon Levy z”l Lynne Winters Ira A. Lipman Director, Program Production Also, “Jewish Music Entrepreneurs: The Business of Rock and thrilling experience. He was able to discover and financial secretary. Theodore N. Mirvis Natalia Indrimi Roll,” Jonathan Karp, Binghamton University-SUNY; “What’s Program Curator Joseph H.