No. 8 Spring/Summer 2002 Center Launches Joshua Plaut Named New Series: Executive ‘ And Justice’ Director Inaugural Event Features Lecture on Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo Photographer, teacher, author, By Andrew Kaufman of Harvard Law School scholar, and soon to be Dr., Joshua Eli Plaut has been ith the generous support of the David Berg Foundation, the appointed executive director of Center for Jewish History has launched a new series of lectures the Center for Jewish History, and colloquia that will explore “Jews and Justice,” the Jewish effective September 1, 2002. contribution to the development and practice of law and legal Mr. Plaut succeeds Dr. Lois institutions. Co-sponsored by the Louis Stein Center for Law Cronholm, the Center’s first and Ethics of Fordham University Law School, “Jews and executive director, and Joseph Justice”W was inaugurated May 2, 2002, with an address by Andrew L. Kaufman, D. Becker, founder of a distin- Charles Stebbins Fairchild Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, speaking on guished law firm in “The Jewish Influence on Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo.” City and member of the Center’s Professor Kaufman’s address was followed by three responses from, respectively, Board of Directors, who served Rabbi Marc Angel of Congregation Shearith (the synagogue to which Justice as interim executive director Cardozo’s family belonged); Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action during the search for Dr. Center of Reform Judaism; and Suzanne Stone, professor of law at the Benjamin N. Cronholm’s replacement. Cardozo School of Law of . Additionally, New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, a former student of Professor Kaufman at Harvard, introduced “I greatly admire all that has the series, and David Rudenstine, dean of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, been accomplished to date by introduced Professor Kaufman. the Center supporters and the Continued on page 2 individual partner organizations,”

Continued on page 4

Save the Date!

“Jews and Justice” contin- ues on Monday evening, September 9, 2002, with a lecture by Aharon Barak, New York State Attorney General President of the Supreme Eliot Spitzer (left) and Court of Israel. Watch the Professor Andrew L. Kaufman (right) prepare to address mail for further details. “The Jewish Influence on

Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo.” Marty Heitner Continued from page 1 The Center for Jewish History News ‘Jews and Justice’ Published by the Center for Jewish History 15 West 16th Street While stating that Justice Cardozo, “Judaism is a legal system as well as a New York, NY 10011 212-294-8301 who once described himself as a hea- religion,” she noted. “A case can be made Fax: 212-294-8302 then, “abhorred the notion that he, as a that Justice Cardozo’s legal decisions Website: www.cjh.org Jewish judge, should behave in a particu- had a strong affinity with Jewish law.” Board of Directors lar way,” Professor Kaufman noted that The evening was moderated by Russell Bruce Slovin, Chair “the notion of duty and honor are writ G. Pearce, professor of law at Fordham, Joseph D. Becker, Vice Chair large in Cardozo’s jurisprudence.” who serves as curator for the “Jews and Kenneth J. Bialkin, Vice Chair Erica Jesselson, Vice Chair “Where did that come from?” Justice” series. The program on Justice Joseph Greenberger, Secretary Professor Kaufman asked. Cardozo was presented in association with Michael A. Bamberger The first respondent, Rabbi Angel, the American Sephardi Federation. ■ George Blumenthal took a somewhat different view. He Marlene Brill believes that Justice Cardozo did not Eva Cohn Henry L. Feingold make a break with Judaism and that it Michael Jesselson influenced his work to a greater extent Leon Levy than Professor Kaufman allowed. Sidney Lapidus Theodore N. Mirvis Rabbi Saperstein, in his response, Nancy T. Polevoy posed the questions, “How do you Robert Rifkind prove one philosophical system affected Board of Overseers another? One legal system affected Stanley I. Batkin Burton P. Resnick another?” He went on to consider the Kenneth J. Bialkin Robert Rifkind difficulty of these questions in terms of Leonard Blavatnik Arthur Samberg Cardozo’s work. George Blumenthal Bernard Selz The final respondent, Professor Stone, Arturo Constantiner Bruce Slovin Mark Goldman Mary Smart claimed that “Jewish law may not have Sidney Lapidus Edward Steinberg influenced Justice Cardozo, but Justice Leon Levy Joseph S. Steinberg Cardozo influenced Jewish law and Ira A. Lipman Roy Zuckerberg Theodore N. Mirvis Jewish legal thinking.” The Center for Jewish History Joseph D. Becker Executive Director Joshua Eli Plaut Executive Director (as of September 1, 2002) Ira Berkowitz above and left: Professor Suzanne Stone Associate Executive Director and Rabbi David Saperstein respond Chief Financial Officer to Professor Andrew L. Kaufman’s presentation on Justice Cardozo. Suzanne Maltz Director of Development Barbara Goldberg Professor Russell G. Pearce (right), Director of Public Relations curator of the “Jews and Justice” series, Michael Winter talks with participant Rabbi Marc Angel Director of Operations of Congregation Shearith Israel (left). Lynne Winters Program Coordinator

American Jewish Historical Society Michael Feldberg, Executive Director American Sephardi Federation Vivienne Roumani-Denn, Executive Director Leo Baeck Institute Carol Kahn Strauss, Executive Director Yeshiva University Museum Sylvia Herskowitz, Director YIVO Institute For Jewish Research Carl J. Rheins, Executive Director

The Center Newsletter is made possible, in part, by The Liman Foundation. Jessica Weber Design, Inc., NYC Design

All photos this feature by Marty Heitner 2 Pittsburgh Artist Diane Samuels Awarded Great Hall Art Commission

ollowing a The Steinberg Great Hall Center’s collections, and A resident of Pittsburgh process of is a familiar site to everyone will be visiting the Center for more than 30 years, Ms. more than a visiting the Center, as all throughout the summer and Samuels was born in New year, the visitors must pass through early fall to gather hand- York. She attended Carnegie Center has this elegant, versatile space writing samples and other Mellon University, where awarded Diane to gain access to the Lillian materials for possible she received both a bachelor’s FSamuels, a prominent artist Goldman Reading Room, inclusion on the wall. degree and master’s degree and sculptor, the commis- the Genealogy Institute, “The arrangement of the in fine arts. She also holds a sion to create an original, exhibition halls, the Leo and text will be determined tile diploma from the Institute permanent artwork for the Julia Forchheimer Auditori- by tile before the artwork is in Arts Administration at two-story-high wall in the um, and staff offices. It also built,” Ms. Samuels contin- . Paul S. and Sylvia Steinberg frequently is used for ued. “Assembling the thou- In December 2000, Great Hall. Described as an dinners and receptions. sands of small tiles in the she was awarded the artist “absorbed with the As described by Ms. correct pre-determined Westmoreland Society’s embodiment of language,” Samuels in her proposal, order will require care not Gold Medal in ceremonies Ms. Samuels submitted a the stone and glass tiles unlike the care shown by the at the Westmoreland winning proposal that com- arranged on the wall will be Center itself in ordering its Museum of American Art bines literal elements from rectangular in shape and in collections.” in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. the Center’s collections with shades of white, off-white In addition to the actual The award, which was insti- a wall-size “mosaic tablet” of and cream, some polished, artwork, Ms. Samuels also tuted in 1986, is given to a approximately 15,000 stone some matte. The background plans to prepare a “hand- person who has made a and glass tiles, suggestive of will be made of rubbed, pol- book” guide, cross- “significant contribution to a page of the Talmud. ished plaster that is darker referencing locations in the the arts.” The Center’s Art than the stones and glass. artwork and the source for It is estimated that Ms. Commission has been made “The dark floor of the each element. Copies of the Samuels’ artwork will be possible by a grant from Great Hall (inlaid terrazzo handbook will be placed in completed and installed at The Joseph S. and Diane H. designed by artist Michele the Great Hall and on the the Center for Jewish Steinberg Charitable Trust. Oka Doner) glimmers like a balcony near the wall for use History in 2003. ■ Ms. Samuels, who resides in night sky,” Ms. Samuels as reference books. Pittsburgh, was selected explained. “The wall will be from an original pool of like a day sky full of light some 80 prominent artists, and bright reflections. The nominated by a distinguished visitor will get an overall selection committee com- impression of the image, posed of representatives of but to read the details, the Artist Diane Samuels the Center as well as mem- text, he or she will have to bers of the museum and art approach the wall.” communities. The Center’s Each tile will bear one Art Commission is coordi- alphabet letter or will be nated by independent cura- blank. The source of the tor Dara Meyers-Kingsley. letters will be text Ms. “The heart, the soul of the Samuels plans to extract Center,” Ms. Samuels noted, from manuscripts, diaries, “are the collections, the letters, documents, and archives, the libraries, and books in the collections of the people who use them. the Center and from work For visitors, the Great Hall created by the many is like a table of contents groups of children who and preface. It is the begin- visit the Center for art ning, the introduction to the workshops. Center and to its mission to Ms. Samuels hopes to preserve and illuminate his- include the entire variety tory, culture and language.” of alphabets and writing systems found within the 3 Continued from page 1 Joshua Plaut

Mr. Plaut commented shortly before accepting the position of executive director. “I also appreci- ate that the financial health of the institution is foremost in the minds of the Center leadership.” Joshua Plaut (right) with “To that end,” he continued, “I am Lori Epstein Plaut and Jonas Jacob Plaut join the eager to take on the multiple roles Center family. At left is of acting as a public face for the Bruce Slovin, chairman of institution, helping the Center the Center’s Board of

Directors. Jason Carlin Board of Directors with fundraising, identifying and participating in the cultivation of potential donors, Trinity College in Hartford, Jews of Greece and Turkey Today, a and developing relationships with Connecticut, and as rabbi of book of 250 photographs with anno- Jewish foundations.” Congregation Kol Haverim in tated oral histories, soon to be pub- Glastonbury, Connecticut. Prior lished. His Ph.D. dissertation, Silent Scion of a prominent rabbinic family, to his appointment at the Center, Night? Being Jewish at Christmas Mr. Plaut was born in Great Neck, Mr. Plaut was spiritual leader Time in the 1990s, also is being New York, and spent much of Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew prepared for publication. of his youth in Israel. He received Center and Hillel director at the his B.A. from Beloit College in Massachusetts Institute of An accomplished photographer, Mr. Wisconsin in 1979, and an M.A. in Technology from 1993–2001. Plaut, together with his wife, estab- folklore and mythology from UCLA lished Gallery Plaut on Martha’s in 1982. He will receive his Ph.D. During his years in Massachusetts, Vineyard in the summer of 2000 in Judaic Studies from New York Mr. Plaut served on the steering to showcase the work of Jewish University later this year. Mr. Plaut committee of the Martha Vineyard’s artists. His own photographic was ordained at Hebrew Union satellite program of the Boston exhibitions have included Spice College-Jewish Institute of Religion Jewish Film Festival and organized of Life: Markets and Jewish and received the Master of Hebrew the Summer Rabbi’s Symposium on Merchants the World Over; Farewell Letters degree in 1986. such topics as “Fact and Fiction in Samarkind: The Exodus of Jews Holocaust Literature,” “Black- from Central Asia, filmed during Mr. Plaut also studied at the Jewish Relations,” and “From extensive fieldwork from 1990–92; Oxford Centre for Postgraduate Portnoy to Lieberman: The New The Star in the Crescent: Traditional Hebrew Studies, Oxford, England, American Jew.” He also taught, Jewish Life in Modern Turkey; and at The Hebrew University in together with Professor William B. Fading Glory: Vestiges of Jewish Jerusalem. He speaks fluent Watson of the Department of Life in the American South, which Hebrew, can converse in Greek, History, MIT’s first Jewish history depicts commercial, civic, and and has a knowledge of Ladino, course, “The Holocaust: The War religious life in Mississippi and Spanish, and . Against European Jewry During Arkansas; and Scattered Lights: World War II, 1939–1945.” The Remnant of Israel in Rural Mr. Plaut’s career has been Greece, an internationally displayed particularly diverse. He interned Mr. Plaut is the author of Greek exhibition which has toured muse- as a rabbinic student at congrega- Jewry in the Twentieth Century, ums and galleries from Tel Aviv to tions in Selma, Alabama, Sydney, 1913–1983: Patterns of Jewish Los Angeles to Salonika. Australia, and Jonesboro, Arkansas. Survival in the Greek Provinces From 1986–1993, he served, Before and After the Holocaust, Mr. Plaut is married to Lori Epstein simultaneously, as director of the which is in its third printing. He has Plaut, an attorney. They are the B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation at photographed and is preparing The parents of Jonas Jacob Plaut. ■

Your “Key” to the Center CJH = Center for Jewish History LBI = Leo Baeck Institute CGI = Center Genealogy Institute YIVO = YIVO Institute for Jewish Research AJHS = American Jewish Historical Society YUM = Yeshiva University Museum ASF = American Sephardi Federation

4 American Zone of Germany in 1945 when he discovered the YIVO looted Strashun Library, which had survived the Nazis’ destruction of Vilna’s Jewish community. Colonel Pomrenze supervised the loading of the Strashun Marks 100th Anniversary and YIVO Library collections—79,204 items in 420 cases in three freight cars—and accompanied the collections to the Of Vilna’s Bremen Port where they sailed for the Harborside Warehouse Co. in Jersey City, New Jersey. The collections Strashun Library arrived on July 1, 1947, and were transferred to YIVO head- quarters in New York. The entire journey, plus the approval of the State Department for restitution of the libraries to YIVO, was arranged by Colonel Pomrenze. he YIVO Institute for Jewish Research hosted Following the war, Colonel Pomrenze served as distin- a special reception on April 16, 2002, to com- guished adjunct professor in records management at The memorate the 100th anniversary of the open- American University in Washington, DC, until 1980 and, ing of the Strashun Library in Vilna. The story from 1950–76, as records manager/archivist for the of the Strashun Library, perhaps the foremost Department of the Army. He received the Bronze Star Jewish library in Medal for his work in Vietnam EuropeT before World War II, as a military archivist, the weaves together a great family Legion of Merit, Asiatic-Pacific legacy, the tragic destruction of Medal with three Bronze Stars, Jewish life and culture during and The Netherlands the Holocaust, and the efforts Government Silver Medal of of one Jewish officer of the Honor. He has been an Army to see Honorary Fellow of the Society justice done. of American Archivists for The 100th anniversary cele- more than 50 years. bration featured a talk by As a youth, Mattityahu Colonel Seymour J. Pomrenze, Strashun received a traditional who played a major role in the Jewish religious education, but Marty Heitner rescue of the Strashun Library . also engaged in the private and its restitution to the YIVO Dr. Rimantas Morkvevnas, consul general of the Republic of study of mathematics and sci- Lithuania, was one of the guests at the 100th Anniversary Institute. Speaking first in Celebration of the opening of the Strashun Library in Vilna, ence. A leading philanthropist Yiddish and then English, and spent some time viewing “Mattityahu Strashun: Scholar, and communal leader, he Leader, Book Collector,” a exhibition mounted by the YIVO Brad Sabin Hill, dean of the Institute for Jewish Research. chaired, for many years, the YIVO Library, provided an Tsedakah Gedolah, the charity overview of the collection’s fund of the Vilna Jewish history and importance. Guests Colonel Seymour J. Pomrenze (center), who played a major Community. He also served as role in the rescue of the Strashun Library and its restitution were able to tour the current to the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, is joined by Dr. a member of the Vilna City exhibition composed of hold- Carl J. Rheins (right), YIVO’s executive director, and Brad Council and a trustee of the ings from the Strashun Library, Sabin Hill (left), dean of its library. Russian State Bank of Vilna. “Mattityahu Strashun: Scholar, In addition to his many pub- Leader, Book Collector.” lic activities, he was a great Several of the rare books in the book lover and a collector of exhibit have never before been rare Hebrew books. His library on public display. of about 6,000 volumes became The current exhibition, as a gathering place for the intel- well as the preservation of the lectual elite of his time. Shortly Strashun collection, was made before his death he decided to possible by two descendants of bequeath his books and his Mattityahu Strashun, Tanya home to the Vilna Community. Corbin and Irwin Jacobs, and In 1892, the Strashun library the Waber Fund. In December, was opened to the public in 150 descendants of Mattityahu Mattityahu’s former home. It Strashun gathered at the Marty Heitner soon became clear that the Center for Jewish History for the opening of the exhibition. building was too small for its purpose and, in 1899, the Presently retired, Colonel Pomrenze spent 34 years in trustees of the library decided to erect a new building. The active and reserve service in the United States Army, and document authorizing construction of the new building is was a member of General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s staff in displayed in the current exhibition. Europe during World War II. Colonel Pomrenze was serving as director of the Offenbach Archival Depot in the Continued on page 6 5 Genealogy Institute Inaugurates New Website

amily history research just got a lot easier— of the American Jewish Historical Society; records of the no matter where you reside!—thanks to the Hamburg Sephardic community in the collections of the Center’s Genealogy Institute. Visit the Center’s Leo Baeck Institute; and records of the Amsterdam website at www.cjh.org (The Jewish Agency for Sephardic community, and much more, collected by the Israel recently named the Center for Jewish American Sephardi Federation. History website among the top ten Jewish The Center Genealogy Institute (which can be reached at Fwebsites in the world.) and click on “Family History.” You 212-294-8324 or at [email protected]) is open Monday through will find new web pages that provide detailed information Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Institute also is open one about the wealth of genealogical records and resources Sunday a month from 12:30 to 2 p.m., when the Jewish housed at the Center. Genealogical Society of New York hosts its monthly meeting “Ancestral Traces: A Virtual Exhibit,” displays some of at the Center. All basic services are provided free of charge. the unique and unusual genealogical records at the Center, including a transcript from a trial conducted by the The Center Genealogy Institute also has inaugurated a highly Inquisition in Mexico, a page of birth records from the successful series of workshops, both for beginners and for more Jewish community of Rangoon, HIAS arrival cards, a list of experienced family researchers. These workshops, priced at $10 marriages in 1842 in Offenbach, Germany, a burial record per person, will resume in the fall. Each workshop is limited to from a Landsmanschaft, and more. 12 participants. Please consult the Center’s printed or website “Frequently Asked Questions” provides answers on how calendar for dates and further information. ■ to do genealogy research at the Center. Plan your research in advance with the FAQs, as well as a complete listing of the Genealogy Institute’s reference collection, including his- torical atlases and books on the Holocaust, travel, and Jewish NEWS ALERT! history. The listings may also be found on the website. The Genealogy Institute staff and volunteers have created Family Tree Magazine, an online publica- a series of fact sheets that list the genealogical resources at tion, chose the Center for Jewish History web- the Center. All fact sheets now are available on the website site its “Site of the Day” for June 25, 2002. as PDF files you can print at home. Was your ancestor a rabbi? Click on the rabbinic records fact sheet and find a Family Tree Magazine is a leading geneal- listing of the books at the Center—in Yiddish, Hebrew, and ogy publication about discovering, preserving English—with biographical information on rabbis. Want to and celebrating family history. The Center’s know how to access records from Belarus or Lithuania? website (www.cjh.org) was cited as “a won- Print out the free fact sheets and learn. Wondering what Sephardic records are available at the Center? Read the fact derful online resource for our readers,” by sheets on Sephardic topics to learn that there is material in Family Tree Magazine managing editor, all the partner organizations, including records from Susan Wenner Jackson. Salonika in the archives of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research; records of the Curacao community in the holdings

Continued from page 5 cultural center. The collection contin- Jewish cultural treasures. The Nazis ued to grow, primarily through gifts forced the librarians to select and crate 100th Anniversary and bequests. Starting in 1928, the hundreds of thousands of Jewish books Vilna University Library began to send and manuscripts. The wooden crates In 1901, the library moved to its new all Hebrew and Yiddish books pub- were shipped to Frankfurt-am-Main, building and formally opened to the lished in Poland to the Strashun collec- where they were stored in a huge ware- public in 1902. The Strashun Library tion. In the 1930s, the number of books house located in nearby Offenbach. In very soon became a popular place for was reported to be 35,000. 1945, the American army discovered study, attracting visitors from many The Nazis occupied Vilna on June 3,000,000 Jewish books in the parts of Europe. The average daily 23, 1941, and, soon thereafter, ordered Offenbach warehouse, among them number of readers surpassed 200, the Jews into a ghetto. Both the YIVO 25,000 books from the Strashun Library mostly high school and seminary Library and the Strashun Library were collection and 15,000 books from the students, and there was always a line taken over by the Einsatzstab YIVO collection. Colonel Pomrenze of readers outside the door. In the Rosenberg, a Nazi task force assigned entered the saga at this point. ■ evenings the Library served as a Jewish the work of looting and disposing of 6 Theater Comes To The Center

o add to its and Library. The presenta- successful film tion included several skits and concert and songs that actually were series (please performed in the Vilna see sidebar, Ghetto, interspersed by pas- this page) the sages from the Diaries of CenterT filled out its cultural Herman Kruk (which will be calendar this spring with sev- published in English by Yale eral theater presentations University Press in collabo- spanning different cultures ration with YIVO in and historical periods. September 2002). Infrared earphones The Netela Theatre of The audience journeyed provided simultaneous English translation Jerusalem, on its first tour to to a different part of the for the audience at the United States, played Jewish world with Aviya de Ghetto Cabaret, which three sold-out performances Ser… (Once Upon a was performed in at the Center, presented by Time)—An Evening of Yiddish. the American Sephardi Sephardic Storytelling and Federation and Yemenite Song, presented by the Federation of America. Ladino Players, the only Established in 1994 by Ladino theater company in Ethiopian-born actors, the United States. Netela presented Bavel, a Sponsored by the American play within a play that Sephardi Federation and explored the hardships of Sephardic House, Aviya de immigration and absorption Ser… featured love stories into a different cultural and humorous sketches. The milieu. evening was presented Each performance of entirely in Ladino, with brief Bavel was followed by a dis- English commentary. The singers of cussion between the actors The Jewish Repertory Ghetto Cabaret, written and the audience. A group Theatre made its home at by Miriam Hoffman and Rena Berkowicz- of 30 students from the the Center for its spring sea- Borow and sponsored Frederick Douglass High son and presented concert by the YIVO Institute School in Harlem attended a versions of two well-known for Jewish Research. matinee performance and musicals: Two by Two, based engaged in a lively dialogue loosely on the story of Noah with Netela about Israel and and the flood, with music by The Center hosted a spring season filled with Judaism. Richard Rodgers, and a multitude of exciting film and musical presen- The YIVO Institute for Vagabond Stars, a revue tations. Highlights included the live, world Jewish Research sponsored about the immigration of premiere of the Yiddish Radio Project, a major a staged reading of Ghetto Eastern European Jews to series on NPR; two sold-out performances of Cabaret, a drama with music the United States in the “The Lost Jewish Music of Transylvania” based on documents, diaries early 1900s. Vagabond Stars featuring Muzsikás with Márta Sebest’yen; Yale Strom and the Hot P’Stromi Ensemble in and chronicles of the Vilna consists entirely of songs and a concert bringing together Klezmer, Sephardic, Ghetto. A simultaneous scenes that were originally Balkan, and Romanian music; and the New English translation was read performed in the Yiddish York premiere of Concorrenza Sleale (Unfair and transmitted to the audi- theaters of New York, trans- Competition), a major new film from Italian ence via infrared earphones. lated into English. Much of director Ettore Scola. This coming fall will bring Ghetto Cabaret was writ- the original material can be four films on the Jewish experience in Poland, ten by Miriam Hoffman and found in the archives of the a series devoted to Jewish humor in film, and a Rena Berkowicz-Borow, who YIVO Institute for Jewish variety of concerts. Watch the mail for your found all their source mater- Research. ■ Music and Film Series brochure! ial in the YIVO Archives

7 Six Outstanding Young Scholars Awarded First CJH Fellowships

ix outstanding the YIVO Institute for young scholars Jewish Research, and for in Jewish history the academic year 2002–03, from several is the recipient of the prominent uni- Rose and Isidore Drench versities have Fellowship from YIVO. Sbeen selected to receive the Her dissertation will first Center for Jewish explore the relationship History Fellowships. Each between four Jewish writers, of the students currently is Abraham Cahan, Morris engaged in research for his Rosenfeld, Henry Roth, and or her doctoral dissertation, Fannie Hurst, and their using the rich archival and mentors/patrons. Her library resources at the research efforts at the Center. Center will focus on the The fellowships carry Henry Roth papers in the an award of $10,000 for a collections of the American Barbara Goldberg 10-month period beginning Jewish Historical Society The recipients of the first Center for Jewish History Fellowships in September 2002. Each and the Abraham Cahan include (standing, left to right) Alisa Braun of the University of Michigan; Joshua Perelman of New York University; Avinoam Patt, fellow is expected to spend papers, as well as the exten- also of NYU; and (seated) Michaela Raggam-Blesch of Karl-Franz two full days per week sive newspaper and periodi- University in Graz, Austria. Not pictured are Jessica Cooperman of conducting research in the cal collections, of the YIVO New York University and James Loeffler of Columbia. Center’s Lillian Goldman Institute for Jewish Research. Reading Room, and will be required to deliver a one- ■ Jessica Cooperman of New Jewish communities during Mr. Loeffler, who lives in hour presentation to the York University. “The what was a period of intense , will conduct Center’s professional staff. Jewish Diaspora and the nationalism and global mili- research in the archives of They also will be called upon First World War: Germany tary conflict, studying what the YIVO Institute for to assist the Center and its and the United States.” this conflict meant to Jews Jewish Research, the Leo partner institutions with loyal to their diasporic Baeck Institute, and the various activities in archival Ms. Cooperman received homelands. American Jewish Archives research. her B.A. from the University as he pursues a social history of Pennsylvania and also ■ James Loeffler, Columbia of Jewish music and musi- The six fellowship winners are: has studied at Columbia University. “The Role of cians in the later Imperial University, Middlebury Music as a Means of period of Russian history. ■ Alisa Braun of the College in Vermont, The Jewish Social and He also will explore several University of Michigan. Hebrew University of Cultural Modernization in interlocking cultural institu- The title of Ms. Braun’s Jerusalem, and Kings Late Imperial Russia.” tions and social structures dissertation is “Becoming College, London. A resident that were central to the rise Authorities: Jews, Writing of New York City, she is the Mr. Loeffler earned his B.A. of Jewish musicians within and the Dynamics of recipient of a fellowship, for from Harvard University the mainstream of Russian Literary Affiliation, September 2001 to June and also studied at The culture. 1890–1940.” 2003, from The Remarque Hebrew University of Institute of New York Jerusalem and the Pardes ■ Avinoam Patt, New York Ms. Braun, a New York City University. Institute of Jewish Studies in University. “Jewish DP resident, earned her B.A. Ms. Cooperman primarily Israel. He was the recipient Youth and in from Columbia University will conduct her research in of a research grant from the Post-War Germany.” and spent her junior year the holdings of the Ford Foundation to study abroad at Cambridge. She American Jewish Historical Yiddish musical and comedy A resident of West New also has studied at the Uriel Society and the Leo Baeck traditions, and served as act- York, New Jersey, Mr. Patt Weinreich Program in Institute. She will examine ing sound archivist for the received his B.A. from Yiddish Language, the challenges faced by the YIVO Institute for Jewish Literature and Culture at German and American Research in 1999. Continued

8 Emory University in ■ Joshua Perelman, Depression have on their the recipient of a Fritz Atlanta. He also spent a New York University. reconstruction of Jewish Halbers Fellowship for year of study in Israel under “Choreographing Identity: identities onstage? How does research at the Leo Baeck the auspices of Young Modern Dance and the history of these dancers Institute for the 1999–2000 Judea, and attended classes American Jewish Identity, help to reformulate the his- academic year. at the Uriel Weinreich 1924–1964.” tory of American Jewish Her dissertation will focus Program in Yiddish identity? Mr. Perelman on the lives of Jewish Language, Literature and Mr. Perelman, who resides hopes to find some of the women at the end of the Culture at YIVO, and in Brooklyn, earned his B.A. answers to his questions in 19th century and beginning at Deutsches Haus at at Macalester College in St. the holdings of the American of the 20th century in New York University. Paul, and was a summer Jewish Historical Society and Vienna, a melting pot of dif- The unique collections research fellow at the Jewish YIVO Institute for Jewish ferent cultural influences housed at YIVO, including Women’s Archive. He also Research. within Hapsburg Austria. It the newspapers and periodi- served for two years as the will investigate the impact of cals published by the Jewish national director of the ■ Michaela Raggam-Blesch, an anti-Semitic and partially DPs in Germany and the University Student Depart- Karl-Franz University in misogynist environment on files of the Central ment of the World Zionist Graz, Austria. “Jewish the lives of these women. Committee of Liberated Organization. Women during Turn-of- She will conduct her Jews, will prove of central His dissertation will deal the-Century Vienna.” research largely within the importance to the comple- with such dancers/choreogra- collections of the Leo Baeck tion of his dissertation. He phers as Sophie Maslow, A native of Austria, Ms. Institute, particularly the also plans to use material at Anna Sokolow, Edith Segal, Raggam-Blesch currently Austrian Heritage the American Jewish Lily Mehlman, Helen resides in Staten Island, New Collection, and the YIVO Historical Society on Ta miris, Nadia Chilkovsky, York, and is a part-time Institute for Jewish American Jewish chaplains Miriam Blecher, Anna archivist at the Leo Baeck Research. serving in the DP camps Halprin, and Dorothy Bird. Institute. She received her in Germany, as well as What historical events led to undergraduate degree at the The first Center for autobiographies found in American Jewish modern Karl-Franz University in Jewish History Fellowships the Leo Baeck Institute dancers’ exploration of Graz and also studied at have been made possible by collections. Judaism? What impact did the Austrian Academy of grants from the Bookhalter their experiences during the Science in Vienna. She was and Rich Foundations. ■ Have a Seat… In the Forchheimer Auditorium

Events in the Forchheimer endowed for gifts ranging from $1,800 Auditorium have attracted to $10,500. thousands of participants The current list of donors to the since the Center’s opening Forchheimer Auditorium Seat in October 2000, and it is Campaign includes: occupied almost every day—and evening—of the Anonymous week. It has become Albert M. Anikstein - known as the “Jewel in the Cord Contracting Co., Inc. Crown” of the Center. Rosalind Devon For those wishing to FNZ Foundation make a commitment to the Estelle M. Guzik preservation of Jewish Dr. Yale S. and Ella Lewine

red Charles/F. Charles Photography red Charles/F. scholarship, culture and art, Sally and Abe Magid F endowing a seat in the Mrs. Pearl Meyer he elegant Leo and Julia Forchheimer Auditorium is an out- Nancy and Martin Polevoy Forchheimer Auditorium is standing gift opportunity. Donations Elaine Reiss the setting for the Center’s are acknowledged on a plaque placed Nat and Rosalie Sorkin Textensive program of films, on a seat of your choice, and may be concerts, theater, lectures, sympo- inscribed with your name, in memory Please call the Center’s siums, conferences, and meetings. The of a loved one, in tribute to a friend or Development Office at 212-294-8310 auditorium seats 247 and is equipped family member, or with another desig- to discuss endowing your seat in the with state-of-the-art technology. nation of your choosing. Seats may be Forchheimer Auditorium. ■ 9 Current Exhibitions

he spring and summer have brought an extremely exhibition can be found in the Museum’s Winnick and varied group of exhibitions to the Center, Rosenberg Galleries on the Center’s mezzanine level. featuring unique and unusual installations, ■ ■ ■ cutting-edge audio-visual techniques, and stirring Another outstanding collector of Judaica was Kathryn historical context. Yochelson. In the 1950s, Ms. Yochelson began collecting T ■ ■ ■ works by Israeli artists as an outgrowth of her interest in the “Persecuting Grandfathers, Interviewing Grandsons?” “artistic roots of the Jewish people,” a search on which she opened May 23 in the Clifford and Katherine Goldsmith had earlier embarked as a young college student in New Gallery of the Leo Baeck Institute, co-sponsored by the Haven. From the time of her first visit to Israel, in 1958, and Jewish Museum of Vienna. With panoramic photographs, for the next 40 years, she corresponded with and met Israeli historical documents, and audio-visual viewing stations to painters and art historians, amassing a significant personal listen and study taped interviews, the exhibition is the gate- collection of artworks. In 2002, Ms. Yochelson gave this way to one of the most significant oral history projects on collection to the Yeshiva University Museum. Visit the modern Austrian history. Museum’s Betty and Walter L. Popper Gallery on the main In 1995, the Leo Baeck Institute forged a relationship floor for “Fruits of a Lifetime: The Kathryn Yochelson with the Austrian Gedenkdienst, an organization that fos- Collection of Israeli Art” and enjoy this rare glimpse at a ters mutual understanding between young Austrians and collector and the art she loved and treasured. Jewish refugees who were forced to flee from the National ■ ■ ■ Socialist regime that came to power in 1938. Each year, Leonard Meiselman’s paintings are stark and powerful, Gedenkdienst sends two young Austrian conscientious and in “Art Against Forgetting,” his expressionist images objectors (in lieu of military service) to work for the Leo depict prayer shawls and flags that appear to have been Baeck Institute in New York. They conduct interviews with shredded by catastrophic events. Mr. Meiselman has been Austrian Jewish émigrés, listen to their life stories, and described as portraying the two sides of his identity—a Jew collect important documents and other memorabilia for and an American. As he paints, the events of the past permanent safekeeping in the library and archives of the century—most notably the Holocaust—still resonate, while Leo Baeck Institute. These encounters have gradually new terrors confront Jews the world over. The artist grapples evolved into LBI’s Austrian Heritage Collection, encom- with these tensions, yet emerges victorious in his forceful passing numerous documents as well as more than 2,200 affirmation of life. “Art Against Forgetting” can be viewed in biographical entries. the Museum’s mezzanine level gallery. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The Yeshiva University Museum opened three major On July 8, the American Sephardi Federation opened exhibitions, each of which will remain on view into the fall. “Photographs from the Jewish Cemeteries of the Saints, “Journey to No End of the World: Judaica from the Gross Morocco,” by Gary Beeber, a tribute to a Jewish community Family Collection, Tel Aviv,” takes the viewer to 33 different that once numbered more than a quarter-million members, Jewish communities. Architecturally and conceptually innov- including revered scholars and sages. ative, the exhibit features spectacular ceremonial objects, lit- ■ ■ ■ erary testimony, and photographs exploring the traditions of Visitors have registered an emotional response to “A Jewish travelers who, since the 9th century, have journeyed Particular Responsibility: The U.S. Army and the Creation throughout the world and documented their travels. The of the Survivors Talmud,” an exhibition mounted by the

Artifacts featured in “Journey to No End of the World.” Photos courtesy of the Yeshiva University Museum.

left: Mizrah/Kaddish reminder, Krenetz/Ukraine, 1925/26, wool, colored cotton thread, embroidered. above: Esther Scroll, in Renaissance style, Rome(?)/Italy, c. 1750, parchment, ink, paint. right: Rimmonim/Torah Finials (hand-shaped), Iran, c. 1920, silver. 10 asked General Dwight D. Eisenhower to assure that the survivors’ material and spiritual needs were met. Under Eisenhower’s leadership the U.S. Army responded with exemplary compassion. Publishing the 19-volume Survivors’ Talmud exemplified this caring. The dedication on the first page of the Survivors’ Talmud, its only English words, reads as follows:

This edition of the Talmud is dedicated to the United States Army. The army played a major role in the rescue of the Jewish people from total annihi- lation and after the defeat of Hitler bore the major burden of sustaining the DPs of the Jewish faith. This special edition of the Talmud published in the very land where, but a short time ago, everything Jewish and of Jewish inspiration was anathema, will General Dwight D. Eisenhower exits the synagogue remain a symbol of the indestructibility of the Torah. during an official tour of the Neu Freimann Displaced Persons Camp. The Jewish DPs will never forget the generous impulses and the unprecedented humanitarianism American Jewish Historical Society that will run through of the American forces, to whom they owe so much. August 30th. With historical documents, photographs and artifacts, the exhibit tells the story of the involvement of the —Rabbi Samuel A. Snieg United States Army in the printing of the Survivors’ Talmud, Chief Rabbi of the U.S. Zone the only time in world history that a government has pub- ■ ■ ■ lished an edition of this work. The American Jewish Historical Society also opened an The United States Army published the Talmud in exhibition featuring Harry Houdini’s world-famous water Heidelberg, Germany, between 1948 and 1950 in response to torture cell. The exhibition was scheduled to coincide with requests by Jewish community representatives, including the Centennial Convention of the Society of American Rabbi Samuel Jakob Rose, a survivor of Dachau, and rabbis Magicians, which met in New York from July 3 to 6, 2002. serving as chaplains in the U.S. Army, on behalf of the This is the first “appearance” by the water torture cell in survivors of the Shoah. (In 1945, not one complete set of New York, and is accompanied by historic Houdini posters the Talmud could be found in Europe.) The U.S. military in and other archival material. the post-World War II years evolved into a humanitarian Perhaps the world’s most famous magician and escape force to shelter Jewish survivors and reconstitute Jewish life artist, Harry Houdini was born Ehrich Weiss in what is now in Europe. President Harry S. Truman called caring for the Budapest, Hungary. He grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, Jewish survivors America’s “particular responsibility” and where his father was the city’s first rabbi. Scene of Houdini’s most famous escape, the water torture cell was said to have been built in England and cost more than $10,000. Packed with extra glass panels, it weighed about three-quarters of a ton. Houdini introduced the water torture cell at the Circus Busch in Berlin in 1912. He freed himself in less than two minutes, and continued to perform this escape throughout his career. Today, only a few people know the secret of the water torture cell. ■

Chrisoph Thun-Hohenstein, director of the Austrian Cultural Institute of New York, addresses the opening of “Persecuting Grandfathers, Interviewing Grandsons?”

Ruth Altmann, born in Vienna, pictured at her home in New York in 2002. Ms. Altmann is among those whose stories are told in “Persecuting Grandfathers, Interviewing Grandsons?” 11 Center Shorts

Electronic Resources On the Dinner Circuit Henry A. Kissinger, Ambassador Felix Receive Boost From Schapiro Fund The Archive of American Jews in G. Rohatyn, Beverly Sills and Sanford With two generous grants from the Sports, a division of the American I. Weill. Presidents , Morris and Alma Schapiro Fund, the Jewish Historical Society, presented its George H.W. Bush, and Center has acquired important elec- second annual Hank Greenberg Gerald R. Ford served as honorary tronic resources for its reference, Sportsmanship Award to David Stern, chairs. The event was hosted by jour- research and cataloging services. Using commissioner of the National Basket- nalist Ted Koppel. these funds, internet-licensed subscrip- ball Association, at a dinner in New On May 2, the YIVO Institute for tion services and CD-ROM databases, York. “We are happy to honor Jewish Research honored Congress- recommended by the Center’s Commissioner Stern and the role bas- woman Nita Lowey and architect Frank Collection Development Committee, ketball has played in the integration of Owen Gehry at its annual dinner. Dr. have been purchased or leased. Jews into America’s mainstream and Leon Botstein, president of Bard Visitors to the Center for Jewish the continuing role the game plays in College, was the featured speaker. History now can use the electronic ver- assimilating other ethnic minorities sions of important Jewish studies refer- over time,” commented Dr. Michael Spielmann Receives ence tools such as the Encyclopedia Feldberg, executive director of the Achievement Award Judaica, the Soncino Classics Collection American Jewish Historical Society. Dr. Diane Spielmann, public services and Index to Jewish Periodicals, or read Later this year, the American Jewish coordinator at the Center for Jewish full-text articles from scholarly journals Historical Society presented its Emma History—and a familiar figure to such as American Jewish History, Jewish Lazarus Statue of Liberty Award to researchers and scholars in the Lillian Social Studies and Modern Judaism. Elie Wiesel. The Emma Lazarus Award Goldman Reading Room—was the These resources are provided as a has been given only nine times since recipient of the 2002 Alumni free service for users of the Center’s the Society’s founding 110 years ago. Achievement Award of the Graduate public computers. The award honored Professor Wiesel Center of the City University of New for his exemplary moral, intellectual York. Dr. Spielmann, who received her ASF And Sephardic House Are One and literary leadership. Co-chairing the doctorate in German from the The merger of Sephardic House with event were Edgar M. Bronfman, Dr. Graduate Center, was one of seven the American Sephardi Federation was announced June 6, 2002. Sephardic House has become the cultural, pro- gramming, publishing, and distribution right: Congresswoman Nita Lowey addresses the Annual YIVO Institute division of the American Sephardi for Jewish Research Dinner. Federation.

Gathered together at the Emma Lazarus bottom right: Bruce Slovin (center), Statue of Liberty Award Dinner of the American chairman of the YIVO Board, presents Jewish Historical Society are (left to right) the Lifetime Achievement Award to guest Kenneth Bialkin, AJHS president, Honoree Elie of honor Frank Owen Gehry (left), while Wiesel, Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Ted Koppel, and President Leon Botstein of , Mrs. Marion Wiesel. guest speaker, looks on. David Karp David Karp 12 individuals chosen by the City who were expelled or forced to flee and other artists and intellectuals. Dr. University’s Ph.D. Alumni Association from Muslim countries after 1948. Jay Winter, professor of history at Yale for this award. The Justice Minister announced a new University, presented the 3rd Annual worldwide effort by his office, in which George Mosse Memorial Lecture, Blessings of Freedom ASF is taking part, to quickly gather speaking on “Shell Shock, Memory and Published by AJHS and save on computer files information Identity in the First World War.” And, Since January 1997, the American about communal and private Jewish on May 8th, Bryan Mark Rigg deliv- Jewish Historical Society has published assets that were confiscated or other- ered a most provocative talk based on a weekly feature, edited by Executive wise lost in a host of Arab countries. his recently published book, Hitler’s Director Michael Feldberg, entitled Prominent author and translator Jewish Soldiers. Mr. Rigg described the “Blessings of Freedom: Chapters in Hillel Halkin spent a week at the more than 2000 soldiers of Jewish ori- American Jewish History” in the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research as gin who served in the German military English-language edition of The a visiting scholar and presented a pub- during World War II. Mr. Rigg’s work Forward and other newspapers. This lic lecture entitled, “The Relationship also was featured on NBC’s Dateline past March, the Society published between Modern Yiddish and Hebrew on June 9th. Blessings of Freedom, which comprises Literature” in April. He spoke on The American Jewish Historical 120 of the best columns, organized topics such as the history of modern Society marked the 50th anniversary of according to subject and period. Jewish literature in Eastern Europe its Dialogue Forum with a series of Blessings of Freedom is not a and Israel, the identities of the writers “conversations” with four notables, complete history of American Jewry, and political movements behind this each moderated by Rabbi William but rather a collection of vignettes literature, and the proposed canon of Berkowitz who founded the series in and episodes that, taken together, modern Jewish literature recently 1951. Rabbi Berkowitz interviewed, illuminate the overriding directions propounded by the National Yiddish respectively, Dr. Norman Lamm, and tendencies of the much larger Book Center. President of Yeshiva University; Rabbi tapestry that comprises the American The Leo Baeck Institute presented Harold Kushner, best-selling author Jewish experience. several distinguished speakers this past of When Bad Things Happen to Good spring. Sheila Isenberg, author of A People; Malcolm Hoenlein, executive Speakers Round-Up Hero of our Own: The Story of Varian vice-chairman of the Conference of The American Sephardi Federation Fry, provided a detailed portrait of the Presidents of Major American Jewish hosted a briefing at the Center on May young Harvard-educated American Organizations; and singer and actor, 10th with Israeli Minister of Justice who rescued hundreds of individuals Theodore Bikel. ■ Meir Sheetrit, who addressed the issue from the Holocaust, including Marc of compensation for the 850,000 Jews Chagall, Max Ernst, Hannah Arendt

left to right: Bryan Mark Rigg, Meir Sheetrit, Israel’s Minister of Justice, Dr. Jay Winter, Hillel Halkin 13 for a private tour and to share experi- ences and ideas with Center staff. Program Of Guided Tours Tours, which are led by trained docents, cover all areas of the Center Attracts Groups dedicated to public service and the major exhibitions of the American Jewish Historical Society, American From Across the USA Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. Visitors also tour And Beyond the areas available for special events, including the Leo and Julia our groups from cities as throughout the United States. The del- Forchheimer Auditorium and Steinberg far-flung as Caracas, egation was on a fact-finding mission Great Hall, and are welcome to browse Venezuela, Marseilles, to further plans for the establishment in the Fanya Gottesfeld Heller Center France, Seattle, of a museum and cultural center in Shop, eat in the Date Palm Café, and Portland, Berkeley, Caracas. Several members of the pro- take advantage of the Center’s services Brookline, Danbury, fessional staff of the Center, as well in tracing family histories. ■ Dresher,T Pennsylvania, and, most as Sylvia Herkowitz, director of the recently, Roanoke, as well as the Yeshiva University Museum, addressed greater New York City area, have been the group. converging on the Center for Jewish The Center also hosted, The delegation from History for guided tours of its many on May 28th, a group Union Israelita de Caracas, Venezuela, on tour at the Center. exhibitions and facilities. The Center is from the Jewish pleased to accommodate group tours at Genealogical Society any time during its regular hours of of Maryland. In addi- operation; arrangements may be made tion to a tour, these by calling 917-606-8226. 40 enthusiastic The Center also offers open public researchers made tours every Tuesday and Thursday at extensive use of the 2 p.m. Individual reservations in resources in the advance are not required. Center’s Genealogy On April 11, 2002, a delegation from Institute and Reading the Union Israelita de Caracas, com- Room. And, on May prising teachers, architects, former 29th, Dr. Helen politicians, and other community lead- Light, director of the ers, visited the Center as part of their Jewish Museum of

tour of various Jewish organizations Australia, came by Barbara Goldberg

What’s New… At the Center Shop

he Fanya Gottesfeld Heller Center Shop pre- ■ Jewish Travel Guide 2002, edited by Michael Zaidner. sents visitors to the Center with an ever-changing Published in association with London’s Jewish Chronicle, selection of books, Judaica, jewelry, stationery, this is the indispensable resource for the Jewish traveler. CD’s and other items. Newest additions to the ■ Jewelry by new Israeli artist Neta Eyal has been added to shop’s inventory include: the shop’s already extensive selection of earrings, T■ Swimming Across by Andrew S. Grove. The founder and bracelets, necklaces, and pins. chairman of Intel was born Andras Grof in Hungary and, ■ Sports memorabilia. A unique collection of signed together with his family, survived the Nazi occupation and baseball cards, photos, and other mementos of Jewish the 1956 revolution before emigrating to the United sports notables. States. This charming memoir spans the period of his early years, in which chilling events are seen through the eyes of The Center Shop is open Monday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. a child, to his emergence as an American college student to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, known as “Andy.” 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ■ 14 LIBERTY MARBLE, INC. KENNETH AND EVELYN LIPPER FOUNDATION Sharing Our Commitment CAROL AND EARLE I. MACK MACKENZIE PARTNERS, INC. The Center for Jewish History proudly recognizes the following donors for their most gen- BERNARD L. AND RUTH MADOFF erous support of its undertaking to preserve the Jewish past and ensure the Jewish future. FOUNDATION SALLY AND ABE MAGID In addition to many anonymous gifts, this roster includes major benefactions received JOSEPH MALEH through June 30, 2002. Many significant gift opportunities remain available at the Center, MR. AND MRS. PETER W. M AY THE MAYROCK FOUNDATION including the naming of outstanding facilities. Please call our Development Office at DRS. ERNEST AND ERIKA MICHAEL 212-294-8310. ABBY AND HOWARD MILSTEIN MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER AGAHAJAN NASSIMI AND FAMILY FOUNDERS SIDNEY AND RUTH LAPIDUS ARTHUR S. AINSBERG THE FAMILY OF EUGENE AND MURIEL MR. AND MRS. THOMAS H. LEE MARJORIE AND NORMAN E. ALEXANDER S. DANIEL ABRAHAM, AND MAYER D. NELSON LEON LEVY MARCIA AND EUGENE APPLEBAUM DR. EDWARD L. STEINBERG - COMPANY GEORGE L. LINDEMANN BANK OF AMERICA SDA ENTERPRISES, INC. BERNARD AND TOBY NUSSBAUM THE MARCUS FOUNDATION SANFORD L. BATKIN ANTIQUA FOUNDATION PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON MARK FAMILY FOUNDATION BEAR, STEARNS & CO., INC. ESTATE OF SOPHIE BOOKHALTER, M.D. & GARRISON CRAIG AND SUSAN MCCAW FOUNDATION VIVIAN AND NORMAN BELMONTE LEO AND JULIA FORCHHEIMER DORIS AND MARTIN D. 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15 Did You Know? isitors to the Center Today’s Paul S. and Sylvia Center’s Leo and Julia Forchheimer for Jewish History Steinberg Great Hall divides the Auditorium, the Date Palm Café, often notice the intri- Center and is the bridge between the Children’s Discovery Center, cate structure of the 16th and 17th Streets. The 16th and the administrative offices. facility once past the Street side of the Center houses, The original 20 West 17 Street, Vdoors of the 16th Street Lobby. among other components, the a 12-story building, houses the The explanation is that the Yeshiva University Museum’s Betty Center’s archival storage areas. Center, now one building, was and Walter L. Popper Gallery, the originally six. Fanya Gottesfeld Heller Center The Center contains many addi- Shop, the Diane and Mark tional public spaces and areas of When construction began on the Goldman American Jewish interest. Guests are invited to Center, there were four existing Historical Society Board Room, the explore the buildings, or join one buildings, 11 West 16 Street, Center’s two-story Lillian Goldman of the public tours, offered every 15 West 16 Street, 20 West 17 Reading Room, the Genealogy Tuesday and Thursday at 2 p.m. ■ Street and a four-story courtyard Center, the Jonas Mendel Rennert building, built at different times Chapel, the Selma L. Batkin from 1909 to 1953. Two new Mezzanine Gallery, and the buildings were erected at 18 West Rosenberg Gallery and Winnick 17 Street and 22 West 17 Street. Gallery of the Yeshiva University The six were then merged into a Museum. Across the Great Hall, new steel structure. on the 17th Street side, are the

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