The National Museum of
American Jewish Military History

1811 R Street NW, Washington, D.C 20009. | 202-265-6280 | www.NMAJMH.org | nmajmh@nmajmh.org

The National Museum of American Jewish Military History

Welcome to The National Museum of American
Jewish Military History

The National Museum of American Jewish Military History, under the auspices of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, documents and preserves the contributions of Jewish Americans to the peace and freedom of the United States, educates the public concerning the courage, heroism and sacrifices made by Jewish Americans who served in the armed forces, and works to combat anti-Semitism.

Take a virtual tour of the National Museum

NMAJMH News &
Special Announcements

Stitches for Soldiers


There are new dates and times for our Stitches for Soldiers program. During the months of February, March and April, The National Museum of American Jewish Military History and the Jewish Study Center are hosting stitching bees - free sessions where people can bring their stitching projects that they wish to create for our active military personnel. Sessions are scheduled for February 21, March 6, March 20 and April 3 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Bring your projects for sweaters, gloves, hats (yes, even Yarmulkes), socks, and small blankets and sit and stitch with us. You can even provide a name and address of an active duty friend or family member. Each session we will pick a name of a person to receive something made from the group. Below are links to patterns that have been approved by the U.S. Military. All fiber is to be 100% wool. For more information contact Mary Westley, 202-265-6280 or mwestley@jwv.org

Please click here for patterns.


New Videos Feature Military Service Stories of Women Veterans


WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs has released a series of videos in which women Veterans describe their experiences serving in the military, ranging from their significant contributions to national safety and security to the challenges they faced during their service and after returning to civilian life.

"These videos show the important contributions women have made to this country through their military service," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "Women Veterans have earned the respect of a grateful Nation for their tremendous service and sacrifice."

The three- to five-minute videos are part of VA's ongoing "Rethink Veterans" campaign to increase awareness of women Veterans and their vital roles in our nation's history. The videos can be viewed at www.womenshealth.va.gov or on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/VeteransHealthAdmin.

The four stories just released were recorded during the July 2011 Women Veterans Summit in Washington, D.C. Women from all eras, conflicts, and service branches were invited to share their experiences. VA plans to release several video vignettes over the next few months.

The first four videos include an Army Reservist who served nine years stateside before deploying to Iraq post-9/11, a Vietnam War era nurse who returned from combat with a new sense of family, a Navy Veteran who advocates for expanded roles for women in the military, and Brigadier General Wilma Vaught, the first woman to deploy with a Strategic Air Command bomber unit. The videos are meant to increase awareness of women's roles in the military among VA staff and the public.

"We're challenging people to rethink preconceived notions about who is a Veteran, what a Veteran looks like, and what a woman Veteran may have done or experienced while serving," said Dr. Patricia Hayes, chief consultant of VA's Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group. "Getting this message across, both inside and outside VA, is important so that women Veterans receive the respect, recognition, and care they deserve."

Women Veterans make up 1 percent of Veterans, 15 percent of active duty service members and nearly 18 percent of guard and reserve forces.


New Items in Museum Shop


Click here to view our new items in our museum shop! Beautiful dichroic glass and watercolors...


All News & Announcements »


Cultural Tourism DC

Cultural Tourism DC and its members affirm the importance of culture and heritage to local neighborhoods and the city's economic prosperity by developing, delivering, and celebrating real experiences for area residents and visitors. It envisions Washington, DC as a city of rich and diverse culture and heritage that generates civic pride and economic prosperity in neighborhoods across the entire city.

Museum Outreach


The Museum volunteer staff is growing!


Marcia F. Waldstreicher

Marcia F. Waldstreicher, who is a University of Maryland University College Student majoring in History, has come aboard as a museum docent and administrative assistant. Her enthusiastic style and genuine desire to learn and share provided the perfect fit for her duties. And within a few days, Marcia proved to be a valuable team player by suggesting ideas and implementing them for a Veteran's storytime tour that was presented to a local Men's group. She has also written book reviews and is currently researching information on the founding fathers of the Jewish War Veterans.


Jason Weiser

Jason Weiser, who has a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science (CUNY), comes to us well versed in a variety of military historical and current affairs topics and will also be leading visitors through our exhibits and providing much needed assistance in event planning.


Docent Search


The National Museum of American Jewish Military History (NMAJMH) is seeking docents to lead walk–in visitors as well as pre–arranged tour groups, of both children and adults, through a variety of exhibits that explain and examine the role of Jews in American military history. The NMAJMH is affiliated with the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, and is dedicated to the mission of preserving and creating public awareness of the contributions of Jewish Americans in the Armed Forces. A contribution of your time is an immeasurable gift, and a great asset, to our organization.
We will provide training, and any necessary materials, before you begin your time commitment. It is recommended that our docents have some ability interacting with, and speaking to, the general public. Our days of operation are Monday–Friday 9am to 5pm; and we are happy to work around your schedule.
In exchange for the donation of your time, we offer honorary Museum membership, a copy of all exhibition catalogues, and an invitation to all exhibition openings, lectures and special events, as well as the annual volunteer appreciation lunch.
Please contact Mary Westley at mwestley@nmajmh.org, or by phone at (202) 265-6280 and sign up to give a gift of your time well spent. We look forward to hearing from you.


The Jewish Study center

The Jewish Study Center - the place to go for classes and special programs of Jewish study of the widest breadth of topics as possible. There website is www.jewishstudycenter.org


DC Destination

Hotel rooms, great eateries, interesting places to shop, unusual things to see and do.

The Future of
the NMAJMH

Design for Permanent Exhibition Unveiled


The Future of the NMAJMH

The National Museum of American Jewish Military History proudly unveils the design for our new permanent core exhibit. The NMAJMH has been working with Quatrefoil Associates to put together a conceptual design for an exhibition that will cover the entire span of Jewish service in the American military. This new exhibit will be the core of the NMAJMH and is our most ambitious undertaking yet.

More


New Exhibit at the NMAJMH!


In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month the National Museum of American Jewish Military History would like to pay tribute to the Jewish servicemen and women who have given their lives in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. It is vitally important, moreover the mission of the NMAJMH, to recognize that Jews have served in the armed forces of the United States since the founding of our nation and that Jewish men and women continue to fight and die for this country.

In honor of the sacrifices made by these men and women the NMAJMH has created a small exhibition entitled Fallen Heroes: Remembering American Jewish Casualties of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Fallen Heroes features photographs and information on all of the Jewish men and women who have died while serving with the U.S. armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The display also provides a graphical breakdown of where service members died, how they died, and who they were. We hope that this exhibit will serve as not only a memorial to those who have died, but also as a reminder of the long legacy of Jewish service in the American military.


Norman Rosenshein, PNC President

Meet the President of the National Museum of American Jewish Military History


To view other museum outreach events, click here.


Coming to Washington DC?


DC Destination

The National Museum of American Jewish Military History is a member of The DuPont-Kalorama Museums Consortium (DKMC). It promotes the "off the mall" museums and their neighborhoods in the greater DuPont-Kalorama area of Washington, DC. Check out the DKMC website for museum locations. All are in walking distance from one to another! What a great way to spend an afternoon!


DC Destination

www.washingtondcjcc.org

Visitors to the
National Museum of American Jewish Military History

Chanukah Open House, December 20, 2011 .Thank You for Sharing with Us.


October 23, 2011: Jewish Chaplains Memorial Dedication Tour

Jewish Chaplains Memorial Dedication Tour

As part of the Jewish Chaplains Memorial Dedication events, the museum hosted a private tour for those attending the dedication ceremony on the 24th . In attendance were rescuer of Dorchester survivors, WWII Coast Guardsman, Richard Swanson and wife Joan. Click here to view information on Storekeeper Second Class Richard N. Swanson http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2010/01/wwii-coast-guardsman-honored-for-heroism. Many thanks to Military Historian Barry Sax and wife Carolyn for introducing the museum to the Sullivan's


October 23, 2011: Ladies of the Red Hat Society Visits

Red Hat Society Ladies

A local chapter of the Red Hat Society visited the museum. Wife, Ray Stone, of PNC Harris B. Stone, pictured center front with wide rimmed red hat, is the new Programs Chairman on the museum's Board of Directors. What a great way to start off good programming! Through this visit, additional contacts with a local synagogue were made and a future visit was discussed. Thank you ladies!


September 27, 2011: Author of Kiss Every Step Visits

Concentration camp survivor and author Doris (Szpringer) Martin and husband Ralph Martin ("My Angel"). "I could not go home without coming here and sharing my story". Looking around the exhibit,Rescue and Renewal, she continued, " This is me!". Her book, Kiss Every Step, depicts her life and that of her family before, during World War II and after. "The German army swept into Poland on September 1, 1939, and into my home of Bendzin. The Nazis burned down our beautiful synagogue with some 200 Jews inside. Most families were wiped out by the Holocaust. My family was an ordinary middle-class Jewish family, but through many incredible strokes of luck, or miracles, all seven of us survived. For an entire Jewish family in Poland to survive the Holocaust is amazing - likely unique. What is more remarkable is how we survived. ". Books for sale in house and online. $15.00. A portion of sale helps fund the museum shop.


September 20, 2011: Congressional tour with Pennsylvania Congressmen

Pictured from left to right:  Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (Post 697 member), PDC Jerome Polonsky, Congressman Todd Platts, and Congressman Charlie Dent.

Past Department Commander of Pennsylvania, Jerome Polonsky guides Pennsylvania Congressmen through the National Museum of American Jewish Military History. Pictured from left to right: Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (Post 697 member), PDC Jerome Polonsky, Congressman Todd Platts, and Congressman Charlie Dent. Upon completion of the tour, Congressman Todd Platts noted that the Mother's Grief exhibit was most poignant..." Documenting the life of a soldier (Sanford Kahn) before and during military service allows the viewer to get a good sense of who the person was..." We thank PDC Polonsky for his efforts in coordinating the tour.


June 16, 2011: Congressional tour

ongressman Ted Deutch and legislative correspondent, Joshua Sztorc.

Congressman Ted Deutch, of Florida's 19th District, visited the National Museum of American Jewish Military History on June 16th, 2011. The Museum is of particular interest to him because his father, Bernard Deutch, was a soldier in World War II and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. The Congressman mentioned the importance of our mission-the preservation of Jewish American military heritage-to the children of today, as they are the last group with tangible ties to "The Greatest Generation." We agree that this important visit will help raise awareness of the contributions of Jewish servicemen and women to the U.S. armed forces.


Children from the Netivot Montessori School (Edison, NJ)Visit the Museum


Children from the Netivot Montessori School (Edison, NJ)Visit the Museum

Children and their chaperons visited the museum, ate lunch, and took part in our Museum Treasure Hunt. We thank teachers Sarah and Gregg Todd for adding the museum to their trip itinerary.


FAMILY STORIES: DAUGHTERS, MOTHERS AND BUBBIES


Karen Levine, Stacy Marinelli, group from Operation Understanding

The DCJCC and the NMAJMH hosted an afternoon of Family Stories. Karen Levine, author of upcoming book And You Shall Live, storytellers Liz Nichols, and Stacy Marinelli offered uplifting portrayals (Levine) and humorous tales of "women-dom" (Nichols/Marinelli) while museum docent Marcie Waldstreicher, asst. administrator Mary Westley and visitor Hollie Rahl read excerpts from Mollie's War, authored by Cyndee Schaffer and her mother Mollie Weinstein, and the journal of Lisa Weisman which describes the joyous but often tedious process of international adoption. Lisa Weisman and Andy Beach have been married for 10 years. They currently are living in Portland Oregon with their two funny dogs. Lisa is a fiber nerd, spinner, knitter, quilter who is obsessively knitting things for her child. Andy is a computer guy who puts up with Lisa's antics. Both are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their daughter, Davy, born in Ethiopia on November 12, 2010. Stacie Marinelli is a DC writer and researcher who became a member of the storytelling community while living in the New England area. Mixing in movement and emotion, she tells family stories and folktales from around the world, including those from her Italian and Jewish backgrounds, and has performed in festivals, children's library rooms, bookstores, and coffeehouses. Docents Mike Rugel and Marcie Walstreicher led 25 teens from Operation Understanding through the museum exhibits.

Liz Nichols

Museum Hours

Mon – Fri: 9AM to 5PM

Closed Sat and most Jewish and Federal holidays

Open Sunday for 6 or more people by appointment only



Purchase a Leaf on Our Tree of Honor

Congratulations to all and thank you. The initial Tree of Honor is fully dressed, all 652 leaves have been sold and inscribed. There are remaining two medium sized stones for $2000 each and one medium sized acorn for $4000. During the next few months preparations for 2 additional side panels holding 100 leaves each are being made and the unveiling will be during the Museum Board of Directors meeting, March 5, 2010.
Click here for order form


NMAJMH's Yahrzeit Program

View the NMAJMH's Yahrzeit ProgramOpens in New Window

Adobe PDFClick to download and print the Yahrzeit Memorial Display BrochureOpens in New Window

Click to View the Mourner's Kaddish


Celebrate 350 Jewish Life in America 1654-2004

Adobe Acrobat PDF FileView the National Museum of American Jewish Military History’s tribute to 350 years of Jewish service in the American militaryOpens in New Window


Museum Display

Can't visit the NMAJMH in person?
Purchase a museum display for use in your community.


NMAJMH Links