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
Recent Visitors
Sunday February 6, 2011, 2-4 PM An Afternoon of Reading and Discussion, Sunday February 6. Erika Dreifus read from her first book of non-fiction, Quiet Americans, whose stories in a large part were inspired by her paternal grandparents, German Jews who immigrated to the United States in the late 1930's. About the Book A high-ranking Nazi's wife and a Jewish doctor in prewar Berlin. A Jewish immigrant soldier and the German POWs he is assigned to supervise. A refugee returning to Europe for the first time just as terrorists massacre Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. A son of survivors and the family secrets modern technology may reveal. These are some of the characters and conflicts that emerge in Quiet Americans, in stories that reframe familiar questions about what is right and wrong, remembered and repressed, resolved and unending. About Erika Dreifus Author Erika Dreifus, granddaughter of a Jewish World War II veteran, writes fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Her recent work has appeared in Moment magazine and The Christian Science Monitor, and she is a past winner of the David Dornstein Memorial Creative Writing Contest (for fiction on Jewish themes. Erika, who earned a PhD in history from Harvard University, is a contributing editor for The Writer magazine and an advisory board member for J Journal: New Writing on Justice. She maintains two blogs: Practicing Writing and My Machberet, the latter of which focuses on matters of specifically Jewish literary and cultural interest. Quiet Americans, published by Last Light Studio, is Erika's first book of fiction and was inspired in large part by her paternal grandparents, German Jews who immigrated to the United States in the late 1930s. Portions of the proceeds from sales of Quiet Americans will be donated to The Blue Card, which supports survivors of Nazi persecution and their families in the United States. About The Blue Card Founded in 1934 in Germany to help Jews fleeing Nazi oppression, the organization took its name from the original blue cards that were issued: Each time a donation was made, a stamp was put on the card to keep a record. Today, when many Jewish community funds support memorials for the Holocaust, education programs, and other causes, The Blue Card has only one mission: to get much-needed funds either on an emergency basis or as an ongoing stipend to indigent needy Holocaust survivors. To date, The Blue Card has provided over $18 million to thousands of survivors and their families. In 2009, The Blue Card distributed more than $1.2 million in financial grants. Last year, The Blue Card helped more than 1,700 Holocaust survivors in need.
Jewish Study Center Chanukah party and The Military Siddur and Soldiers' Prayers class with Michael Bloom.
The Men's Group and family members from the Magen David Sephardic Congregation visited the museum for a program/tour led by veterans Sheldon Goldberg, Seymour Green and Harold Valk. Museum docents Bob Tebeleff and Marcia Waldstreicher provided a guided tour through exhibits Hidden Treasures, Hall of Heroes and the 75th Anniversary of the Jewish War Veterans 1933 March against Nazi Germany. Pictured from top left: WWII Veteran Seymour Greene, now 90, who at 22 was drafted into Special Services and with his trombone accompanied Irving Berlin's orchestra in "This is the Army", the traveling military musical; The Men's Group and family from Magen David Sephardic Congregation, Museum docent Bob Tebeleff who presented information on the JWV's 1933 Protest March of Nazi Germany. Robert Tebeleff"s interests lie in U.S. foreign relations and Germany between the two world wars. Pictured from bottom left:: Vietnam Veteran, Lieutenant Colonel Sheldon Goldberg, first a clarinetist traveling with the Strategic Air and the USAF in Europe Command Bands and second, after completing OCS, as a weapon systems officer with the 497th (Night Owls) Tactical Fighter Squadron who became the recipient of two Distinguished Flying Crosses; Harold Valk, who enlisted when he was 17 just before the end of World War II spending his time in the service helping rebuild China and library intern/docent Marcia Waldstreicher, a history major at UMUC; WWII Veteran Seymour Greene Singing "You're In the Army Now"
On November 8, 2009, The Shul Without Walls and the National Museum of American Jewish Military History hosted a program: Fighting Fair: Personal & Political Ethics of War. Participants, which included a goodly number of children, spent the early part of the afternoon on walking trek visiting certain areas of Washington DC exploring biblical and contemporary efforts to civilize conflict which was followed by a panel discussion with Jewish war veterans at the National Museum of American Jewish Military History. Veterans Lt. Col Sheldon Goldberg (Vietnam) and SSGT Daniel Katz (Iraq) were warmly greeted by the group and the children presented them with THANK YOU cards that they had made. Both veterans spoke of their time in the service and the challenges they faced. The children had the opportunity to participate in a museum treasure hunt and to try on study collection uniforms.
On September 29, members (and their mothers) of the American Girl Book Club came to visit the NMAJMH. All had read Meet Rebecca, the first book of a six series set of historical books, by Jacqueline Dembar Greene, and were anxious to learn about Jewish life, both civilian and military, in the early 1900s, when Rebecca Rubin, the main character, would have been 9 years old growing up in New York. The girls, and one brave young man, enjoyed the treasure hunt through our exhibits and several tried on uniforms from the Museum´s study collection. They were amazed at just how petite some of the service women were. Group coordinator Pier Penic provided a period of Q&A of the book as well as an overview of what life and times were like “back then.” JWV and Museum member and docent for the day, Richard Rosenzweig, provided detailed information of the history of the Jewish War Veterans and the Museum highlighting that early period.
A Havurah group of Jewish professionals from the Metro area visited the museum Sunday August 30. Docent Richard Rosenzweig and speaker Sheldon Goldberg, (back row) provided a well received tour and talk which included historical information provided by Richard Rosenzweig , JWV and Museum member, on the Jewish War Veterans organization and its Museum. JWV and Museum member Sheldon Goldberg relayed information on his military service. One of the group members was a returnee having been a speaker at the Museum's building dedication in 1984. We look forward to a return visit of the group and thank them for including us in their Sunday events.
Students, chaperons and teachers of the Hillel Day School of Boca Raton visited the Museum May 13 bright and early at 9am. It was a wonderful way to start a day. We´d like to report that all those that participated in the treasure hunt seemed to enjoy the fun way to find facts about Jews in the American Military. They came up with interesting and time–saving ways of relaying answers to co team members – Texting! We look forward to another visit from the school next year! Thank you Faye of Flamingo Education Tours and Hadassah Smolarcik of Hillel Day School for your help and guidance and to the Agami Family for referring this museum to the school. The Agami family lost their beloved son, Daniel, during his military service in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007. To learn more about Daniel Agami and other soldiers we are highlighting during Jewish Heritage Month...
Greenfield Hebrew Academy visited the museum on Monday, March 25. The 45 students were entertained with our Museum Treasure Hunt where they were given questions and they were to find the answers that are located in the text of the exhibits. There were 4 teams that participated and team #4 (picture #1) answered all the questions but 2 correctly. Each winning team member was given a September 11, 2001 memorial watch set. Picture #2 is the whole group. Thank you for visiting, please come again. Students and professor from William & Mary College´s Washington DC campus visited the NMAJMH on March 6, 2009 as part of their course study, The Politics of Memory: The Commemoration of the Second World War and the Holocaust in and around Washington, DC. Professor Bruce Campbell and seven students were greeted by members of the Museum´s leadership. Museum President PNC David L. Magidson and Past Museum Presidents Exhibits Chair Florence Levine and PNC Ed Goldwasser talked about the history of the Jewish War Veterans and Museum, touching on the 75th anniversary of the March 23, 1933 protest march against Nazi Germany, the fifty years of existence of the NMAJMH and the rededication of the Museum at 18th and R Street location on its 25th year. The program featured Holocaust survivor Anita Stern and concentration camp liberators Alan Moskin and Bernhard Storch, who all captivated the audience with their stories of endurance and freedom.
On January 30, 2009, the Israeli Embassy Military Attaché held a briefing/reception at our museum. The program-luncheon was headed by MG Benjamin Gantz and was followed by a docent led tour of the museum's exhibits. Lecture and Reception Hosted
On Sunday November 9, in remembrance of Kristallnacht, the NMAJMH hosted a lecture and book signing by Dr. Louis Maier, author of From the Golden Gate to the Black Forest and In Lieu of Flowers. Dr. Maier spoke about his escape from Germany and his experiences during World War II. Members of Harold E. Greenberg JWV Post 692 came to the Museum in the morning for a presentation of plans for the new permanent exhibit followed by a luncheon. They were joined by members of the Potomac Chapter of Hadassah and the public for Dr. Maier's lecture and reception. Visitors also enjoyed docent-led tours throughout the afternoon.
Members of Paul A. Rosenblum Post/Auxiliary 44 visited the Museum on May 30. After enjoying catered box lunches from Eli's kosher restaurant in our education center, they viewed the museum exhibits with docent Richard Rosenzweig. Pictured in the first photo are members of the Post/Auxiliary listening tour guide Richard Rosenzweig. In the second photo, Paul A. Rosenblum Post 44 Cleveland presents two checks to the Museum. Pictured are P.C. Roger Gove, Commander Stan Waters, Museum Director Col. Herb Rosenbleeth and P.C. Sid Wakser. Teachers, parents and children of the Congregation Kneseth Israel of Annapolis, MD, visited the museum Sunday May 18. The group was led by Rabbi Moshe Weisblum, who, at the time of the opening of the exhibit, Rescue and Renewal in 1999, had been the rabbi for our guest curator, Mr. Mort Horvitz. The children participated in the museum treasure hunt led by docent Richard Rosenzweig and staff member Cheryl Waldman, Director of Programs for the JWV.  National Museum of American Jewish Military History Celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month with Congressional Visit The National Museum of American Jewish Military History (NMAJMH) celebrated Jewish American Heritage Month by hosting an evening reception for members of Congress, including members of the House Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committees, on Tuesday, May 13, 2008. The reception was coordinated through the office of Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), who introduced resolutions in 2006 urging the President to proclaim a month (May) that would recognize the 352 year history of Jewish contributions to American culture. Museum President, Past National Commander Robert M. Zweiman, and Museum Director and National Executive Director of JWV, Col. Herb Rosenbleeth provided greetings and President Zweiman introduced the group to the Museum's exhibitions and goals. The presentation was followed by a tour of the museum exhibits by NMAJMH docent Richard Rosenzweig and a "behind the scenes" look at some of the museum's most interesting artifacts led by Collections Assistant Mike Rugel. We look forward to another visit from those and other members of Congress and we are delighted to be apart of their outreach endeavors.  Mr. Eddie Eisenstein came to the museum with a purpose. He lives with his wife, Audrey, in Delray Beach, Fl and recently attended a talk at the Temple Emeth in Delray Beach where Museum docent and winter Floridian Richard Rosenzweig was giving a talk about the museum. In the course of the program, Mr. Rosenzweig mentioned a place in our museum to put information on heroes. Mr. Eisenstein came to the museum with that purpose. In 2004, his son, LtCmdr. Arthur Eisenstein of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corp. was conducting routine training with cadets at Fort McHenry when he observed a Baltimore Inner Harbor water taxi capsize in the swift current brought on by a sudden and fierce storm. Along with 18 other personnel, he quickly boarded a command assault craft to assist in rescue efforts, and with utter abandonment of his own personal safety was able to retrieve three passengers that had been pulled from underneath the capsized water taxi. LtCmdr. Eisenstein, along with 26 others, was presented the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for Heroism for his actions and to this day remains humbled.  When Arthur's father, Eddie Eisenstein, called the museum recently and asked to speak to Mr. Rosenzweig, he said "I am coming to the museum to tell you about my son". Mr. Eisenstein chose to inscribe a leaf on our Tree of Honor to pay tribute to his son's bravery and patriotism. In telling me about his son, Mr. Eisenstein looked me square in the eye and said, "Don't say anything against the United States to MY son!" Pictured here is a very proud and humble father! To view citation and newspaper article, click here.  Members of the Behrend Adas Senior Fellowship (under the DCJCC) visited the Museum on April 15, 2008. Pictured here with Historian Al Lerner.   Students from the 5th grade Sunday school class of Shaare Tefila Congregation (Silver Spring, MD) came to visit the Museum on April 13 during class time. Pictured with their teachers Shera Dickler (far right) and Michal Bilick (far left) and Docent Richard Rosenzweig (center).  Students, Rabbis and teachers from Houston (TX) Robert M. Beren Academy visited the Museum on April 1, 2008. Many students participated in a fact finding treasure hunt while others visited with Historian Al Lerner and Docents Richard Rosenzweig and Dr. Allen Glass, who was on his first training mission! Beren Academy is an Orthodox day school affiliated with Yeshiva University and the Association of Modern Orthodox Day Schools (AMODS) that provides a comprehensive Jewish and college preparatory education in an atmosphere of reverence, good citizenship, and love of the Jewish people and Israel. We look forward to a return visit. Click here to read the "Thank You" letter.   The University of Kansas Hillel participated in a week long (March 16-23) student-led alternative break in Washington, D.C. that focused on the issues of homelessness and poverty. Events that the group participated in included working in various soup kitchens and hearing various discussion panels that included people who have overcome homelessness and poverty. Part of the program in collaboration with the National Coalition of Homeless had the students experience homelessness for 48 hours on the streets of D.C. This included walking around with no money, no form of transportation other than on foot, and no schedule for the day. In order to eat the students had to learn how to earn money while on the streets. While walking through the streets of D.C., the group happened to view one of the directional street signs, placed by the city, which listed the National Museum of American Jewish Military History. The group came to visit and participated in a fact finding discussion with Museum Collections Assistant Mike Rugel and Docent Richard Rosenzweig. We wished the group good luck and a safe journey.  On October 2, 2007, Former Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld visited the National Museum of American Jewish Military History. Pictured with Mr. Rumsfeld (middle) is Museum Director, Col. Herb Rosenbleeth (far left) and Director of Operations, Larry Richardson (far right).  Participants of the Jewish Study Center's classes are shown here touring the Museum. Dr. Jeffrey Greenhut (pictured in forefront) is a military historian/docent at the Museum as well as the teacher of the class, War in the Middle East, held at our Museum.  Pictured are 8th graders and their teachers from Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School Los Angeles, CA, who visited The National Museum of American Jewish Military History on October 23, 2007, as part of a class field trip that included the Jewish Heritage Museum (NY) and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum (DC). The 8th graders not only provided excellent answers to the museum treasure hunt, but they gave funds from their own pockets for a care package for our servicemen and women who are currently serving overseas. The school most graciously provided additional funds for the SUPPORT OUR SOLDIERS (SOS) program as well as funds for the museum. This endeavor also provided for an avenue of future community service with San Fernando Valley Post 603. Our hats are off to the Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School! We look forward to a return visit. On June 3, 2007, the National Museum participated in the Dupont-Kalorama Museums Consortium Walk Weekend. Since 1983, this family festival has drawn thousands to Washington's "off the Mall" museums presenting a variety of activities for all ages. This year the National Museum of American Jewish Military History joined in with other well known museums like the Philips Collection and the Textile Museum.  Pictured from Clinton, MO, are brothers Austin Cates, aged 12 and Christian Cates, aged 10, who were in the Washington DC area visiting their grandmother. Austin and Christian enthusiastically undertook the Museum Treasure Hunt, finding most of the answers to the quiz without additional "outside" help and each were the proud owner of our 9/11/2001 special edition memorial watch set. To find out more about our collection of quizzes, word puzzles, and other games click here.  June Carmichael, a program volunteer at the Textile Museum, was also among our visitors that day and she had a personal discovery of her own. Read her story by clicking here.  Dr. Joseph Shoham, WWII Veteran, and his son, Dr. Myron Shoham came to visit the Museum. Dr. Shoham served with Frances Slanger, one of the four nurses who served during D Day at Normandy and who is featured in our Women in the Military exhibit. Click here to read his story. |
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