News & Special Announcements

A Noontime Lecture Series

A Noontime Lecture Series ● Tuesdays, July 6, 20 & 27 – 12:30pm–2:00pm
Admission is Free ● Bring a lunch!  More info: (202) 265–6280

July 6: Ethnic History and its Discontents – Part I – Jews in the US Military
July 20: Ethnic History and its Discontents, Part II – Black Soldiers in the Civil War
July 27: The Crisis of Islamic Civilization

Family Stories: Sons, Fathers and Zaydes

The National Museum of American Jewish Military History and The Jewish Study Center presented “Family Stories: Sons, Fathers and Zaydes”, June 6, 2010 during the 27th annual DuPont Kalorama Consortium´s Walk Weekend, a fun filled weekend where a number of the “off the Mall” museums and historic homes were admission free and offered special events. At our museum throughout the afternoon those who wished had the opportunity to tell their story about their son, father or zayde through words, photography, art, drama, comedy or film. There were three that came forward. Judy Meschel, grew up in Chicago and works in documentary film. Her father, George Meschel, who still lives in Chicago and, among other things, is a presenter in the Lyric Opera Lecture Corps. Judy presented a birthday tribute film for her father´s 70th birthday, Kay Leslie Ackman, a writer and a lawyer living in Maryland with her husband who is a Chilean writer, told a short story about the travels of a father and son to Mount Meron. Don Williams, a comedian and comedy actor who has produced and directed his own plays with his own theater group, provided us an inside look at the many sides of one of his heroes, his father. Photographs of the event are posted in the Museum Lobby. Guided tours of the museum exhibits for the adults were available with our docents Richard Rosenzweig and Jeff Greenhut, with treasure hunts for the kids aided by Michael Bloom and Zev Lewis, both from the Jewish Study Center.

Dupont Kalorama Museums Consortium Walk Weekend

The National Museum of American Jewish Military History is preparing for the Dupont Kalorama Museums Consortium Walk Weekend that we participate in on Sunday June 6, 2010 from 1pm–5pm at the Museum. Check out the consortium website at www.dkmuseums.com and peruse the website of each organization. During the next few months the organizations will update their websites and place specific information on Walk Weekend and what events they will offer. Lots of family fun, good music, interesting displays, fascinating historic homes, lectures, treasure hunts and exhibit tours. The NMAJMH and the Jewish Study Center of Washington, DC will host “Family Stories: Sons, Fathers, and Zaydes”. Anyone can participate, but you need to register. So here´s the information: Are you a photographer? Are you an artist? Are you a writer or storyteller? A stand–up comedian? We are looking for those of your who have a story to tell about your son, father, and/or zayde. What makes them tick, what are their favorite stories or those old–time jokes that get told over and over and make you laugh out loud? How would you portray those members of your family – perhaps in a short skit or through a short story, some photographs, a family video. Throughout the afternoon we will provide each participant up to ten minutes to tell a story through words, photography or art, drama or video. To register or for more information, call Mary Westley at (202) 265-6280 or email at mwestley@nmajmh.org. Look forward to hearing from you.

Noontime Notes Lecture Series

The National Museum of American Jewish Military History and the Jewish Study Center present as part of the Noontime Notes Lecture Series –In Remembrance: GIs Remember – Liberating the Concentration Camps, April 15, 2010, 2pm–4pm. Featuring presentations by Bernhard Storch, Polish Army; Alan Moskin, U.S. Army. “Even before the start of World War II in 1939, reports of terror and murder by the Nazi regime in Germany had drawn the attention of the civilized world. The victims were Jews, Gypsies, Jehovah´s Witnesses, political dissidents, homosexuals, and the mentally retarded and physically handicapped – anyone who did not deserve a place in Hitler´s Third Reich But it was not until the final stages of the war in Europe that full reality became known. American, British, Russian and other Allied armies began to overrun the network of thousands of concentration camps, labor and death camps that Allied forces happened upon while advancing toward military objectives. The reaction of the soldiers who entered the camps was one of shock, disbelief, and anger. Jewish soldiers were well represented among these frontline troops. They were the infantrymen, tank crewmen, paratroopers and combat engineers. How did they respond to what they saw? What interaction did they have with the survivors? What effect did this experience have on their lives as Jews?”

Morton Horvitz, Guest Curator, Rescue and Renewal

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 a subsidiary of 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.

BOOK SIGNING AT THE MUSEUM

“There is perhaps no greater patriotism than to fight for one´s adopted country. David Laskin´s The Long Way Home: An American Journey from Ellis Island, tells the riveting and essentially unknown story of twelve soldiers who risked their lives for the United States of America, a nation in which none of them had been born.”

The National Museum of American Jewish Military History, 1811 R Street, NW Washington DC 20009, hosts David Laskin, Thursday, March 25, from 12pm–2pm to start off our monthly spring Noontime Lectures series. Mr. Laskin will be reading from his book and signing copies. The Long Way Home, unfolds the experience of American immigrants in The First World War from 1917–1918. Three of the twelve men were Jewish – and one of the soldiers, named Meyer Epstein, David found through a notice placed in the Museum´s quarterly magazine, The Jewish Veteran. Mr. Laskin met Private Epstein´s son Len, at his home in New Jersey and he shared stories of his father´s immigration and military service through stories and photographs. One of the other Jewish soldiers in the book is Samuel Goldberg, whom David met and interviewed when Mr. Goldberg was 106 years old! At the time he was the oldest Jewish veteran of the Great War. The third Jewish veteran in the book is Sam Dreben, who was famous in his day as the Fighting Jew. Dreben was a career soldier who served many times in the US armed forces as well as being a soldier of fortune in Mexico. General Pershing said Dreben was the bravest solder he had ever met.

Hear Mr. Laskin speak on the involvement of additional Jewish Americans of distinction, especially immigrants, in the First World War, including Sam Dreben who won the Distinguished Service Cross and William Sawelson who won the Medal of Honor. Mr. Laskin will conclude with a question and answer period and the signing of books.

The Museum exhibits will be open for tours before and after the event. Docents will be available. For more information contact Mary Westley at (202) 265–6280 or mwestley@jwv.org. Admission is free. For more information on the author and the book, visit www.thelongwayhomebook.com. For more information on the National Museum of American Jewish Military History visit www.nmajmh.org.

On December 10, 2009 at 7pm, The Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, the National Museum of American Jewish Military History and the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America present The Enemy I Knew: German Jews in the Allied Military in World War II. Author, Steven Karras will be reading from his book and signing copies at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I Street, NW, Washington DC , 20001, (202) 408-3100. COST: Tickets are $6, or receive two (2) free tickets with the purchase of the book ($28) from Sixth & I.
Sign up for this event here.

In the decades since World War II, one question has arisen again and again: “Why didn´t the Jews fight back?” In The Enemy I Knew, author Steven Karras shows that not only did they fight back, many Jews also played key roles in bringing an end to the Nazis´ reign of terror. Helping dispel the myth that the Jewish experience leading up to and during World War II was one solely of victimization, The Enemy I Knew contains twenty–seven, first–person narratives of courageous German and Austrian born Jews who fled the Nazis and, not long after finding safety in the U.S. and Great Britain, were inducted into the Allied Armed Forces to fight the countries of their birth. The Enemy I Knew is a tribute to the often overlooked men and women who risked everything to serve their new countries and help rid the world of an unparalleled human evil.

Veterans Day November 11, Arthur Szyk – Soldier in Art

Presentation on the art and messages of the Polish–Jewish artist Arthur Szyk (1894–1951) by Rabbi Irvin Ungar, Curator, The Arthur Szyk Society. For more information on Arthur Szyk and Rabbi Irvin Ungar, visit the website of the Arthur Szyk Society at www.Szyk.org. The presentation captured a wide variety of interested participants which included the family of a United States Holocaust Memorial Museum employee who assisted in the creating of the Arthur Szyk exhibit at the Holocaust Museum in 2002. Museum staff offered exhibit tours and a treasure hunt for the children. Pictured are Rabbi Irvin Unger during the presentation and family members of Congregation Etz Hayim.  To see Szyk flyer, click here

An afternoon with Alison Buckholz:

Museum visitors along with friends and family gathered at the National Museum of American Jewish Military History on Sunday September 13, 2009 to hear Alison Buckholtz give a reading from her book Standing By: the Making of an American Military Family in a Time of War. To learn more about Alison Buckholz, click here www.alisonbuckholtz.com

The Noontime Lecture Series:

“The Balance of Power in the Persian Gulf” Monday´s July 6, 13, 20 and 27.  For more information, click here to learn more,

To read a review,
click here for July 6 review
click here for July 13 review
click here for July 20 review
click here for July 27 review

A Tribute to Dad and Zadie

Family members and museum visitors gathered on Sunday June 28, 2009, to pay Tribute to Dad and Zadie. The museum was delighted to have such a warm and friendly group come together and listen to the stories, ask questions, and take with them out into the world an additional part of history. Participants included World War II veteran Joseph Eaton who served in Eisenhower´s intelligence central command, Michael Gold, grandson of Paul Stichman who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II assisting the British by parachuting behind enemy lines to work with Partisans against the Nazis, Mary Westley, daughter of Richard Noyer Westley, radio operator with the U.S. Maritime Merchant Marines aboard the SS Toteco during the North Atlantic & Caribbean Operations, World War II, and Steve Jaron, grandson of Harry Lawrence Rothstein, US Army intelligence officer, World War II. We thank all those that participated and look forward to visiting with them again.

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.   

50th Anniversary of Our Congressional Charter

The National Museum of American Jewish Military History commemorated the 50th anniversary of our Congressional Charter, which was awarded 2 September 1958, by kicking-off plans for our new core exhibit!. During the JWV's Annual Convention the NMAJMH held a reception unveiling plans for a new permanent core exhibit covering the history of Jewish service in the American military. Abbie Chessler, design director and founding partner of Quatrefoil Associates, presented the vision for this exhibition to an excited audience, showing renderings of the design and discussing the themes to be covered by this important exhibit.   

• Read the original press release and charter

New Exhibition: Jewish War Veterans' Protest March Against Nazi Germany - 75th Anniversary

On March 7, 2008, the NMAJMH opened an exhibition commemorating the 75th anniversary of the JWV's March 23, 1933, protest parade against Nazi Germany held in New York City.. The exhibit was covered by press from The Washington Post (3/7/08), and the Washington Jewish Week (3/6/08). The text from the articles is below. If you have questions concerning the exhibit, please call Mary Westley, (202) 265-6280 x511 or email to mwestley@nmajmh.org.   

• Exhibit: U.S. Jewry was not silent during Nazi Era
• On March 23, 1933, a Walk to Remember - Anti-Nazi March & Boycott Honored

Read the original account of the parade as reported in the April, 1933 issue of The Jewish Veteran: "It seems superfluous to say anything about the monster Protest Parade held by us in New York City on March 23rd, 1933. The press, radio, and movietone have broadcast it to the ends of the earth. Its meaning and effect have reached everywhere. However, history requires that we publish some of the highlights and sidelights."   

Show You Support of the National Museum of American Jewish Military History – Purchase a Leaf on Our Tree of Honor

Help preserve the contributions of Jewish Americans to maintaining the peace and freedom of the United States of America by purchasing a leaf on the Tree of Honor or by adding a rock or acorn ...   

Are you a Guardian Member of the National Museum of American Jewish Military History?

We are highlighting Guardian Museum Membership. Webster's dictionary defines a guardian as, "[a] protector." As a Guardian Member, you would be defined as a protector of the Museum's mission ...