Jewish Museum Celebrates First Anniversary
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The National Museum of American Jewish History is approaching its first anniversary on November 12th, so how has the museum done this year?
Museum president and CEO Michael Rosenzweig says between admissions, memberships, special events and the museum store, the National Museum of American Jewish History generated about $5-million worth of revenue this year.
"We've already welcomed in excess of 100,000 people to the museum. That includes nearly 600 groups with hundreds more groups already scheduled."
Kuznits: "I know that, when you opened, you were soliciting artifacts of the American Jewish Experience. What have you gotten this year?"
Rosenzweig: "We've gotten some amazing things. I mean, in terms of summer camps for example, we get people sending us pictures, actual postcards and letters back and forth to their kids."
He also says the museum's curatorial staff is always examining donations.
"The Bat Mitzvah dress is a great example of something we see all the time. We have people donate things that are period pieces, so some of these Bat Mitzvah dresses from 30, 40, 50 years ago are some of the dresses that girls were wearing at the age of 12 or 13 during that period."
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And folks have participated in the museum's interactive displays, including one in which museum-goers are invited to video record their own personal stories of the American Jewish experience.
Reported by Hadas Kuznits, KYW Newsradio 1060
