Council of American Jewish Museums
         E-News | February 2011
 
In This Issue
Conference Feb. 25-Mar. 1!
Three CAJM Friends Move On
Vendors Share Their Expertise
Meet the Conference Fellows
CAJM is ...
Jewish art and history museums, historic sites, historical and archival societies, Holocaust centers, synagogue museums, Jewish Community Center galleries, children's museums, and university galleries ...  the professionals and volunteers who work in them ...  the children, adults, and families who visit them ...  the patrons who support them ...  the organization that keeps them vital.
 

Conference Begins in Philadelphia on February 27th!  

 

It's not too late to register for CAJM 2011 in Philadelphia.  Be among the first to visit the spectacular new National Museum of American Jewish History and numerous other fascinating local sites.  Commune with other Jewish museum professionals.  Learn from the best in our field, as well as specialists from around the world.  Registration Brochure / Hotel Reservations

 

Old Friends Moving On:  Goodman, Levine, Zerivitz 

 

Three of our most talented and active CAJM colleagues have recently stepped down from their positions, or will shortly do so. Gwen Goodman has held the title of Executive Director Emerita at the National Museum of American Jewish History since passing the CEO role to Michael Rosenzweig in 2009. GoodmanShe retired from the museum in December 2010.  For a full decade Gwen oversaw all planning for the NMAJH's $150 million capital campaign, the design and construction of the museum's new building, and the interpretive exhibits and programs that enliven it.  She has truly made a mark on our field. Levine Lou Levine recently retired from his position as Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, where he led distinguished teams of scholars and designers in creating such important exhibitions as the AAM-award-winning Ours to Fight For - American Jews in the Second World War and Daring to Resist: Jewish Defiance in the Holocaust. Lou continues to serve on the CAJM Board, and we know that he will flourish in his ongoing teaching and consulting work. Zerivitz Marcia Zerivitz, Founding Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Jewish Museum of Florida, will pass her mantle in September (the search for a successor is underway).  After her more than two-decade tenure, Marcia will leave a great legacy, having led the charge to raise millions of dollars for building projects and endowments, generating dozens of major exhibitions, and still finding time to lobby for Jewish American History Months at the state and national levels.  We thank all three for their major contributions, and wish them great success and happiness always.


Learning From Museum Industry Experts at CAJM 2011 

 '11 logo date

For a third year, the CAJM conference is benefiting from the support and participation of preeminent consultants in the museum industry.  An Open House on Sunday and Vendor Forum on Monday are sponsored by Gallagher & Associates, Design & Production Incorporated, Electrosonic, History AssociatesDonna Lawrence Productions, Bittenbender Construction, 

Ennead Architects, and INTECH Construction. All of these firms were part of the team that designed and built the new National Museum of American Jewish History and its exhibitions.  The Vendor Forum panel will explore current museum trends and address specific needs and priorities identified by CAJM members in a survey last fall.  We welcome these firms as CAJM's newest Business Partners, and extend special thanks to Patrick Gallagher for the leadership role he has taken in developing this new initiative.


CAJM + Fellowship 

 

When we say "fellowship" in the context of CAJM, we may think first of communicating with colleagues from near and far - or, better yet, spending time with them at a conference, like the one about to take place in Philadelphia.  But since 2005, "fellowship" has also referred to awards that CAJM has been able to provide to (thus far) 51 emerging professionals in the Jewish museum field so that they can attend our annual conference.  This year's opportunity has been made possible by the generosity of the Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, Carol Brennglass Spinner, Richard and Rosalee C. Davison and Charlotte and Carroll C. Weinberg in memory of Ben and Zelda Cohen, and Rina Scott Cowan.  These philanthropists recognize the contributions that Jewish museums make to Jewish, national, and international culture, and look to the future by helping to cultivate talent.  This year's Fellows are Fraidy Aber, Contemporary Jewish Museum; Erica Blumenfeld, Museum of Jewish Heritage; Heather Brunner, Oregon Jewish Museum; Joanna Chen, Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust; Dara Cohen, The Jewish Museum; Rachel Hellenger, Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center; Rachel Jarman, Institute of Southern Jewish Life; David McKenzie, Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington; and Martha Sivertson, Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.  Be sure to make them all feel welcome.

 
 
CAJM Puts the Spotlight on You
Rudin Museum
CAJM offers resources for learning all year round on our website and at our annual conference, coming up in late February 2011.  CAJM models professional standards, offers opportunities for information exchange, and works on behalf of Jewish museums, including the Elsie K. Rudin Museum at Temple Beth-El of Great Neck.
 
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