Past Events
New York Places/Jewish Spaces: Life in the City, 1700-2012
A Symposium
Sunday, April 29, 2012, 11:00 AM-6:00 PM
New York City has been home to more Jews than any other city in the United States. Over the years, countless observers—from poets to politicians—have considered New York a “Jewish City.” But what exactly does that idea mean? How have Jews shaped New York? And how has America’s largest city molded the Jews? Join us on Sunday, April 29, for a day of discussion on the remarkable synergy between this great people and this great city.
Harry S. Truman and the Jews
Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 6:30 PM
AJHS Spring Speaker Series — The Presidents & the Jews
Presented by Dr. Ronald Radosh, Adjunct Fellow, The Hudson Institute, columnist for PJMedia.com, and Prof. Emeritus of History, CUNY.
Love, Loss & Legacy: Isidor and Ida Straus & The Titanic
Sunday, April 1, 2012, 3:00 PM
One hundred years ago, on April 15, 1912, the largest passenger steamship of the day sank in one of the saddest maritime disasters in history. Among the victims were Macy's owner Isidor Straus and his wife Ida. Their example of love and heroism forms one of the truly remarkable stories of the Titanic.
Direct descendants of Isidor and Ida Straus will be present to discuss their legacy, which will be placed in an historical context by Professor Steven Biel, Executive Director of the Humanities Center and Senior Lecturer in History and Literature at Harvard University. Original artifacts and documents from the Titanic, belonging to the Straus Family, will be on display.
A wine, cheese & dessert reception will follow the program. The newly republished 100th Anniversary Edition of the Autobiography of Isidor Straus will be available for purchase and inscription by the editor and Straus descendants.
Teddy Roosevelt and the Jews
Tuesday, March 27, 2012, 6:30 PM
AJHS Spring Speaker Series — The Presidents & the Jews
Presented by Dr. Lance Sussman, Senior Rabbi of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, PA and lecturer in Jewish History at Temple University.
Abraham Lincoln and the Jews
February 28, 2012, 6:30 PM
AJHS Spring Speaker Series — The Presidents & the Jews
Dr. Gary P. Zola, Executive Director of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives (AJA) and Professor of the American Jewish Experience at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati. Lectures on Teddy Roosevelt (March 27) and Harry S. Truman and Ronald Reagan (April) to follow this Spring.
David's Harp - A Hanukkah Concert
December 18, 2011, 3:00 PM
An amazing afternoon of some of the Middle East's most thrilling and scintillating music, featuring the group David's Harp, that holds many surprises for the audience. And, of course, Isaiah Sheffer, host of Public Radio International's Selected Shorts, will open the program reading a wonderful story from the pen of a great Jewish writer - a tradition of the annual Hanukkah program. David's Harp is a unique and exotic five-piece ensemble singing and playing santouri, darbuka, keyboard, zills, flute, guitar, mandolin, electric bass daf and violin. Directed by Joseph Alpar, the group offers an exciting program of Sephardic, Israeli, Turkish, Greek, Egyptian, Ottoman, Bukharian and Yemenite songs that that have audiences literally "dancing in the aisles"!
Not Idly By — Peter Bergson, America and the Holocaust
Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 6:30 PM
On November 24, 1942, Rabbi Stephen Wise held a press conference announcing State Department confirmation that the Jews of Europe were being mass murdered. How did American Jews and their leaders respond to the crisis? Not Idly By — Peter Bergson, America and the Holocaust, an award-winning new documentary by Pierre Sauvage (55 min.), presents the challenging testimony of Peter Bergson, a Palestinian Jew who led a determined and controversial American effort to fight the Holocaust. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Sauvage and distinguished scholars. Co-sponsored by the Center for Jewish History and the Varian Fry Institute.
Jewish Soldiers in Blue & Grey
Tuesday, November 1, 2011, 6:30 PM
Coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, Jewish Soldiers in Blue & Grey is a first-of-its-kind film that reveals the little-known struggles facing American Jews both in battle and on the home front during the nation's deadliest war. This Documentary reveals an unknown chapter in American history when allegiances during the War Between the States deeply split the Jewish community between Union and Confederate sides. Join us for a viewing of this outstanding new film plus expert historical commentary.
Monument to Fallen Jewish Chaplains will Visit AJHS
Thursday, October 6, 2011, 7 PM
On the evening October 6th, AJHS will hold a service honoring the Jewish chaplains who died in military service to the United States. The memorial plaque listing the fallen will be displayed at AJHS for a 24-hour period prior to its permanent installation later in the month at the Arlington National Cemetery. Rear Admiral Rabbi Harold Robinson will preside; representatives from Jewish veterans and chaplains groups will be present; and there will be musical accompaniment.
Hollywood Zion
Thursday, September 15, 2011, 6:30 PM
Click here for speaker bios.
Israel's creation in 1948 was a story virtually made for Hollywood — a persecuted people rising heroically from the ashes to found a country of their own against extraordinary odds. But behind the miraculous tale, American Jews remained nervous about the ramifications of the new Jewish state. Join us and our panel of historians and critics to view clips from classical films like Exodus and Cast a Giant Shadow.
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2011 Emma Lazarus Statue of Liberty Award - May 4, 2011 Click here for registration form Join the American Jewish Historical Society when we honor of Ralph Lowenstein, founder of the Aliyah Bet/Machal Archives, and the North American volunteers who participated in the Israeli War of Independence. This year's event will be held at the Center for Jewish History in New York City. The American Jewish Historical Society is proud to become the repository of the Aliyah Bet/Machal Archives which records the heroism and sacrifice of approximately 1300 American and Canadian Jewish volunteers who fought in Palestine and for the newly created State of Israel from 1947-1949. If you are a member of Machal or the relative of a "Machalnik" with information to share, please let us know by contacting: AJHS Phone: 212-294-6160 Visit our website for event updates! |
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Conversations on Conversion — A Symposium
Moderated by WNYC‘s Brian Lehrer
Sunday, April 10, 2011, 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Conversion is an explosive topic in Jewish life. Historically, Jews have alternately welcomed and discouraged converts. Jewishness itself has been variously defined by religion, peoplehood, and ethnicity, with differing implications for converts in each case. In our own day the borderlines of Jewish identity appear less fixed than ever, and the question arises as to what significance conversion still holds in a Jewish world increasingly marked by assimilation, intermarriage and cultural hybridity.
Conversations on Conversion will address these issues in two ways, historically and contemporaneously. Two panels will be presented. The first centers on conversion in Jewish history from the biblical period to the mid-twentieth century, as discussed by leading historians currently conducting research on the topic at the Katz Center for Advanced Jewish Studies in Philadelphia. The second, to be hosted by WNYC radio personality Brian Lehrer, will present a range of important voices on conversion in Judaism today and address such related topics as intermarriage, denominational debates and the status of non-Jews in Israel today.
Presented by American Jewish Historical Society, Centro Primo Levi, Center for Jewish History, The Katz Center at the University of Pennsylvania and Yeshiva University Museum
Machal/Aliyah Bet Exhibition Opening, Panel Discussion & Reception
Wednesday, January 19, 2011, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
No Charge • Reservations Required • 212-294-6160 or info@ajhs.org
Join us as we pay tribute to the more than 1,300 North American volunteers who served in Israel's 1948 War of Independence. Known by the Hebrew acronym Machal (volunteers from abroad), the stories of their sacrifice and heroism form part of the fabric of our own history. The American Jewish Historical Society is proud to be the steward of the Machal/Aliyah Bet Archives.
Moderated by: Deborah Dash Moore, Ph.D., Director, Frankel Center for Judaic Studies, University of Michigan
Panelists: Samuel Klausner, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Sociology Associate, Middle East Center, University of Pennsylvania; Machalnik
Ralph Lowenstein, Dean Emeritus of the College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida; Founder of the Machal/Aliyah Bet Archives at the University of Florida Libraries; Machalnik
Derek Penslar, Ph.D., Samuel Zacks Professor of Jewish History, University of Toronto
Click here to view photographs from the event.
Kenneth J. Bialkin/Citigroup Public Service Award given to Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Click here for photographs from the Eizenstat reception
American Jewish Historical Society, American Society for Jewish Music & Yeshiva University Museum present:
A Chanukah Cabaret & Holiday Extravaganza
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Come to the Cabaret — A Chanukah Cabaret! • 3:00 PM
With Yiddish and Sephardic songs and stories: A rollicking Trio by Paul Schoenfield -- pianist Ted Rosenthal playing jazz improvisations on Jewish and Chanukah songs -- Zalmen Mlotek and Guests from the National Yiddish Theater-Folksbiene -- Ladino Songs performed by Elie Massias -- and, of course, Isaiah Sheffer of PRI‘s Selected Shorts, as host and storyteller. An annual musical event at the Center given in celebration of a wonderful, joyous and freilach holiday.
Menorah lighting, singing and reception
Chanukah Family Program (ages 4 and up) • 1:00PM-3:00 PM
Free admission with concert ticket purchase
Explore Chanukah relics, hunt for hidden holiday objects, design a festive stained glass panel & tour Yeshiva University Museum galleries
Gal Beckerman Book Signing and Reception
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Click here for photographs from the book signing.
