Blog from Battery Place

Just when you thought the premiere of Lost was the biggest entertainment news of the day, we are happy to announce the addition of several new videos to the Museum’s YouTube channel. Whether you missed a concert or discussion or want to forward a program you enjoyed to a friend, there is something for everyone.

For instance, before you join your office's Oscar pool, we would particularly like to point out the clip of an interview with Quentin Tarantino at the Museum’s premiere of Inglourious Basterds.

Enjoy!

photo of Eli Roth, Melanie Laurent, Tarantino, and our director Dr. David G. Marwell

This post is from Bonnie Gurewitsch, curator of Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow: Jewish Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges, on view through February 21.

The exhibition, Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow, is based partly on initial research of Gabrielle Edgcomb, who wrote a book entitled, From Swastika to Jim Crow: Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges, which was later made into a very moving film. As we researched and developed the exhibition, we keenly felt the absence of the author who had passed away, for it was she who discovered this story. But because of the initiative of her daughter, Julie, we recently hosted a large family reunion for about 40 members of the Edgcomb clan, who came to the Museum on December 29 to see the exhibition and to celebrate their family.

The family members came to the Museum from all over the United States. Young and old, representing three generations, some had never met before, and others had not seen each other for 30-40 years. Bringing family trees and photographs of ancestors, they happily exchanged family news and figured out relationships as the group gathered in two classrooms on the first floor.

I welcomed the group to the Museum and described the genesis of the exhibition and introduced Steve Fischler and Joe Sucher, of Pacific Street Films, who made the film based on the book and proposed the exhibition idea to the Museum, and who also made the two new exhibition films. The group then went up to the exhibition gallery, where I guided them through the exhibition. They were joined by Ilona Moradof, associate curator, who took photographs and and answered questions.

The Edgcomb family was touched and moved to see Gabrielle's work brought to life so respectfully and vividly. They were delighted to hear that the exhibition will travel to other venues in the country, and we promised to keep them informed of the travel schedule so they can visit in other locations. Julie Edgcomb wrote in her thank you note to me: “ [I] think my mother would have loved the exhibit - it was just excellent. Many of us had never met each other, and the opportunity you all gave us to connect as a family was unique and extraordinarily meaningful to us… we were cherishing the opportunity to actually see each other."

Wednesday night the Young Friends Division of the Museum held a networking event for public relations and marketing professionals with Howard J. Rubenstein, a true pioneer of the PR industry. The reception and remarks were held in Rubenstein’s executive offices and the night started off with a scrumptious reception for attendees where they had the opportunity to mingle with each other and Mr. Rubenstein.

A leader in his own right, Mr. Rubenstein offered the Young Friends some pearls of wisdom about how to be successful in the industry (love what you do, stay positive, and listen to advice – even if you don’t take it). He described several turning points in his career and his “inside baseball” experiences with NY Yankees Owner, George Steinbrenner, who has been a client of Mr. Rubenstein for an astonishing nearly 30 years. Quite remarkable when you think about Mr. Steinbrenner’s history of hiring, firing (and sometimes re-hiring) his executives and staff. Mr. Rubenstein also mentioned that forming relationships with media mogul Rupert Murdoch and former NY Governor Mario Cuomo were life- changing events that opened many doors for him. He stressed that building and maintaining relationships throughout one’s life is important in any business and you never know when a relationship can turn into a business opportunity.

Particularly interesting was Rubenstein’s perspective on how crisis management is of the utmost importance, and how that age-old saying “honesty is the best policy” still holds true. Rubenstein pointed to the recent debacle that Tiger Woods got himself into with numerous allegations of philandering, and his seeming lack of response and inability to “come clean”. Rubenstein told attendees that he always insists on his clients telling him the truth and that no amount of “spin factor” can wash away a tarnished reputation without a bit of fessing up to the deeds done.

Our recent networking event is just one type of program that the Young Friends offer throughout the year. Fun holiday parties, educational events about our latest ground-breaking special exhibits, and more, so check it out! Next up is our Annual Purim Party on February 24th at La Pomme (37 W. 26th Street) and it’s sure to be a festive night, so save the date and come celebrate with us!

We invite all to visit the Museum today to remember, reflect, and to learn. We are free with suggested donation this evening from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Those that know me know that I prefer Handel to hip-hop, but I just loved the Museum's book club choice this month: The End of the Jews by Adam Mansbach. The book is so much more than a multi-generational family epic, a look at race, ethnicity, art, love, creation, and hip-hop culture. I can't fully do it justice, so you should read it for yourself and then come hear the author speak at the Museum on February 21 with journalist Joan Morgan.

As you may know, we are very interested in what you think about our book club picks, and we're always looking for suggestions of new books to read.

It may feel like we do a lot of celebrating on the blog, but life is short, and it is important to celebrate when you can. The Jewish Book Council announced its winners recently, and on the list are names the Museum knows well. Today we congratulate some special National Jewish Book Award Honorees.

The iconic Ruth Gruber earns the 2009 Jewish Book Council Lifetime Achievement Award for her amazing body of work. We love Ruth, and adore the fact that as she continues to receive accolades, she shows no signs of slowing down.

Hasia R. Diner, who joined us last June, received the American Jewish Studies Celebrate 350 Award for We Remember with Reverence and Love: American Jews and the Myth of Silence
after the Holocaust, 1945‐1962.

Sarah Houghteling, who was here last February, was a finalist for the JJ Greenberg Memorial Award for Fiction for Pictures at an Exhibition.

Already gracing the shelves of the Pickman Museum Shop is the grand prize winner: Melvin I. Urofsky, winner of the Everett Family Foundation Jewish Book of the Year for his biography, Louis D. Brandeis: A Life.

A full list of winners appears here.

Mazel Tov to all.

This post comes to us from Assistant Curator Nadine Shatzkes. On behalf of the Museum, we'd like to wish the artifact lenders a very hearty Mazel Tov!

Periodically some of the artifacts on display in the Core Exhibition of the Museum are temporarily returned to families to be used in celebration of important family rituals and events. On Monday, January 11, staff members from the Department of Collections and Exhibitions deinstalled such a “living artifact.”

A beautiful bris cloth, on loan from the family of Rose Abovitz Takce and Jacob Boltax, has been on display in the Life Cycle case since June 2007. Rose Abovitz Takce embroidered the cloth in Russia in 1904 for the circumcision ceremony of her son David. Her father, Chaim Abovitz, stenciled the Hebrew for her. Her descendants continue to use the cloth upon the birth of sons. It has been removed from display and returned to the family upon the birth of a boy. The textile will return to the Museum for reinstallation after the bris.

We, at the Museum, want to help you start off your New Year right. Every Sunday in January and February, all those who purchase a ticket to a public program will receive free admission to the galleries. The offer is valid only for the day of the program for which the ticket is purchased.
Come for a concert, discussion, or film, and stay for the day. You'll be glad you did!

We just wanted to wish our chairman, Robert M. Morgenthau, good luck on his retirement from the position of Manhattan D.A. This week marks his last in office after 35 years. It is truly the end of an era. We know him well enough to know that he will not be fully retiring from public service and public life, and we hope he spends some of his new-found spare time here with us.

Click here to hear his “exit interview” on WNYC.

We wanted to wish all those who are celebrating Kwanzaa this week a meaningful holiday, and also to let you know about a day-long celebration at the African Burial Ground National Memorial downtown. The day will be celebrated with family programs, arts and crafts, music, and dance. The commemoration is free, but reservations are required.

Another great way to learn about African American heritage this week is through a visit to our Museum’s exhibition Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow: Jewish Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges. We’re open all week (except Saturday), including New Year’s Day.

We wanted to wish you all a Chag Sameach (happy holiday), whether your holiday is just beginning or whether you have finally finished the last of the latkes. Please note that we are open regular hours today (10 a.m.-8 p.m.). Tomorrow we will close at 5 p.m. Friday we are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please stop by, or call the box office for tickets (646.437.4202) to hear Josh Nelson and his Kosher Gospel choir.

We are very happy to announce that the Museum of Jewish Heritage is creating an exhibition exploring the traditions, history, and meanings of the game of mah jongg in Jewish-American culture. Crack, Bam, Dot! Mah Jongg in Jewish-American Life will be on view May 2 through December 2010.

Once again, New York Magazine came out with their Reasons to Love New York issue. We enjoyed coming up with our own reasons so much last year, that we thought we would try to come up with some new ones.

From Abby:
Being able to enjoy wine at dinner in a restaurant and not having to worry about driving home.

Purchasing coffee at a cart from a total stranger, yet mysteriously pining for him when he is not there.

The Brooklyn Bridge – utilitarian and aesthetically pleasing.

From Keika:
Even the average New Yorker knows some Yiddish.

From Lisa:
Mom and Pop stores can still survive and even thrive here despite the big chain stores.

Being able to order Uzbekistani food on the Upper West Side

And here are my thoughts:

NY 1, especially Pat Kiernan.

There is so much to do on any given day, even on December 25 if you are Jewish. Yes, you can go to the movies or out for Chinese food, or you could go to a Museum, to a concert, or both.

The gas lights and brownstones on my street remind me of Henry James, Edith Wharton, and all the other great literary works that are set here.

Tell us your reasons for putting up with the high rents, the small spaces, and the cold weather.

Rabbi David Wolpe’s article last week in the Jewish Journal, Five Reasons Vampires Aren’t Jews is as illuminating as it is amusing. I highly recommend reading it, especially if you find Edward's behavior in New Moon as annoying as I do.

In response to Rabbi Wolpe, I’ve compiled some good news for all the Team Jacob fans out there. While in the Twilight saga, werewolves are of an altogether different tribe, I believe they share more in common with Jews.

They are born into the tribe. It is important that the tribe’s history is passed on from generation to generation (L’dor V’dor). They become a (wolf) man at the same time they come of age. That is when they are responsible for their families and their community (much like a bar mitzvah). Finally, the werewolves believe in bashert. Werewolves “imprint” once they meet their soul mate, the person they are meant to be with forever.

Let us know what you think about this important topic...

As the song says, the weather outside is truly frightful, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying Hanukkah and all the city has to offer. Downtown, we are especially excited about the opening of the ice skating rink at Battery Park City.

If you’d rather stay warm and toasty inside, I can highly recommend my favorite latke recipe. Yes, it is true that they are actually not from a famous Jewish cook, or even from my grandmother (who preferred to make frozen latkes, I don’t know why). Interestingly, these delicious Parmesan, basil potato pancakes are from the kitchen of Giada De Laurentis. Apparently she was a private chef for a Jewish family and created the recipe for them one Hanukkah. While my Hanukkahs are always dairy events (bring on the sour cream!), you can eliminate the Parmesan and still make a tasty dish with the garlic, basil, and onion.

From our kitchens and offices to yours, have a Happy Hanukkah!

When I was in high school, I was on the debate team, and the topic my sophomore year was whether sex education should be taught in high school. My partner Mike Nelson and I wrote our briefs using research from the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a fine institution promoting sexual health. None of that research prepared me for an evening of “Sexually Speaking with Dr. Ruth.”

After a sexceptional, sextraordinary, and sextremely funny introduction by David Marwell, Dr. Ruth was joined by fearless colleagues Jamie Kenney and Peter Mones who posed the questions to her. Readers of the blog will know that we have been soliciting questions to ask the unflappable Dr. Ruth for two months now. Topics ranged from the proposed coed rooms at Columbia dorms to the downside of hooking up. Dr. Ruth, self-described as “old-fashioned and a square,” believes firmly that people need to know and like one another before jumping into bed together.

She also dispensed advice about how busy, overworked, and preoccupied couples can still make time for sex. “Put all of your worries in a box and leave them outside the bedroom. They will still be there when you’re done. No one is going to take them.” There were clinical questions, humorous questions, questions about size, and questions about the effectiveness of toys the names of which I can’t even type without blushing, although Jamie was able to ask the question with nary a titter.

Dr. Ruth weaved Torah into her responses about sexuality, and left no one to guess how she felt about circumcised penises. She kept the tone light and informative. Of all the sexual organs and sexual responses discussed last night, the brain was talked about almost as much as orgasms.
For those few questions that Jamie and Peter didn’t get to ask, you should know that Dr. Ruth took all the questions with her for possible inclusion in future books. She just signed three new contracts at the Frankfurt Book Fair and she has a new iPhone App, called the iRuth.

Dr. Ruth signed books last night and left at about 8:30. I left shortly thereafter. I often bring work home, and I have to say that last night my husband didn’t object to my bringing work home at all.

As winter approaches, we’re happy to give you another reason to come out from the cold. This January and February, we have plenty of public programs to keep you busy and warm. Whether your interests are in film, music, writing, history, or all of the above, you’ll want to check out the schedule and purchase your tickets early (and often).

Two weeks ago we wrote about the L&O (CI) filming and described the range of events that take place in our spaces, and on Thursday our little old board room was the site of another special event: Jeremy Rauch proposed to Rebecca Stern. Because we are discreet and not like those other gossipy blogs, (the couple should be able to tell friends and family themselves) we will offer these highlights:

Jeremy’s childhood friend Yossi Faber and his fiancée Sarah Gross arrived early to stage the room with a gorgeous bouquet of red roses, a PowerPoint presentation, a poster, and other festive accoutrements. They hid in our office kitchen while Jeremy and Rebecca, who had just toured the Museum, came to the 4th floor.

Yaffa in Operations arranged the magical event with Jeremy who had looked at our website after his father remarked what a beautiful location this neighborhood happens to be.

The staff could barely contain themselves waiting for the couple to come out. And when they did we all erupted in cheers of Mazel Tov and great applause. Ivy observed that the Museum is now part of their family history. They will bring their children to see where they became engaged, and the Museum will be part of a loving memory for generations. All in all, a rather unusual and happy ending to an ordinary Thursday.