Welcome to The National Museum of American
Jewish Military History

The National Museum of American Jewish Military History, under the auspices of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, documents and preserves the contributions of Jewish Americans to the peace and freedom of the United States, educates the public concerning the courage, heroism and sacrifices made by Jewish Americans who served in the armed forces, and works to combat anti-Semitism.

News & Special Announcements

50th Anniversary of Our Congressional Charter

The National Museum of American Jewish Military History will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of our Congressional Charter, which was awarded 2 September 1958. We are currently planning the celebration, which will kickoff at the JWV's convention in August. More information coming soon!

• 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."

First Annual
Harvey S. Friedman Annual Memorial Grant

The National Museum of American Jewish Military History awarded the first annual Harvey S. Friedman Annual Memorial Grant at its Board of Directors meeting on March 7, 2008. The grant of $1000, created to assist students planning on a career in the museum field, was awarded to Carrie Davenport. Ms. Davenport currently attends the George Washington University and plans to receive a Masters Degree in Museum Studies in December, 2008.

Please check back this fall for the 2009 grant application.

All News & Announcments »

Museum Outreach

Abrahamson - Biglow - Spector Post 354 Commander Irv Rosenblum helps to relay the message that Jews did and do serve in the American Military. On May 7, 2008, Post 354 participated in the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of Israel, held at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. He is pictured here with the Medal of Honor traveling display which portrays the 15 American Jewish Medal of Honor recipients For more information on this and other traveling displays, please click here.

DSVC and Museum Docent Richard Rosenzweig gave a Museum presentation at Temple Emeth, Delray Beach, Florida on February 22 and 23, 2008. On display was the Hall of Heroes traveling display. We thank VP of Education, Michael Corbett and temple members for their interest. If you would like information on speakers and/or purchasing a traveling display for your group, please contact Mary Westley at 202 265-6280. Click the photo to view larger image.

National Museum of American Jewish Military History Director Col. Herb Rosenbleeth and Assistant Collections Manager, Mike Rugel visit Mrs. Dina Karlip's 3rd grade class at Talmudical Academy of Baltimore. During the visit, Col. Rosenbleeth reads from "A Jewish Colonel in the Civil War." This book was edited by Jean Soman, great great-granddaughter of Marcus Spiegel, the subject of the book.

Students at the Eleanor Kolitz Academy observed Veterans Day with a program presented by Ken Rothrock, Middle School social studies teacher, and students of the EKA Knesset. Pictured with the students are (back row, left to right) Ken Rothrock, Jewish War Veteran members Irwin Barath and Max Stool of San Antonio Post 753 and Mr. Robert A. Scott, the Headmaster of Eleanor Kolitz Academy. Mr. Rothrock called the museum in October of 2007 requesting speakers. The opportunity arose to partner the post with the school for this event. We hope there will be other opportunities for future events.

Jewish American Heritage Month
May 2008

On April 20, 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed May to be Jewish American Heritage Month. The announcement was the culmination of the efforts of the Jewish community which led to resolutions introduced by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) urging the president to proclaim a month that would recognize the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture. The resolutions passed unanimously, first in the House in December 2005 and later in the Senate in February 2006.

To celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month, during month of May the National Museum of American Jewish Military History will be featuring on its website (www.nmajmh.org) stories and images honoring Jewish service in the United States armed forces. Each day throughout May a different story of Jewish American military service will be highlighted using materials from the archives of the NMAJMH. Memorial Day (May 26) will feature a tribute to those Jewish servicemen and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please check back each day in May for a new story, available on the NMAJMH's Jewish American Heritage Month page.

As a thank you, a Guardian Member ($100) receives a one year membership card and subscription to The Jewish Veteran, a one time issue of a museum pin, museum video (either A Place to Remember, or Uriah Levy), a museum exhibit catalog AND our commemorative 2 piece watch set - a memorial homage to the 9/11/01 tragedy. This Collector's Edition watch set, packaged in a beautiful wooden box, is inscribed with Sept. 11, 2001 and depicts a silhouette of the Twin Towers. Consider joining at the Guardian level, or upgrading your current single basic membership, and receive one of these beautiful sets.

Recent Visitors to the
National Museum of American Jewish Military History

Members of Paul A. Rosenblum Post/Auxiliary 44 visited the Museum on May 30. After enjoying catered box lunches from Eli's kosher restaurant in our education center, they viewed the museum exhibits with docent Richard Rosenzweig.

Pictured in the first photo are members of the Post/Auxiliary listening tour guide Richard Rosenzweig.

In the second photo, Paul A. Rosenblum Post 44 Cleveland presents two checks to the Museum. Pictured are P.C. Roger Gove, Commander Stan Waters, Museum Director Col. Herb Rosenbleeth and P.C. Sid Wakser.

Teachers, parents and children of the Congregation Kneseth Israel of Annapolis, MD, visited the museum Sunday May 18. The group was led by Rabbi Moshe Weisblum, who, at the time of the opening of the exhibit, Rescue and Renewal in 1999, had been the rabbi for our guest curator, Mr. Mort Horvitz. The children participated in the museum treasure hunt led by docent Richard Rosenzweig and staff member Cheryl Waldman, Director of Programs for the JWV.

National Museum of American Jewish Military History Celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month with Congressional Visit

The National Museum of American Jewish Military History (NMAJMH) celebrated Jewish American Heritage Month by hosting an evening reception for members of Congress, including members of the House Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committees, on Tuesday, May 13, 2008. The reception was coordinated through the office of Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), who introduced resolutions in 2006 urging the President to proclaim a month (May) that would recognize the 352 year history of Jewish contributions to American culture.

Museum President, Past National Commander Robert M. Zweiman, and Museum Director and National Executive Director of JWV, Col. Herb Rosenbleeth provided greetings and President Zweiman introduced the group to the Museum's exhibitions and goals. The presentation was followed by a tour of the museum exhibits by NMAJMH docent Richard Rosenzweig and a "behind the scenes" look at some of the museum's most interesting artifacts led by Collections Assistant Mike Rugel.

We look forward to another visit from those and other members of Congress and we are delighted to be apart of their outreach endeavors.

Mr. Eddie Eisenstein came to the museum with a purpose. He lives with his wife, Audrey, in Delray Beach, Fl and recently attended a talk at the Temple Emeth in Delray Beach where Museum docent and winter Floridian Richard Rosenzweig was giving a talk about the museum. In the course of the program, Mr. Rosenzweig mentioned a place in our museum to put information on heroes. Mr. Eisenstein came to the museum with that purpose.

In 2004, his son, LtCmdr. Arthur Eisenstein of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corp. was conducting routine training with cadets at Fort McHenry when he observed a Baltimore Inner Harbor water taxi capsize in the swift current brought on by a sudden and fierce storm. Along with 18 other personnel, he quickly boarded a command assault craft to assist in rescue efforts, and with utter abandonment of his own personal safety was able to retrieve three passengers that had been pulled from underneath the capsized water taxi. LtCmdr. Eisenstein, along with 26 others, was presented the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for Heroism for his actions and to this day remains humbled.

When Arthur's father, Eddie Eisenstein, called the museum recently and asked to speak to Mr. Rosenzweig, he said "I am coming to the museum to tell you about my son". Mr. Eisenstein chose to inscribe a leaf on our Tree of Honor to pay tribute to his son's bravery and patriotism. In telling me about his son, Mr. Eisenstein looked me square in the eye and said, "Don't say anything against the United States to MY son!" Pictured here is a very proud and humble father!

To view citation and newspaper article, click here.

Members of the Behrend Adas Senior Fellowship (under the DCJCC) visited the Museum on April 15, 2008. Pictured here with Historian Al Lerner.

Students from the 5th grade Sunday school class of Shaare Tefila Congregation (Silver Spring, MD) came to visit the Museum on April 13 during class time. Pictured with their teachers Shera Dickler (far right) and Michal Bilick (far left) and Docent Richard Rosenzweig (center).

Students, Rabbis and teachers from Houston (TX) Robert M. Beren Academy visited the Museum on April 1, 2008. Many students participated in a fact finding treasure hunt while others visited with Historian Al Lerner and Docents Richard Rosenzweig and Dr. Allen Glass, who was on his first training mission! Beren Academy is an Orthodox day school affiliated with Yeshiva University and the Association of Modern Orthodox Day Schools (AMODS) that provides a comprehensive Jewish and college preparatory education in an atmosphere of reverence, good citizenship, and love of the Jewish people and Israel. We look forward to a return visit.

Click here to read the "Thank You" letter.

The University of Kansas Hillel participated in a week long (March 16-23) student-led alternative break in Washington, D.C. that focused on the issues of homelessness and poverty. Events that the group participated in included working in various soup kitchens and hearing various discussion panels that included people who have overcome homelessness and poverty. Part of the program in collaboration with the National Coalition of Homeless had the students experience homelessness for 48 hours on the streets of D.C. This included walking around with no money, no form of transportation other than on foot, and no schedule for the day. In order to eat the students had to learn how to earn money while on the streets. While walking through the streets of D.C., the group happened to view one of the directional street signs, placed by the city, which listed the National Museum of American Jewish Military History. The group came to visit and participated in a fact finding discussion with Museum Collections Assistant Mike Rugel and Docent Richard Rosenzweig. We wished the group good luck and a safe journey.

On October 2, 2007, Former Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld visited the National Museum of American Jewish Military History. Pictured with Mr. Rumsfeld (middle) is Museum Director, Col. Herb Rosenbleeth (far left) and Director of Operations, Larry Richardson (far right).

Participants of the Jewish Study Center's classes are shown here touring the Museum. Dr. Jeffrey Greenhut (pictured in forefront) is a military historian/docent at the Museum as well as the teacher of the class, War in the Middle East, held at our Museum.

Pictured are 8th graders and their teachers from Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School Los Angeles, CA, who visited The National Museum of American Jewish Military History on October 23, 2007, as part of a class field trip that included the Jewish Heritage Museum (NY) and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum (DC). The 8th graders not only provided excellent answers to the museum treasure hunt, but they gave funds from their own pockets for a care package for our servicemen and women who are currently serving overseas. The school most graciously provided additional funds for the SUPPORT OUR SOLDIERS (SOS) program as well as funds for the museum. This endeavor also provided for an avenue of future community service with San Fernando Valley Post 603. Our hats are off to the Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School! We look forward to a return visit.

On June 3, 2007, the National Museum participated in the Dupont-Kalorama Museums Consortium Walk Weekend. Since 1983, this family festival has drawn thousands to Washington's "off the Mall" museums presenting a variety of activities for all ages. This year the National Museum of American Jewish Military History joined in with other well known museums like the Philips Collection and the Textile Museum.

Pictured from Clinton, MO, are brothers Austin Cates, aged 12 and Christian Cates, aged 10, who were in the Washington DC area visiting their grandmother. Austin and Christian enthusiastically undertook the Museum Treasure Hunt, finding most of the answers to the quiz without additional "outside" help and each were the proud owner of our 9/11/2001 special edition memorial watch set.

To find out more about our collection of quizzes, word puzzles, and other games click here.

June Carmichael, a program volunteer at the Textile Museum, was also among our visitors that day and she had a personal discovery of her own.

Read her story by clicking here.

Dr. Joseph Shoham, WWII Veteran, and his son, Dr. Myron Shoham came to visit the Museum. Dr. Shoham served with Frances Slanger, one of the four nurses who served during D Day at Normandy and who is featured in our Women in the Military exhibit.

Click here to read his story.