MUSEUM OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AT BEIT HATFUTSOT … · BEIT HATFUTSOT ANNUAL REPORT 2018 4 CURATORIAL...

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MUSEUM OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AT BEIT HATFUTSOT ANNUAL REPORT 2018

Transcript of MUSEUM OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AT BEIT HATFUTSOT … · BEIT HATFUTSOT ANNUAL REPORT 2018 4 CURATORIAL...

MUSEUM OF THE JEWISH PEOPLEAT BEIT HATFUTSOT

ANNUAL REPORT2018

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Dear Friends,

It will quickly become apparent from this Annual Report that things at the Museum of the Jewish People, have been very busy this past year. I cannot express how honored and grateful we are for the opportunity to transform the Diaspora Museum into the Museum of the Jewish People.

Every people deserves to celebrate its heritage and roots, and to dream about its future, and the Jewish People are no exception.

We are building a new museum, which, for the first time, will tell the story of all Jews, everywhere in the world. We now have the chance to tell the story of our success and of our unity, and the hope for a prosperous future, together.

We are thrilled about the upcoming opening of the New Museum. We are constantly growing in numbers - of visitors, partners and topics we address - as we contemplate our diverse identity as a people.

We hope to continue doing this important work together with you and have you as our partner on this exciting journey!

Irina Nevzlin

Chair of the Board of Directors

Dear Friends,

Last Passover we opened a new exhibition, Let There Be Laughter – Jewish Humor Around the World, and it proved a resounding blockbuster. Through this exhibit, Israelis and tourists, young and old alike discovered that they, too, are part of the story of the Jewish People. Joke books, comic strips, newspapers, posters and personal objects belonging to some of the greatest comedians of all time are just some of what brings this exhibition to life. At the heart of this innovative comedic experience is new media — cutting-edge interactive stations that allow visitors to discover exactly what makes them laugh, and to add their own humor to the project.

As a global center for Jewish communities, in 2018 we continued developing and cultivating relationships with institutions near and far so that together we might strengthen Jewish identity.

Our Databases Department continued its mission of enriching, documenting and preserving Jewish heritage. The photo database, in particular, significantly increased its catalog, adding thousands of new items to extant collections.

2018 was a year of extraordinary growth, both in the number of visitors to the Museum and in international outreach activities and Jewish Peoplehood programs, including My Family Story, Jewish Lens, Generation 2 Generation and Treasuring Communities.

The Online Department continued not only to connect, build and create, but also to increase the Museum’s digital media presence around the world. One such larger-scale project was Seeing the Voices. Initiated by the Ministry for Social Equality, the program aims to collect video testimonies from Jews born in Arab countries and Iran for whom there is a dearth of recorded histories. In order to achieve this goal, we developed an app for iPhone and Android that allows users to upload their stories, we built a new website that shares these stories with the world, and, at the same time, production teams collected testimonies from across Israel. This project has just been launched and is now being promoted via a national advertising campaign.

As you know, the Museum is undergoing a comprehensive renewal process that began in 2016 with the inauguration of the New Wing and will culminate in 2020 with the opening of a new 66,000-square-foot Permanent Exhibition.

This is a mere glimpse of what we accomplished in 2018. To get a taste of what’s in store, I invite you to watch this video and visit us, even before 2020.

Dan Tadmor

CEO

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18LET THERE BE LAUGHTER –

JEWISH HUMOR AROUND THE WORLD

“A clown mAy be the first in the kingdom of heAven,

if he hAs helped lessen the sAdness of humAn life.” Rabbi Baroka, Trachtate Ta’anit, Talmud

Humor is an intrinsic part of Jewish life and identity. It helps us understand and express who we are. All around the world, Jews are famous for —

and have found much joy in — our humor. This exhibition, which opened in March 2018, explores why Jews take their jokes so seriously. It celebrates the

diversity and vitality of Jewish humor and explores how elements of Jewish jokes have remained constant regardless of time, place or language.

As part of the new vision of the Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot, this exhibition highlights humor through the lenses of pluralism and Jewish cultural diversity

by presenting Jewish humor from all around the world and by tracing its development from its folkloric roots to modern humor in English, Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, German,

French, Russian, Spanish and more.

Joke books, comic strips, newspapers, posters and personal objects that belonged to the greatest comedians of all time are just some of the material that brings this exhibition to life.

New media forms the heart of the exhibition — cutting-edge interactive stations allow visitors to discover exactly what makes them laugh, and to add their own humor to the project.

“i do not know whether there Are mAny other instAnces of A people mAking fun to

such A degree of its own chArActer.” Sigmund Freud, on Jewish humor

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Let There Be Laughter offers a new perspective on the most central themes of Jewish humor as they have transformed in the mouths of comedians from Hershele’s Jewish mother to Seinfeld and Lenny Bruce, from Chelm to Dzigan, from the Marx Brothers to Sarah Silverman and French comics like Gad Elmaleh. A full replica of a comedy club sits at the heart of the exhibition. On its stage

OPERATION MOSES: 30 YEAR AFTER

The media exhibition “Operation Moses: 30 Years After” presents the story of the absorption of Ethiopian individuals and families in Israel, from Operation Moses to the present. This encounter enables visitors to relate to the stories of ten families documented in Beit Hatfutsot photographs and videos. It examines their lives from the time they were photographed until the present, using texts and short videos that delve into their struggles with displacement, emigration and absorption, and considers their reception by Israeli society.

This exhibition first opened to the public in May 2016 in the New Wing of the Museum. Thanks to a growing demand and a generous grant that enabled its modification, this exhibition was re-opened to the public in 2018 in a new and equally powerful format. In its newest incarnation, all ten films are displayed continuously on a large screen that amplifies the impact of the stories the exhibition tells. (The making of “Operation Moses - 30 Years After”)

CAPTURING HISTORY: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF CHIM

This retrospective exhibition presents the life and work of Chim, one of the greatest photojournalists of the first half of the twentieth century. Chim was a pioneer of the golden age in photojournalism and his work inspires and moves visitors of all backgrounds to this day.

An abridged incarnation of this exhibition was introduced in 2018 into the Museum’s educational gallery, a space that serves not only groups and individual Museum visitors, but also houses events and receptions.

appear, via a 3-d screen, 11 of Israel’s leading stand up comics, each telling stories of their Jewish mothers, families, and upbringing.

This blockbuster exhibition, which has already hosted 300,000 visitors, is rich in history while posing challenging questions about culture and creating a space where all can experience laughter and joy.

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OPERATION FINALE: THE CAPTURE AND TRIAL OF ADOLPH EICHMANN

This powerful exhibition has been traveling throughout the US for two-and-a-half years. In 2018 it completed five months at the Jewish Heritage Museum in New York. It then traveled to St. Petersburg, Florida, where it was on display for eight months before being transferred to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. At both Florida museums it received large and diverse audiences and was featured at galas and high-level events welcoming numerous participants. In 2019 the exhibition is scheduled to travel to New Orleans and Washington.

LOOKING AHEAD

Curatorial efforts continue to expand the collection of the Museum in preparation for the New Core Exhibition (2020).Generous collectors from various Jewish communities donated rare and unique items including seven household items from Isfahan, Iran, early 20th century, 614 English coins from Henry III and Edward I, from the Colchester Cache, 13th century, three carpets from Flanders depicting Joseph and Jacob, Miriam the prophetess and Moses (17th century), and a Torah scroll cover from Homburg Germany, 1919. These and other items shed light on various stories of the Jewish People and will undoubtedly contribute to the understanding and experience of future visitors to the Museum.In the coming year the Curator’s Department will facilitate the production of the New Core Exhibition that is planned to open in April 2020. Our team of curators will work with various disciplines and departments – media, interactive, graphics, displays and display construction and more – to advance production and assemble exhibitions in the New Museum’s galleries.In addition, our team of curators will develop two new temporary exhibitions that will replace the Jewish Humor Exhibition: Bad, Bad Jews – Jewish Gangsters Around the World* and Another Lens – Jewish Women Photographers.*

*Please note: These are working titles only.

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The Koret International School for Jewish Peoplehood is the educational arm of the Museum of the Jewish

People at Beit Hatfutsot. The School was established by the Museum in November 2006 with the goal of sharing an informed and active affiliation with the Jewish People. The Koret School serves as a home for learning communities, combining knowledge, experience and practice in Israel and around the world.

The School’s educational approach combines experience, research, emotion and knowledge as the key to all its educational programs for groups and individuals. From kindergarteners to pensioners, from groups of professors who visit the Museum to classes held in schools from Siberia to Chile and from Jerusalem to Pittsburgh.

In addition to educating hundreds of thousands of Museum visitors, the School runs worldwide educational programs in more than 40 countries every year and reaches 100,000 students globally. In Israel, the School focuses on disseminating and deepening Peoplehood values and dialogue as a leading aspect of both its formal and informal education, reaching Israeli schoolchildren, adults, and those in Israel’s security forces.

The School is currently completing an organizational renewal process in which its activities will be focused in four main channels:

An educational institute for developing platforms for the future of the Jewish People

A Museum Education Department that will operate all group educational activities in the Museum of the Jewish People

A Global Educational Initiatives Department that will develop and operate educational programs for Jewish communities around the world

A Public Programing Department that will produce quality content for audiences and communities in Israel and around the world

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An agreement was reached with the Maccabi World Organization to introduce the School’s programs to missions, visitors and members of Maccabi World organization.

The School’s programs were presented at a variety of conferences in Israel and abroad, within the framework of professional development for educators and community members.

The School worked with twenty interns from eight different countries as part of its Global Internship Program.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT

The Educational Programs Department expanded its activities considerably in 2018 by reaching out to new countries through cooperative ventures:

Our flagship My Family Story program has reached more than 24,000 participants in 30 countries around the world, and roughly 40,000 people were exposed to the exhibition at the Museum.

Youth from 20 countries around the world participated in The Jewish Lens program (a 100% increase over last year). The program’s materials were revitalized and refreshed, and additional content was uploaded to the site. Approximately 35,000 people were exposed to this exhibition.

The Capsules Exhibition, an educational kit that can be printed and displayed, was highly popular this year and was presented in over 130 locations around the world, including synagogues, Jewish and non-Jewish schools and institutions.

The Treasuring Communities program operated in ten schools across Europe and was translated and adapted for English speaking communities.

The international activities of the G2G program were expanded in coordination with the Jewish Agency. In addition, 600 classes from all segments of Israeli society involved in the program visited the Museum, and the World Heritage Story Database was opened to all school programs.

The School produced the Operation Moses Toolkit to share the incredible journey of the Ethiopian community. This project was based on the Museum’s hugely successful Operation Moses exhibition.

This year the Museum’s Education Department trained new guides for the Museum, implemented programs for the IDF and security forces, strengthened ties with the Ministry of Education, and trained educators.

Army (IDF) activities were coordinated with the Museum. As of January 1, 2019 the Museum and School are officially in the IDF’s Museum listings, in addition to the Museum being a recognized educational entity for officers.

25 daylong seminars were held for officers

Daylong seminars for teachers more than doubled, from 22 in 2017 to 45 in 2018

The number of visitors from junior high schools increased by 20% thanks to innovative educational alternatives that suit their curriculum.

The School trained 155 principals and supervisors in the Ministry of Education to promote the Peoplehood Dialogue. It initiated and participated in many conferences in which it confirmed the status of the School as an authority on the subject of Peoplehood.

The Museum’s policy of adapting Museum visits to suit educational programs has received many accolades and comments from both school principals and from the Ministry of Education. Feedback received includes the idea that “every child in Israel should come here at least once in the course of their studies.”

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This Department curates and creates events for various communities, inspired by Israeli-Jewish culture:

American Night: A musical and literary event featuring Nicole Krauss, Eshkol Nevo, Shai Tzabari and others.

Who does the Israeli story really belong to? What did Israel take and borrow from our American brethren as we created an Israeli culture? And how do we see these connections in the writing and music of both countries?

Writing workshops, meetings with authors, radio-live broadcasts, intimate classes with artisans, and musical performances all-in-one evening of literature, music and writing.

St. Petersburg Festival: A celebration of contemporary Israeli culture inspired by the city of St. Petersburg, featuring musical performances, dance, visual art, photography and video, audience participation theater, lectures and more.

This event was a multidisciplinary, multi-faceted, multi-generational celebration that provided a contemporary Israeli interpretation of Jewish life in the Soviet Union and shed new light on Jewish immigration to Israel.

Tu B’Av: Love is hysterical! A close look at the genre and medium of romantic comedies with Naama Rak and Galit Hugi. Guests also enjoyed Slam Jam Love, a slam poetry performance with leading spoken word performers and musical accompaniment.

Stan Lee: Larger Than Life – An Evening in Memory of Stan Lee Marking the 30th anniversary of Stan lee’s passing, this evening was filled with larger-than-life heroes! The program included a cosplay contest with prizes for the best comic characters, a screening of the film “The Hebrew Superhero” and a panel on the legacy of Stan Lee.

White Night: Gallery talk and R-rated tour of the Humor Exhibition.

Art Students Exhibition: “Native Landscaping” is the result of a partnership between the Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot and the Student Authority of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. Students explored their immigration journeys from their countries of origin, including questions relating to language, family, religion and assimilation into Israeli society.

This year four prestigious series were attended by 9,000 people. These series discussed newly released Israeli films, Polish Jewry, Yiddish and the culture of humor, and the rich culture of Morocco.

This year’s Hanukkah activities included a children’s play performance as well as pop-up performances by actors in the Museum’s galleries.

The School is developing a unique format for Israeli travel that will help familiarize the concept of “Peoplehood” and diversity that exists across Jewish communities throughout the world.

In 2019 we will centralize our content at the Tisch Center for Dialogue as part of a new and fascinating initiative of Beit Hatfutsot. Through this framework, every group visiting the Museum will be able to meet directly—not through a third party—with any community of its choosing.

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In 2018 the Databases Department continued its mission of enriching and improving the documentation

and preservation of Jewish heritage. The photo database experienced a significant increase in new entries, with thousands of new items added to extant collections. The genealogy database was augmented by hundreds of thousands of new records as well as many other kinds of content, especially contributions to the Jewish communities, films and biographies databases.

Among the many new additions to the Museum’s databases, special mention should be made of the following outstanding visual documentation collections that were acquired in 2018, each adding a tremendous new facet to the richness of Beit Hatfutsot’s offerings.

Esnoga Grande (Great

Synagogue), Gibraltar.

Originally established in 1724,

the current building serves the

large Sephardi community of

Gibraltar.

Family Tree of the Ebel-Derbflajsz

and Buksbaum-Szrajber families.

Collage.

Screenshot from "Jewish life in Iraq, testimony of Daniel Khazzom". Recorded by JIMENA Oral History, 2010.Fran Lebowitz poses in a bookstore in Greenwich Village, NYC, with a copy of the book "Smut" in her hand.

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18DIANA MARA HENRY – collection of photographs

Selected items from the work of internationally renowned photographer Diana Mara Henry will become part of the Beit Hatfutsot databases, courtesy of the artist. The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot joins the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, the US National Archives, and the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America at Harvard University in hosting the work of Diana Mara Henry, the official photographer for the 1977 First National Women’s conference. Diana Mara Henry is widely acclaimed for her ability to present sometimes-difficult material in a way that engages the viewer and opens the public’s mind regarding delicate subjects. A substantial segment of her work deals with Jewish topics. The inclusion of her photographs in the Museum’s databases will add a fresh contemporary dimension to the visual documentation of Jewish life.

BEIT ASHKENAZ – collection of former German-speaking Jewish Communities Stories

This collection was amassed during decades of dedicated work by Professor Meier Schwarz and his team. It contains approximately 1,500 histories of individual Jewish communities and their synagogues in Germany — including territories that are now part of Poland (Silesia, West and East Prussia) or Russia (East Prussia) — that were attacked during Pogrom Night on Nov. 9, 1938 as well as articles describing every synagogue or prayer room of Austria before the Holocaust. Each entry summarizes stories of foundation, enriching cultural exchange and coexistence, and documents the effects of the successive phases of modern anti-Semitism, from prejudice and exclusion to violent attacks and mass murder during the final stages of the Holocaust. Together with the other materials in the Museum’s databases, the addition of this collection will ensure that practically every Jewish community in German-speaking countries will be documented by Beit Hatfutsot.

SYNAGOGUES360 – collection of photographs depicting outstanding synagogues

Synagogues360 is a pioneering project initiated and conducted by Mr. Louis Davidson of Tulsa, OK. Based on advanced 360-degree panoramic, interactive photos of about 600 remarkable synagogues from small, remote villages to cosmopolitan cities in forty countries on four continents, the collection offers the opportunity to explore a unique Jewish heritage via an innovative and fascinating approach. The collection includes stories about these synagogues, many of them collected from local residents and curators. Beit Hatfutsot was instrumental in assisting Mr. Davidson during the many years that he dedicated to this project. The addition of this collection to the Museum’s databases will launch a larger-scale effort to document synagogues throughout the world.

JIMENA – collection of video testimonies

JIMENA (Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa) is a San Francisco-based organization aiming to achieve universal recognition for the heritage and history of the 850,000 indigenous Jewish refugees from Arab countries and Iran, and to ensure that the accurate history of Mizrahi and Sephardic Jews is integrated into the mainstream narrative of modern Jewish experience. A newly established collaboration between Beit Hatfutsot and JIMENA will allow for many of the professionally produced testimonies about past Jewish life in Arab countries, particularly those stories of the discrimination, expulsion and violence endured by countless Jewish families during the 20th century, to be part of the Beit Hatfutsot databases. These new materials will join extant database items showcasing Jewish heritage in the Middle East and North Africa; undoubtedly they will enrich the experience of the Museum’s database users.

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In 2018 the Online Department continued not only to connect, build and create, but also to

increase the Museum of the Jewish People’s digital media presence around the world. Below are a few examples of our efforts this past year, achieved thanks to the Online team in collaboration with all of the Museum’s departments.

SEEING THE VOICES

In December we launched a large-scale strategic project initiated by the Ministry for Social Equality that aims to collect filmed testimonies from Jews born in Arab countries and in Iran for whom there is a dearth of recorded histories. In order to achieve this goal we developed an app for iPhone and Android that allows users to upload their stories. We also built a new website that shares these stories with the world. At the same time, production teams collected testimonies from across Israel. This project has just been launched and is now being promoted via a national television campaign, on the Internet, and on billboards throughout the country.

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18LET’S TALK NUMBERS

In 2018 the Museum welcomed 1,300,000 online visitors who explored 5,000,000 pages on our websites. The majority visited the Databases website, where over 800,000 people explored 3,400,000 pages. This is an increase from 2017, when we had 900,000 online visitors exploring 1,400,000 pages. The Museum not only shares content online, but also reaches audiences via Wikipedia, Facebook and other social networks.

SOCIAL MEDIA

The Museum’s three Facebook pages — the official BH Page in Hebrew, the Official BH English Page, and “The Jew in You” with its engaged community of 140,000 followers — continue to operate at full speed. The Museum also has a Twitter account, a Tripadvisor account and an Instagram account that is screened on the lobby walls. Altogether the Museum has approximately 200,000 social media followers.

WIKIPEDIAN IN RESIDENCE

In 2018 we began to invest in promoting the Museum’s Wikipedia content, both in English and Hebrew. Similar to other leading museums and archives, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Library of Congress, we’ve hired a “Wikipedian in Residence” who is in charge of writing new Wikipedia articles as well as editing, updating and enhancing existing articles by adding photos and content from the Museum’s database. This initiative allows for greater exposure of Museum content, as Wikipedia reaches more people than any other online tool.

Additionally, in 2018 over 17,000 people viewed some 200 articles featuring unique Museum content. For example, the History of the Jews in Atlanta, published in June 2018, was chosen for Wikipedia’s homepage preview and has since been viewed over 5,500 times.

THE MUSEUM BLOG

The Museum blog continues to draw an increasing number of readers. In 2018, seventy five posts were published on various topics including “The Untold Story of the Jewish Resistance in Algeria”; “The Legendary Habiba Msika”; “The Famous Jewish Pirate”; “Columbus’ Jewish Interpreter”; “The Faked Typhus Epidemic”; “The Jewish Mother: Philip Roth’s Jewish Mother”; “The Great Speeches”; “The Amazing Story of Jewish Khaleesi” and “The Politics and Theology Behind Jewish Time”, to name a few.

Our successful collaboration with Haaretz Online continues, and our exposure thanks to this partnership has increased — readers of Haaretz Online in English are able to access Museum blog posts. In 2018 some 300,000 readers enjoyed our posts on Haaretz alone.

TECH ADVISORY BOARD

We’ve recently assembled a distinguished and capable team of talented professionals from the Israeli high-tech arena to advise the Online Department. In light of the Museum’s goals and achievements, these experts immediately contributed their time and knowledge, working to improve and upgrade the Museum’s technological capacity. The members of the committee are Nimrod Kozlovski, Danna Hochstein Mann, Ophir Kra-Oz, Michal Lester, Ruth Polachek, Guy Eliav, Avi Warshavsky, Eyal Miller and Merav Oren. All hold senior positions in companies such as Google, Wikipedia, MindCET and Samsung and represent various disciplines and sectors throughout Israel’s high-tech industry.

A new and improved family tree app is already being implemented thanks to this committee, in partnership with programmers who graduated from SheCode, an organization that trains and supports women programmers in Israel.

NEWSLETTERS

Museum newsletter output and readership continues to increase. In 2018 we sent 16 newsletters in English, 19 in Hebrew, and five in Russian (in addition to offering a Russian version of the Museum’s website). In total, over 60 newsletters written in Hebrew, English, Russian and Spanish were sent to more than 800,000 subscribers in 2018.

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The External Relations Department works closely with all Museum staff. Its role is twofold: 1) raising the Museum’s visibility

by coordinating special visits, producing promotional materials, engaging in strategic community outreach, cultivating administrative and governmental relationships as well as hosting missions and special events; and 2) serving as the central team for fundraising efforts for the Museum, both in Israel and abroad. To that end, the External Relations Department works in coordination with the Israel Friends of Beit Hatfutsot as well as with Beit Hatfutsot of America.

Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel and marking 40 years since the establishment of the Museum, in 2018 we hosted several missions from global communities including the US, Brazil, Argentina, France, the UK, Australia, Canada and Germany as well as formal diplomatic delegations. We had the privilege of introducing Jewish Peoplehood in practice to government officials, ambassadors and foreign advisors, synagogue missions and boards of leading Jewish organizations.

Strategic planning was put into practice by cultivating and strengthening the Museum’s network of partner agencies. Working together with community organizations brought opportunities for collaboration, joint events and special delegations to the Museum.

In November, Beit Hatfutsot had the privilege of participating in The Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly. The theme of this year’s GA, which was held for the first time in Tel Aviv, was “Israel and the Diaspora – We Need to Talk.” Irina Nevzlin, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot, delivered an inspiring speech at the opening plenary for which Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin was the keynote speaker. The Museum also hosted the Board of Trustees of the JFNA for a prestigious night at the Museum.

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18One of the Museum’s goals is to serve as a cultural center that welcomes a wide variety of audiences. To that end, in 2018 we hosted the Israeli premier screening of the acclaimed film, The Green Park. Produced by Marsha Lee, this documentary provides a rare and fascinating glimpse into Jewish life in Britain.

Partnership with The Baron De Hirsch Fund continued in 2018, and their support enabled the Museum not only to bring back the exhibition, “Operation Moses: 30 Years After,” but also sponsored visitors of various ages both to experience the exhibition and to enjoy the overall programs of the Museum. This collaboration also manifested itself when the Boston Jewish Federation decided to screen the exhibition’s documentary, as part of their community events.

Made possible by an anonymous foundation gift, Beit Hatfutsot acquired the latest in museum technology – a telepresence robot that will provide tours for people who are physically unable to visit the Museum and will enable a new dimension of visitor experience.

A gift of by the Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation brought 600 young people with special needs to the Museum, many of whom were visiting a museum for the first time.

Beit Hatfutsot continued its outreach to Australia; Australian Ambassador to Israel Chris Cannan was a guest of honor on his visit to the Museum and the Israel Australia Chamber of Commerce chose the Museum as the venue for its Annual General Meeting. The Museum hosted various delegations from Australia, including an AIJAC (Australia Israel Jewish Affairs Council) mission. This mission was comprised of eight journalists, the Chief Executive from the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies and a contingent of senior officials and advisers from Australia’s trade union and Labor party, chaired by the Assistant Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

The External Relations Department expanded its outreach to Olim communities with its celebration of Aliyah Day. The event featured free entry for all Olim with tours in English, Russian, French, Spanish and easy Hebrew. Attendance increased from the previous year, following direct approaches to Olim groups and exposure on Facebook to over 95,000 potential group members. CAN French radio promoted the event in advance, and Israel21 LIVE Spanish filmed a comprehensive interview with the Museum’s Dina Ergas-Guez, who introduced the collections to Spanish speaking audiences. The Israel21 LIVE crew joined one of the Spanish speaking tours to view the exhibitions.

Consistent with the Museum’s commitment to the idea that You Are Part of the Story, External Affairs and the Koret School for Jewish Peoplehood established a course for English speakers to increase their engagement with the Museum. What’s Your Story? offers eight-session workshops led by author and teacher Jennifer Lang of Israel’s Writers Studio and incorporates aspects of the Museum’s current exhibitions.

In October the Israel office of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Beit Hatfutsot put together a vigil in solidarity with the Pittsburgh community. Ambassador David Friedman delivered remarks, followed by ADL Israel CEO Carole Nuriel; Yizhar Hess, CEO of the Conservative Movement in Israel; and Professor Daniel Chamovitz, native of Pittsburgh and President of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

Looking ahead, 2019 is a crucial year for the External Relations Department and brings the final phase of the Museum’s Renewal Plan. Our goal is to cultivate additional relationships, promote the Museum to potential supporters and ensure that various departments work together to fulfill the Museum’s mission and vision in the coming year and beyond.

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Working to promote the cultural, educational and community projects of The Museum of the Jewish People,

the Israel Friends of Beit Hatfutsot plays an instrumental role in developing many of the initiatives of the Museum. The IFBI raises resources for temporary exhibitions and promotes educational projects in Israel and abroad for the Koret School of Jewish Peoplehood Studies at Beit Hatfutsot. It also works to promote critical connections between the younger generations and their roots by offering guided tours of the Museum’s various exhibitions to thousands of young people, new immigrants, families from the periphery, soldiers and IDF officers. The IFBI also helps finance activities for enrichment seminars and workshops. On an ongoing basis, the Israel Friends of Beit Hatfutsot organizes events for its Circle of Friends in order to raise funds for projects that bring Jews together while sharing the rich culture and unique and ongoing story of the Jewish People.

BOLOGNA SALUTES THE MUSEUM OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AT BEIT HATFUTSOT

Local businessman Guido Ottolenghi, head of The Jewish Museum in Bologna and a leader of Italy’s Jewish community, hosted a gala evening for the Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot. This event celebrated 40 years since the Museum’s opening, and welcomed Bologna Mayor Virgino Marula; Ofer Sacks, Israeli ambassador to Italy; Noemi di Segni, President of the Union of the Italian Jewish Community; and Claudia di Benedetti, businesswoman and member of the Board of Governors of Beit Hatfutsot.

At the event, the Jewish Museum in Bologna displayed rare photographs celebrating the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel. The images were culled from the unique collection of photographs housed in the Bernard H. and Miriam Oster Visual Documentation Center at The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot.

A festive cocktail hour was also held at the Palazzo Malvezzi palace, attended by senior officials from Italy’s business and Jewish communities.

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Together with the Ruderman Foundation and the Eshkol Nevo home workshops, on March 5th the Friends of Beit Hatfutsot hosted author Nicole Krauss at the Museum for an “American Night” exploring American-Jewish identity and its impact on Israel.

The evening included a conversation with writer Eshkol Nevo and a meeting with artists, writers and cultural figures such as Dana Berger, Boaz Cohen, Noam Parthum, Roi Hassan and Shlomi Hatuka. The event ended with a sweeping performance by Shai Tsabari who literally raised the roof.

FRIENDS OF BEIT HATFUTSOT DELEGATION IN PORTUGAL – OCTOBER 2018

A delegation of 30 participants from the Museum embarked on a roots journey exploring the glorious past of the Jewish community in Portugal. They sought to create a platform for cooperation between the Museum, donors and officials from within and outside the community.

Israel’s ambassador to Portugal, Rafi Gamzou, and his wife, Michal, held a festive and generous reception for delegation members. Sixty of the Jewish community’s dignitaries as well as government and cultural officials participated.

Among those in attendance was Deputy Mayor and holder of the International Cultural and Community Portfolio, who spoke about the founding of the Museum of Portuguese Jewry in Lisbon. The community’s president, Gabriel Steinhardt, and Roberto Bachmann, an international collector of writings and ancient documents that Beit Hatfutsot hopes to put on display, discussed his collection.

The delegation visited three synagogues. The Chief Rabbi of Portugal, Natan Peres, received them at the beautiful Shaarei Tikva in Lisbon. Particularly moving was a visit to the city of Tomar to see the oldest synagogue in Portugal, built in 1438, a national heritage site. Although undergoing renovations, it’s doors were opened especially for the delegation. A visit to the Mekor Chaim synagogue in Porto, which was inaugurated in the 1930s, was also a moving experience for the group.

In addition, the delegation toured other famous sites in Portugal, including Sintra, Cabo de Roca, Cascais, the renowned Discoveries Monument, the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon, and Fatima, where a miracle believed to have occurred in the early the 20th century continues to attract millions of Christians.

WELCOMING THE CHILDREN

Friends of the Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot hosted hundreds of children from areas adjacent to the Gaza strip. They visited the interactive Heroes gallery, received refreshments and toured the Humor gallery as well.

L-R: Dan Tadmor, Nicole Krauss, Adi Akunis

Upper right: Israel Friends visiting Portugal

Irina Nevzlin delivering opening remarks at GA 2018

Oshra Friedman speaking at Museum event at American Jewish University, Los Angeles

L-R: Shula Bahat, Amb. Alfred H. Moses, Liora Shani, Irina Nevzlin

Performances and events at the Museum

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18Beit Hatfutsot is more than a museum and as such it offers various cultural

opportunities, open for the public or facilities for holding private functions. The Museum has prioritized the development of a wide range of cultural activities for diverse audiences and the establishment of its venues as a prestigious and familiar meeting place. The unique added value of holding an event at Beit Hatfutsot is the utilization of content from the Museum’s exhibitions and facilities, something that no other venue can offer. The Events and Conferences Department provides professional production services to diverse audiences, with an emphasis on accompanying and adapting available content to each individual event, coordinating among the various professional and expert bodies of the Museum. The Museum offers two auditoriums with 220 and 120 seats respectively, an expansive lobby, a balcony overlooking the Tel Aviv University Campus, classrooms and a gallery space for receptions and celebrations.

In 2018 the public enjoyed numerous lectures and film screenings, some held in collaboration with other organizations, exposing the Museum to new visitors.

An evening dedicated to Italian culture was held in partnership with L’Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Israel and explored Jewish Italian heritage and unique traditions.

Yom HaShoa was marked at the Museum in partnership with The Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv University, with a debut screening of acclaimed Israeli film The Testimony. 300 participants attended the evening, held in memory of Felix Zandman.

The Museum held the Second Annual Music Festival including concerts, workshops and a seminar on Jewish music.

Delicatessen, a culinary event, was held twice at the visitors’ high demand. This evening was dedicated to eastern European Jewish food, exploring its origins and customs and of course tasting and enjoying the typical delicious dishes.

The ICMEMO 2018 Israel Conference held a private cultural reception dinner and guided tour of the Museum for forty leading representatives of museums worldwide.

An evening was dedicated to the book launch of Bucharest Diary: Romania’s Journey from Darkness to Light by Ambassador Alfred H. Moses, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Museum. Greetings were delivered by Gen (ret.) Amos Yadlin, now head of the Institute for National Security and Professor Itamar Rabinovich, President of the Israel Institute, Washington DC and Tel Aviv, Israel’s former Ambassador to the US.

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T 2018Beit Hatfutsot of America is the programmatic and

institution-building arm of Beit Hatfutsot in North America, conveying the Museum’s vision and mission and disseminating

Beit Hatfutsot’s content while establishing strategic relations with partner institutions and organizations. The American Friends of Beit

Hatfutsot (AFBH) is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization representing the interests of Beit Hatfutsot as a resource development vehicle. It

provides support for the ongoing and prospective programs and exhibits of the Museum.

Beit Hatfutsot of America is proud of the initiatives and partnerships established with major Jewish institutions that enable Beit Hatfutsot to bring value to Jewish

communities throughout the United States.

Friends of Israel and Beit Hatfutsot gathered in January 2018 for a memorable event celebrating Israel's 70th Anniversary and Beit Hatfutsot’s 40th Anniversary.

The evening was held in conjunction with Operation Finale: The Capture and Trial of Adolf Eichmann, on display for its final week at New York’s Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Guest speakers included Senator Joseph Lieberman, Honorary Chair, Board of Governors; Ambassador Alfred H. Moses, Co-Chair, Board of Governors; and Irina Nevzlin, Chair of the

Board of Beit Hatfutsot.

Efraim Halevy, the ninth Director of the Mossad and the fourth National Security Advisor of the State of Israel, was the keynote speaker and spoke about statesmanship at the crossroads of

existential dilemmas. He addressed the behind-the-scenes considerations that led to the capture of Adolf Eichmann and to bringing him to justice in Israel. Mr. Halevy revealed, for the first time publicly, how

that decision affected Israel's long-lasting relations with key foreign countries, the Cold War and strategic parameters in the Middle East as well as it current implications. In his remarks, he stressed the indelible link

between Israel and the Diaspora, and that neither Israel nor the Jews of the world can flourish without the continued existence of the Gordian knot binding them. Throughout his career, so many accomplishments in

Jewish-Israeli strategy were achieved through the efforts of Israel in tandem with the Jewish People. "Israel has freed us from the Galut syndrome,” he said, “Every Jew, wherever he or she is, has a virtual single share in Israel." He

added: "That is why Beit Hatfutsot represents worldwide Jewish unity and that is why it is not only the Museum of the Jewish People but also the Museum of every Israeli Jew, and it speaks to each and every one of us. We must never

forget this primary aspect of our historic bond — we are and shall remain inseparable."

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GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

Thanks to an ongoing generous grant from the Covenant Foundation, Beit Hatfutsot of America has been able to offer Curating Your Family Story, a new iteration of My Family Story, Beit Hatfutsot’s flagship experiential educational program, to select museums, JCCs and innovative Jewish learning centers. This program offers an opportunity to bring together families from throughout the Jewish community, including the unaffiliated. The pilot program was initiated four years ago at The Breman Museum of Jewish Heritage in Atlanta, GA, and, as it enters its third year, it continues to expand across the United States.

Students from Atlanta’s Congregation Shearith Israel and The Breman Museum worked together to collect family stories into a collective project culminating in a cookbook. Their work, for which some submitted recipes while others created original art projects, was exhibited at the William Breman Museum of Jewish Heritage from August 27 through September 16, 2018. Julie Zeff, Community Engagement Coordinator at The Breman Museum, said, “The year-long curriculum teaches interviewing skills, the importance of artifacts and how to be an anthropologist for a day.” Curating Your Family Story fosters an understanding and connection to one’s Jewish heritage and connects young people with their family history.

In addition, this past summer, The Stroum JCC in Seattle, Washington implemented Curating Your Family Story in two formats, one on a weekly basis, and another as a weeklong summer camp intensive. This summer Stroum JCC students created maps charting the journeys that their families took to arrive in Seattle.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

JewishGen.org brings together two of the Jewish world’s most iconic entities for innovation in advancing online genealogy and identify exploration. This project aims to enrich the online search and discovery process for thousands of people researching their Jewish roots by facilitating access to a massive database of Jewish Family Trees. The partnership will enable the family tree collections held by both entities, accounting for nearly 20,000 family trees, to be made accessible to visitors of both JewishGen.org and The Museum of the Jewish People.

The Jewish Women Renaissance Project (now Momentum) is creating a pilot of Beit Hatfutsot’s educational program My Family Story for families to use from home, outside the context of a Jewish learning center.

JIMENA: Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa: The goal of this partnership is to document, share and disseminate the personal stories, traditions and customs of refugees from ancient Middle Eastern and North African Jewish communities. Beit Hatfutsot and JIMENA are committed to preserving the heritage of these Jewish communities in perpetuity, for generations to come.

From right to left clockwise:

Keynote speaker Efraim Halevy

Distinguished guests the festive Museum Gala events, NY

L-R: Daniel Pincus, Amb. Dani Dayan, Irina Nevzlin, Amb. Danny Danon

David and Pam Zaslav, Matt and Susan Blank, Richard and Peggy Gelfond, Caroline Hirsch,

Senator Joseph I. Lieberman and Hadassah Lieberman

L-R: Irina Nevzlin, Dan Tadmor, Ingeborg Rennert

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18ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS

“Schmaltzy,” March 2018 at our Tel Aviv VenueThe core mission of Beit Hatfutsot is to tell the unique and ongoing story of the Jewish People. With the Museum of the Jewish People at its heart, Beit Hatfutsot tells the story of Jewish values, history, achievements, culture, traditions and folklore. Storytelling is central to Judaism; it is the way we pass down our heritage from one generation to the next.

Nowhere is this truer than around the dinner table, where family stories are shared and family recipes make our connections to our past something we can taste. Sponsored by the Paul E. Singer Foundation and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation as part of the JFN meeting, “Schmaltzy” was a delicious evening of live storytelling. A program of the Jewish Food Society presented with the support of Beit Hatfutsot of America, this event was the first of its kind in Israel, comprised of stories about food and Jewish identity from speakers who embody the diversity of our people and our collective narrative.

The evening’s storytellers included Israeli culinary personality Gil Hovav, the great-grandson of Eliezer Ben Yehuda; PJ Library author Tami Shemtov; culture editor and author Jessica

Steinberg; former Ambassador to Russia Dorit Golender; and celebrity baker Uri Scheft.

Food, as an integral part of identity and the social fabric of the Jewish People, will be featured in the Culture and Identity Wing of the New Core Exhibition of Beit Hatfutsot. An interactive display will enable the creation of a comprehensive database of Jewish cuisine.

“Whoever Saves A Life Saves the World,” The Book Launch of “The Fox Hunt” by Mohammed Al Samawi, New York, April 2018Beit Hatfutsot of America co-sponsored this program with the American Sephardi Federation, Center for Jewish History, The Muslim Jewish Advisory Council and the Muslim American Leadership Alliance.

The story of Mohammed Al Samawi would have ended differently if not for the commitment of prominent Jewish leaders, including Daniel Pincus, President of the American Friends of Beit Hatfutsot, and numerous organizations who saved him. The story of Mohammed’s rescue highlights the ways in which the lessons of the Shoah continue to shape Jewish identify and activism.

“Israel-Diaspora Relation: Past, Present and Future,” New York, May 2018

This joint program of Beit Hatfutsot of America and the Center for Jewish History was focused on the historical connections between Babylon and Jerusalem from the period of the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds to Israel-Diaspora relations today, with an eye toward the future. This event was inspired by the literary legacy of Leon H. Charney z”l, a businessman, lawyer, cantor and author, and was focused on his book, “The Battle of the Two Talmuds: Judaism’s Struggle with Power, Glory & Guilt”. A distinguished panel moderated by Professor David Myers, former President and CEO of the Center for Jewish History; Dr. Aaron J. Koller, Associate Professor of Near Eastern and Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University; Prof. Marjorie Lehman, Associate Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics at the Jewish Theological Seminary; Prof. Shaul Magid, Professor of Religious Studies at Indiana University; and Alana Newhouse, Editor and Founder of Tablet Magazine contributed to a lively discussion. Nathaniel Laor, Professor of Philosophy, Psychiatry and Medical Education at Tel Aviv University introduced the panel with a moving tribute to the legacy of Leon H. Charney. The evening concluded with “Breath and Hammer” performed by David Krakauer on clarinet and Kathleen Tagg on piano.

“Beit Hatfutsot, A Game Changer,” The Hampton Synagogue, Westhampton Beach, New York, August 2018A conversation with Ambassador Alfred H. Moses, Co-Chair of Beit Hatfutsot’s International Board of Governors and Shulamith Bahat, CEO of Beit Hatfutsot of America. Guests gathered at a breakfast forum to learn about the renewed Beit Hatfutsot, the hub of Jewish Peoplehood and a global content provider on the path to re-envisioning relations between Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. Ambassador Moses underscored that celebrating Jewish life is the main aim of Beit Hatfutsot.

“Dream, Reality, Future: Ethiopian Israelis from Operation Moses to the Present,” American Jewish University, Los Angeles, November 2018Beit Hatfutsot’s film, Operation Moses: 30 Years After, which is based on the Museum's seminal exhibition by the same name, featuring Israeli Ethiopians and their diverse stories, was screened at the American Jewish University at the inauguration of the partnership between Beit Hatfutsot and AJU. Dr. Ruth Shamir Popkin, Vice President of AFBH welcomed the audience and introduced the film, commenting that Beit Hatfutsot is home to all Jewish communities. Oshra Friedman, Deputy Director General of the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women, who made Aliyah to Israel from Israel with her entire family, was the guest speaker, relating her story and that of her community, past, present and future.

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“Lighting the World: Menorahs Around the Globe,” Museum at Eldridge Street, New York, December 2018Beit Hatfutsot of America co-sponsored this exhibit that showcases the Ben Zalman’s remarkable collection of menorahs from across the globe spanning more than five centuries. Though Jewish communities throughout the world celebrate Hanukkah, their style of holiday lamps reflects Jewish diversity, distinctive cultures, and unity. Within Eldridge Street’s vibrant historic sanctuary, menorahs from 17th century Italy and 19th century North Africa are displayed alongside those from Colonial America and modern-day Israel, India, Brazil, Poland, the Netherlands and more. Each menorah’s design tells a story both about its origin and about those who used it. This exhibition is on display through Spring 2019.

“Roberta: A Witness to Israel’s Rebirth,” New York, November 2018Beit Hatfutsot of America, in conjunction with Louise Kerz Hirschfeld and Stephen Wise Free Synagogue’s Israel Committee, presented this dramatic reading and musical performance based on the life of New York native Roberta Hodes who, on June 6, 1948, fresh out of college, made her way to Israel in the midst of its War of Independence. Against her parents’ wishes, she volunteered to serve for two years in the IDF where she was assigned to its Film Corps. Upon her return to the US in 1950 she began a long and distinguished career in the film industry, later teaching film at New York University for more than 15 years. Award-winning Broadway actress Charlotte Maier read from Hodes’ diary, and Cantors Daniel Singer and Inbal Sharett Singer led the audience in singing Israeli songs from that era.

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The audience included many luminaries, among them Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN; Ambassador Dani Dayan, Israel’s Consul General in New York; Ambassador Alfred H. Moses, Co-Chair of Beit Hatfutsot’s Board of Governors; Daniel Pincus, President, American Friends of Beit Hatfutsot; Terry Kassel, Paul E. Singer Foundation; Michele Tocci, David Berg Foundation; Harlene Winnick Appelman, Covenant Foundation; Tzili Charney, Leon H. Charney Foundation; Linda Mirels, Co-Chair, New York State-Israel Commission; Nina Weiner, President, ISEF; David Zaslav, President and CEO, Discovery, Inc. as well as other prominent leaders of the entertainment industry and many more.

Tribute was paid to Caroline Hirsch, the visionary entrepreneur, founder and owner of Caroline’s on Broadway and the New York Comedy Festival, for her contribution to the global world of comedy. In her response she stated, “I am so honored to be recognized by The Museum of Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot and to be part of such an incredibly special night. The Museum does such important work all over the world, and I’m thrilled to be celebrated alongside the global Jewish contributions to the art of comedy.”

The evening continued with performances by stars of the comedy stage. The talented Eric Neumann and Greg Radin were first to take the stage, followed by the fabulous Judy Gold and concluding with the marvelous MODI, who had the room in stitches. The laughter was, indeed, contagious. The evening was the first in a series of new and exciting adventures Beit Hatfutsot has in store for audiences worldwide in the coming years.

“Let There Be Laughter” Gala, Mandarin Oriental, New York, December 2018The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot hosted a magnificent celebration of Jewish humor radiating with the rich content of “Let There Be Laughter: Jewish Humor Around the World,” the blockbuster exhibition currently on display at the Museum.

It was a unique event demonstrating the values of a renewed Beit Hatfutsot. Our vision, mission and programs engaged and excited all in attendance on Monday, December 17, 2018 at a gala held in Manhattan’s Mandarin Oriental.

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The Museum’s marketing efforts paid off and in 2018 there was a 2% increase in visitors to the Museum as compared

to the previous year, maintaining an overall upward trend in Museum guests. In 2018 we welcomed 200,000 visitors.

The launching of the highly successful Jewish Humor exhibition increased individual visitors by 19% as compared to 2017, students

by 18% and soldiers by 18%. In an attempt to raise awareness of this exhibition, the Museum held a lively conference for 200 tour agents,

featuring a performance by leading Israeli stand-up comedian Tal Friedman.

In addition, the Museum launched a joint summer campaign in partnership with Keshet 12, Israel’s biggest TV channel. The New Wing of the Museum

maintained both regular and novel audiences from diverse sectors; all age groups, backgrounds and affiliations visited it in 2018.

Summer at the Museum reached a new peak, with 43,000 visitors in July and August. Candle-lighting and daily performances brought 5,000 visitors to the Museum during

Hanukkah.

This year the Marketing and PR Department expanded its activities in North America as part of the Museum’s overall plan as it prepares to launch the New Core Exhibition in April 2020.

Concerted efforts were made to reach and engage Israeli consumer clubs, which constitute approximately 50% of private customer sales in peak seasons.

Recognizing the need for additional spaces for visitors and groups, we renovated, adding new classrooms and turning an outdated auditorium into a central meeting area for groups and missions.

Looking ahead, 2019 is the year we prepare to launch the New Core Exhibition, as well as to define our strategy for the first quarter of 2020 and the opening of the New Core Exhibition. Our work plan for the

year includes preparation for the establishment and implementation of infrastructure and management – budgeting, recruitment of suppliers and utilization of skilled workers – as well as a marketing plan for the launch

that includes branding strategy, advertising and public relations, sales and overall organizational structure.

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FINANCIALS

USD REVENUE

Admission 2,261,000

Government 2,222,220

Programs 921,780

Shop Sales 280,000

Other 188,000

Earned income subtotal 5,873,000

Contributions and Grants 2,047,000

TOTAL REVENUE 7,920,000

EXPENSES

Programs 4,293,000

Building 1,562,000

Marketing & Communications 655,000

Administration 862,000

Shop 192,000

Fundraising and Membership 356,000

TOTAL EXPENSES 7,920,000

$1= 3.6NIS (2018)

IN MEMORIAM

Museum of the Jewish People mourns the passing of a lifelong friend and leader - Sam E. Bloch z”l.

Sam was one of the founders of the Museum, envisioning a central establishment to serve as a bridge between Israel and global Jewish communities.

From its inception, Sam Bloch supported the Museum. He established the American Friends of Beit Hatfutsot, serving as its national Vice President and Chairman for many years.

Mr. Bloch was recognized for his continual and tireless efforts on behalf of the Museum and received the Beit Hatfutsot Yakir award in 1989.

Born in 1924 to a scholarly Polish family, Mr. Bloch was educated at Tarbuth Hebrew College in Vilnius, Lithuania, and at Bonn University. He was active in the World Jewish Congress, the World Jewish Restitution Organization, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Friends of Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.

He was a recipient of a Tel Aviv University honorary fellowship and the Israel Bonds Organization’s Elie Wiesel Remembrance Award.

Dan Tadmor, CEO of Beit Hatfutsot, noted that, “Sam’s leadership, vision and devotion to the Museum have been an inspiration. In his unremitting commitment he laid the foundations for the Museum of the Jewish People”.

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T 2018OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS

The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot is a public, not-for-profit organization with private and governmental involvement. The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot has four shareholders:

• The State of Israel

• The Jewish Agency for Israel/World Zionist Organization

• Tel Aviv University

• The World Jewish Congress

According to the 2005 Beit Hatfutsot Law, Beit Hatfutsot has the status of a National Center for Jewish Communities in Israel and Around the World. The directing institutions of Beit Hatfutsot are: The General Assembly (meeting of shareholders of the organization); Board of Governors (the senior representative and policy formulating body); and the Board of Directors (the management body).

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS 2018

Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, Honorary Chair

Ambassador Alfred H. Moses, Co-Chair

Major-General (Ret.) Eitan Ben-Eliahu, Co-Chair

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Irina Nevzlin, Chair

• Prof. Yael Darr, Representative of Tel Aviv University

• Rabbi Lior Gabay, Representative of the Public

• Mr. Eyal Gabbai, Representative of the Public

• Mr. Yaakov Haguel, Representative of the World Zionist Organization

• Isaac Herzog, Representative of the Jewish Agency for Israel

• Hadas Lahav, Representative of the Public

• Mr. Moshe Leshem, Representative of the World Jewish Congress

• Amb. Alfred Moses, Representative of the Public

• Mr. Gil Omer, Representative of the Public

• Amb. Avi Pazner, Representative of the Public

• Amb. Ron Prosor, Representative of the Public

• Prof. Ziv Reich, Representative of the State of Israel

• Prof. Raanan Rein, Representative of Tel Aviv University

• Adv. Moshe Shimoni, Representative of the World Jewish Congress

• Dr. Ruth Shamir Popkin, Representative of the Public

• Joel Aaronson

• Rabbi Elie Abadie

• Eli Alroy

• Israel Bartal

• Yossi Beilin

• Gisele Ben-Dor

• Ronen Bergman

• Sam Bloch z”l

• Erica Brown

• Claudia di Benedetti

• Uri Dori

• Charlotte Frank

• David Ellman

• Ami Federmann

• Cheryl Fishbein

• Aharon Frenkel

• Jeffrey Goldberg

• Stephen M. Greenberg

• Amos & Shosh Hadar

• Zeev Holtzman

• Ron Huldai

• Shahab Karmely

• Jonathan Kolber

• Ami (Amihaz) Lustig

• Jack Mahfar

• Sabby Mionis

• Leonid Nevzlin (Founding Chair)

• Avi Pazner

• Chemi Peres

• Daniel Pincus

• Itamar Rabinovich

• Leon Recanati

• Uriel Reichman

• Ami Sagy

• Avner Shalev

• Ruth Shamir Popkin

• Zalman Shoval

• Rita Spiegel z’’l

• Rami Unger

• Nina Weiner

• Gad Zeevi

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18ISRAEL FRIENDS OF BEIT HATFUTSOT – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Hanna Pri Zan, Chairman

• Marco Bejarano

• Moshe Gal

• Murray Greenfield

• Shira Hantman

• Gabriel Hake

• Ronit Hershkovitz

• Dan Lahat

• Eliyahu Levin

• Hanna Levit

• Edna Maor

• Motty Meir

• Etty Propper

• Motty Reif

• Ruth Shamir Popkin

• Hedva Sharon

• Shmuel Shenhar

• Iris Yosef

• Enia Zeevi Kupfer

Adi Akunis, CEO

AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BEIT HATFUTSOT – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sam E. Bloch z”l, Founding Chairman

Daniel Pincus, President

• Ruth Shamir Popkin, Vice President

• Stephen M. Greenberg*, Treasurer

• Elissa Blaser, Secretary

• Gisele Ben Dor

• David Ellman

• Tanaz Eshaghian

• Dr. Aaron Feingold*

• Dr. Cheryl Fishbein*

• Tamar and Milton Maltz

• Ambassador Alfred H. Moses

• Carlyn Ring

• Sofia Segal

• Nina Weiner

Shula Bahat, CEO, Beit Hatfutsot of America

Gloria Golan, Executive Director, American Friends of Beit Hatfutsot

* Past President

WE THANK OUR GENEROUS DONORS

Administrator General and Official Receiver (the State of Israel)

The David Berg Foundation

The Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies

The Leon H. Charney Foundation

The Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany

Robert and Trudy Gottesman

The Koret Foundation

The Michael and Andrea Leven Family Foundation

The Milton and Tamar Maltz Family Foundation

Alfred H. Moses

The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Family Foundation

Sami Sagol

The Segal Family Foundation

Ruth Shamir Popkin

The David S. and Karen A. Shapira Foundation

Gary and Jean Shekhter

The Taube Foundation for Jewish Life and Culture

Andrew H. and Ann R. Tisch

Editor: Racheli Kaplan

Graphic Design: Rami & Jaki Studio

Language Editing: Sivan Butler-Rotholz

Translation: Joel Rabinowitz

Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot

Tel Aviv University Campus POB 39359 Tel Aviv 6139202, Israel

T +972-3-745-7888 | F +972-3-745-7891

For more information and to coordinate your visit please contact [email protected] | www.bh.org.il

Beit Hatfutsot of America & American Friends of BH

633 Third Avenue, 21st floor New York, NY 10017, USA

T +1-212-339-6034 | F +1-212-318-6176 | [email protected]

The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot is a unique institution and as such it operates on-site, online and around the world. We invite you to visit us and discover how we are all Part of the Story.