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Introducing the American Jewish Education Program

December 16, 2024

by Gemma Birnbaum

*With Love and Spice* (1972), created by the Shoshana Chapter of the Mizrachi Women’s Organization

Dear AJHS Members and Friends:

To begin, allow me to express gratitude for all who have supported our Turn the Page campaign in 2024. Thanks to you, this has been a truly transformational year for the AJHS library collections, as support for Turn the Page has allowed us to devote critical staff time and resources to assessing and enriching our beautiful library holdings. The generosity of our friends has enabled meaningful dedication to many facets of our 2024 library project.

Starting with preservation work, AJHS library staff have assessed thousands of books and taken corrective actions to ensure that the lifespan of delicate, fragile items is extended. Further, we are very excited to have added hundreds of new and long-desired titles, including at least 50 cookbooks (consisting of publishing house items, as well as wonderful community cookbooks largely created by Jewish women), and many other new works as well. Over 500 items have been added to the collection, which is a boon to us, our researchers, and our work in education. Again, none of this would be possible without you who appreciate the importance of the AJHS library and access to its contents. Thank you for helping us exceed our Turn the Page goals in 2024!

*With Love and Spice* (1972), created by the Shoshana Chapter of the Mizrachi Women’s Organization. This cookbook is heavily used with burn marks and notes, offering unique insight into its owner’s culinary journey and the cultural context of the time.

And now, with 2025 fast approaching, we are thrilled to announce a new initiative and campaign for the upcoming year, the American Jewish Education Program, which will build upon our efforts in recent years to increase access and exposure through education, media and programming. This initiative will support the expansion of digital-based web content, K-12 curricula and online learning, podcasts and video content, as well as academic fellowships and publications; supporting AJHS and our audiences as we embark on a new era of outreach and engagement and seek to expand our national footprint. We have secured a significant investment in this program to enable its launch, and now invite you to join us as we continue to build our framework in 2025. More exciting details of the American Jewish Education Program can be found at www.ajhs.org/education.

We know there is a lot of competition for your philanthropy, and that choosing whom to support takes a great deal of thoughtfulness. In the face of rising antisemitism, encouraging understanding of the historical experiences of Jews in America—such as Jewish contributions to our nation’s foundation, struggles for civil rights, and resilience shown in the face of prejudice—is essential. The preservation and dissemination of American Jewish history is a powerful way to promote empathy, combat antisemitism, and safeguard the values of equality and justice that are foundational to American society. Supporting AJHS and the American Jewish Education Program enables us to share the history we protect, and ensures that the stories of American Jews are recognized and understood in the broader context of American history.

We thank you for your interest in our vital work and hope you will consider making an end-of-year gift, or a gift in 2025, to support this exciting project. All our project supporters will be recognized on the American Jewish Education Program website, and we look forward to keeping you apprised of future important milestones as this initiative expands our mission and reach.

With immense gratitude, and best wishes for a happy Hanukkah and splendid new year.
Yours,

Gemma Birnbaum
Executive Director, AJHS

Gemma Birnbaum

Originally from Queens, NY, Gemma Birnbaum holds a bachelor’s in history and Judaic Studies from New York University and a master’s degree in the History of Twentieth Century Labor and Civil Rights from Tulane University. Currently the Executive Director of the American Jewish Historical Society in New York City, she previously spent 10 years at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans where she oversaw education and distance learning, media production, and interpretation, as well as serving as creator and executive producer of the podcast “To the Best of My Ability.” Prior to her time at the Museum, Gemma worked as an experiential educator at Heifer International and was a Lipper Intern at the Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, where she first got her start in museums and archives.