Only in America® Gala | Honoring The Wilf Family

An Evening Celebrating
America 250  •  The First Salute* •  The Weitzman’s 50th Anniversary

*On November 16, 1776, a cannon salute from the Dutch Caribbean island of St. Eustatius to the American ship the Andrew Doria marked the first foreign recognition of the United States. The First Salute: An Untold Story of the American Revolution, a new exhibition at The Weitzman, reveals the role of Jewish merchants in this pivotal Revolutionary moment.

Gala Leadership**

Chairs
Betsy and Philip Darivoff
Sharon and Joseph Kestenbaum
Miraldina and Anthony Meyer
Lyn M. Ross
Mimi and Allan Schneirov
Garrett Snider
Lindy Snider
Jane and Stuart Weitzman
Joseph Zuritsky and Renée Sackey

Co-Chairs 
Judy and Ron Baron
Stacey and Michael Bennett
Marjorie and Stephen Fiverson
Jackie and Erik Gershwind
Kathy and Mitchell Jacobson
Elain L. Lindy
William and Phyllis Mack
**

Museum Co-Chairs
Sharon Tobin Kestenbaum
Mark Oster

Support and register today!

Please contact
Jackie Glodstein at JGlodstein@theweitzman.org or 215.391.4645
Barbi Zakin at BZakin@theweitzman.org or 212.744.0799

**in formation

On November 16, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the First Salute, The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History will honor the Wilf Family with the prestigious Only in America^® Award for their extraordinary multigenerational legacy of leadership, philanthropy, and service to the Jewish community and the United States. We invite you to join us at the Only in America® Gala in New York City as we celebrate the Wilf Family and support the next phase of The Weitzman’s bold transformation.

The Wilf Family’s story is one of resilience, gratitude, and the enduring promise of America. After surviving the Holocaust, brothers Harry and Joseph Wilf, together with their wives, Judith and Elizabeth, came to the United States determined to build new lives. Through hard work, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to family and community, they built a successful business while establishing a remarkable legacy of philanthropy dedicated to strengthening Jewish life, supporting the State of Israel, and giving back to the country that made their future possible. In recognition of their remarkable legacy, the Wilf Family made history on April 28 as the first family inducted into the Weitzman’s Ed Snider Only in America^® Gallery and Hall of Fame.

Their values mirror The Weitzman’s mission. We are committed to telling the story of the Jewish people in America, celebrating the profound contributions Jewish Americans have made to our nation, and using education to confront antisemitism and foster understanding.

This year’s Gala comes at a pivotal moment for the Museum. As America commemorates its 250th anniversary and The Weitzman celebrates its 50th anniversary, we have completed the first phase of The Weitzman Reimagined with the opening of three transformative exhibitions: The First Salute, explores the pivotal, and largely unknown, Jewish role in the American Revolution; Colors of Creation, a fun and immersive family experience that celebrates Jewish values through creativity and play; and Testimonies: Antisemitism in America Today, which presents firsthand accounts of contemporary antisemitism. Together, these exhibitions demonstrate the direction of The Weitzman Reimagined and serve as proof of concept for a new model of storytelling that is emotionally resonant, technologically innovative, and national in scope.

Your Gala support is an investment in that future. By sponsoring the Only in America^® Gala, you will help expand The Weitzman’s educational initiatives, inspire the next generation through innovative exhibitions and national programs, and ensure that the American Jewish story continues to educate, engage, and inspire audiences across the country.

Become a sponsor by September 8th to be included in the printed invitation. Please click here to review the sponsorship opportunities or scroll below to learn how you can honor the Wilf Family, support The Weitzman’s mission, and reserve your place for this special evening.

We look forward to celebrating with you on November 16.