Thank you for sharing our vision to make the varied and vibrant stories of American Jewish life part of the Smithsonian Institution!
We must continue our critical work of teaching the true, joyful, and powerful stories of Jewish life in American as an antidote to antisemitism. Your support makes that possible—please make a gift today.
Photograph of Wetizman Museum postcard
taken in front of the Smithsonian Institution
Building, also called the “Castle,” located on the
National Mall in Washington D.C.
Today, the President of the United States signed H.R. 7764 into law. H.R. 7764, the “Commission to Study the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution Act,” establishes a commission to study the potential transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution. The Commission will be formed in the next 90 days.
Last night, the bill was passed in the Senate. The President is expected to sign it into law in the coming days. We are immensely grateful for all of your support in encouraging your Members of Congress to endorse this legislation and for bringing America one step closer to having a Smithsonian museum for American Jewish history, heritage, and culture .
Many of you have asked how you can help in the meantime. Here are a few simple things you can do right now:
Show your support for The Weitzman—help ensure that as the commission explores the feasibility of our transfer to the Smithsonian, that they find a vibrant and vital organization with a robust membership from coast to coast, online program attendees from across the country, thousands of school students through our doors, and teachers from around the country participating in our educator professional development. Anything you can do to join in, sign up, donate, learn more, and spread the word will make a difference.
This week, the bill was passed in the House, paving the way for a vote on the floor of the Senate, which we hope will happen in the coming weeks. Learn more here: House approves bill to study making US Jewish history museum part of the Smithsonian – (jta.org).
You can also listen to the inspiring remarks of several U.S. Representatives, courtesy of C-SPAN, as the legislation is introduced for a vote on the floor of the House in the 13-minute clip below.
“With antisemitism skyrocketing, acknowledging the past and acting to build a better tomorrow is more critical than ever. It will take a whole-of-society effort to do this, and folding the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History into the Smithsonian is one step toward that goal. We must uplift Jewish stories and raise awareness of the contributions of Jewish Americans throughout our nation’s history, which The Weitzman does every day.” –Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
A bipartisan, bicameral coalition in the U.S. Congress is championing an effort to establish a Smithsonian museum dedicated to exploring and interpreting the American Jewish experience.
Introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), and co-led by U.S. Representatives Mike Turner (OH-10), Brendan Boyle (PA-02) and Max Miller (OH-07), and led in the Senate by U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), S.4001/H.R.7764 “Commission to Study the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution Act,” will create a Commission of Inquiry led by eight individuals with relevant expertise to study the feasibility of transferring the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia to the Smithsonian Institution.
Original co-sponsors in the Senate include Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
The impressive list of bipartisan co-sponsors includes:
H.R.7764
Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-NY-25)
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-5)
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5)
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1)
Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX-14)
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15)
Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ-9)
Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA-52)
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11)
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5)
Rep. Daniel S. Goldman (D-NY-10)
Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ-1)
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-2)
Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY-17)
Rep. W. Gregory Steube (R-FL-17)
Rep. Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-2)
Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA-7)
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12)
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL-26)
Rep. Thomas Kean (R-NJ-7)
Rep. Don Davis (D-NC-1)
Rep. Haley M. Stevens (D-MI-11)
Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN-8)
Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24)
Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN-2)
Rep. Brad R. Wenstrup (R-OH-2)
Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-6)
Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-5)
Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL-22)
Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA-5)
Rep. Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL-10)
Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28)
Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL-1)
Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11)
Rep. Kathy E. Manning (D-NC-6)
Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA-29)
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-1)
Rep. Marc A.Veasey (D-TX-33)
Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL-12)
Rep. Neal P. Dunn (R-FL-2)
Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE-1)
Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA-6)
Rep. A. Drew Ferguson (R-GA-3)
Rep. John H. Rutherford (R-FL-5)
Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA-26)
Rep. Al Green (D-TX-9)
Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS-1)
Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-7)
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY-4)
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA-6)
Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA-47)
Rep. David J. Trone (D-MD-6)
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA-28)
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA-32)
Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL-9)
Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL-7)
Rep. Charles J. “Chuck” Fleischmann (R-TN-3)
Rep. Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY-21)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37)
Rep. Patrick Ryan (D-NY-18)
Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY-1)
Rep. John R. Curtis (R-UT-3)
Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR-6)
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6)
Rep. Young Kim (R-CA-40)
Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH-1)
Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17)
Rep. Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA-24)
Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-1)
Rep. C. Scott Franklin (R-FL-18)
Rep. Marcus J. Molinaro (R-NY-19)
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1)
Rep. David G. Valadao (R-CA-22)
Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN-8)
Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA-49)
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-2)
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10)
Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ-2)
Rep. Jeff Jackson (D-NC-14)
Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA-35)
Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL-16)
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-3)
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV-1)
Rep. Christopher R. Deluzio (D-PA-17)
Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ-3)
Rep. Jennifer L. McClellan (D-VA-4)
Rep. Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA-38)
Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-15)
Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA-11)
Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-CA-30)
S.4001
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC)
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL)
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Sen. Christopher A. Coons (D-DE)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Read the press release to learn more about this exciting development.
The through-line of our work lies at the intersection of Jewish values and American ideals, unleashing the power of education as a potent antidote to antisemitism. Click here to learn more about our educational offerings.
Do you pay individual or business taxes in Pennsylvania? The Weitzman is an accredited Educational Improvement Organization—your tax credits can support our educational work. Click here to learn more.
There are many ways to support The Weitzman: Membership, 1654 Society, or an annual fund donation can be made through your IRA designation, a donor-advised fund (DAF), or a cash gift.
For any gift you make, be sure to look up your current or former employer in our search feature to find out if they will match your gift, doubling your impact at no additional cost to you.
Click here to learn more or contact Chief Development Officer Jackie Glodstein with any questions at jglodstein@theweitzman.org or 215.391.4645.
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EXTENDED MUSEUM HOLIDAY HOURS: Open Daily December 20 – 31!
