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.
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 nine 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 growing list of 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)
S.4001
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC)
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Read the press release to learn more about this exciting development.
We appreciate your support in encouraging your legislators to endorse the formation of a commission to explore the transfer of The Weitzman to the Smithsonian. Please share this link with friends, family, and colleagues so they can write to their legislators, too.
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.
Watch these short videos to hear from our education and programs staff about how our work builds empathy and counters antisemitism.
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.
If you have any questions, please contact Jackie Glodstein, Chief Development Officer, at jglodstein@theweitzman.org or 215-391-4645.
