Dan Tadmor, CEO of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, spoke about the museum, established in 1976 as the nation’s only museum dedicated exclusively to exploring and interpreting the American Jewish experience and its mission of preserving, exploring and celebrating their history.

We talked about the museum’s approaches to displaying the Jewish experience in the Americas, from their first arrival in 1654 through today, the wide diaspora of people from different countries and times, linked by being Jews. 

Dan discussed the museum’s plans for 2026, a re-imaging of the space and the mission. The initiatives begin with the exhibition The First Salute, the story behind Jewish occupied Saint Eustatius in the Caribbean that helped supply the revolution against British embargoes. This island was the first to salute – and recognize – an independent America ship. Opening July 4 will be a new permanent gallery, the Colors of Creation, an interactive family forward area that uses color to explore the biblical creation story. Finally, the museum will open a new gallery that will address Contemporary Antisemitism in America, an issue believed unnecessary at the museum’s opening, told through testimonies from Jewish Americans on the “everyday” antisemitism they have personally encountered. 

We ended with the learning opportunities the Weitzman offers to children and adults, online and in-person, from lectures and workshops to educational materials for classrooms K – 12.    

The Weitzman is open Wednesday through Sunday, it is free with some special exhibits ticketed. For more information about the museum, membership, online content and the gift shop, go to TheWeitzman.org.