A Night To Remember

Philadelphia

H

er granddaughter at her elbow,
89-year-old Ruth Sarner-Libros
walked slowly through the
fourth floor of the National Museum of
American Jewish History, drinking in
every display.
Flashing a broad smile, Sarner-Libros
said it was beyond anything she had
imagined when she hosted the muse-
um's first board meeting back in 1974.
It took two years to open the modest
collection in a small space adjoining
the historic Congregation Mikveh Israel
in the Old City section of downtown
Philadelphia.
Barbra Streisand, Jerry Seinfeld and Bette Midler at the opening of the American
Now, after a decade-long, $150 mil-
Jewish History Museum in Philadelphia
lion campaign, those artifacts have
been elevated to a sparkling new
thing from his mother who couldn't fig-
Morgan, 35, a mother of two who also
100,000-square-foot home less than
ure out a cell phone to the undignified
helps her husband with his real estate
a block away in the heart of the city's
nature of bathroom stalls.
lending company. "It's like an unspoken
Independence Mall.
As Midler took the stage, she jokingly
thing how this evening means so much
"It's such a significant location, the
wondered why the museum was located
to our heritage. This is one of the most
exhibits are so impressive, the whole
in Philadelphia rather than New York,
exciting things to happen to the city
way it's put together, it's just an over-
where she quipped, "There are more
ever."
whelming experience to see a dream
Jews in my building than in this town."
The next day, a chorus of about 50
come true said Sarner-Libros, the
Her performance, characteristically
shofar blowers heralded the start of the
board president emerita, "to have a child peppered with humor and profanity,
official dedication ceremony. Nearly
of my imagination become a reality"
was clearly tailored to the theme of the
2,000 people gathered on the mall in
In honor of the accomplishment,
night. She sang only songs written by
front of the museum, basking in the
hundreds of people, many of them
Jewish artists, beginning with her sig-
unseasonably warm Sunday afternoon.
donors, joined Sarner-Libros in a Nov.
nature "Friends" and ending with Irving
Biden echoed that sentiment, saying
12-14 weekend of celebration headlined
Berlin's "God Bless America."
that although the museum focuses on
by Vice President Joe Biden, comedian
Barbra Streisand created a buzz as
the Jewish people, "they're American
Jerry Seinfeld and entertainer Bette
an attendee, but she neither spoke nor
stories above all else. I can think of no
Midler.
sang. Instead, she sat front and center
other city that would be a fitting show-
Founding members jump-started the
with her husband, James Brolin, with
case for them."
festivities on Friday morning with dis-
security guards nearby to keep away
Other speakers included George
cussions of the museum's architecture
fans.
Ross, co-chair of the board of trustees
and how freedoms of the Jewish people
One of 18 individuals highlighted in
and chairman of the capital campaign;
have changed throughout American his- the museum's Only in America Gallery/
Pennsylvania's outgoing governor,
tory.
Hall of Fame, which greets visitors on
Ed Rendell; and Philadelphia Mayor
The next night, about 1,000 local and
the first floor, Streisand made time to
Michael Nutter.
national supporters, stars and dignitar-
stop in the museum's shop, where she
Following the ceremony, the museum
ies gathered for a gala in a mammoth
spent $800 on three yads (Torah point-
opened to members of the public who
tent that spanned the block of Fifth
ers) and silver candlesticks.
had reserved free timed tickets. Donors
Street just outside the building.
Meanwhile, in the museum's designat- and supporters streamed into the halls,
Despite the steep admission — indi-
ed event space on the fifth floor, roughly dragging confetti from the damp lawn
vidual tickets cost from $1,500 to $5,000 850 "young friends" bobbed along to a
on their shoes. Some came from as far
— the museum couldn't accommodate
cover band on a chic white dance floor.
as Cleveland and Seattle to see material
about 200 would-be revelers.
Color-changing lights reflected on white they had provided for the exhibits.
Seinfeld emceed the swanky kosher
fabric draped around the room.
Others, like Anitta Boyko Fox, made
dinner. The crowd ate up his Jewish-
"The amount of energy you feel here
tailored shtick as he joked about every-
right now is incredible said Lindsey
Night to Remember on page 34

0
U

si

J• R. PEREYRA.
T.' F0 RN-13 the public in gmteral
his friends in per-
.icular, that he has removed his s roa e of dry gaols and
:roekrey-ware, to NO. 25.5, North Second streetopposite
he black horse Txvern,where he will dispose orany article
in his store, at a very reasonable price, also an assortment
of silver Watches.
Philadelphia, July 1st, 1803.

N. 13 orepra.

t teal Tuna, ilberboapt tint (onto 81-turtten no br(t/loot ow

baji er feine 8tobr son trottnytt einem not irbent iglaarta, nad) 91e.
155, to bet 91. _tog etrabc ttm iscbtray Ofecbe stotailbet bake bar,
no er jencu 9tt - tiftl in fritter art 3u tin tiOiglint iktbra Derfaafra mirb.
t 4:fheofaii4 tin injorthornt boll Minnie Zafilatn

Vvirovirrromponcirviivrtmilmignmo

Top to bottom: Artifacts include a
trade card, Confederate currency, a
Jewish National Fund blue box and a

Chanukah lamp from the Caribbean.

December 23 • 2010

33

Photos courtesy of Nationa l Museum of American Jew ish H istory

Deborah Hirsch
Philadelphia Jewish Exponent

IGHT SIGN GETTY I MAGES

Philly museum opened with stars, speeches and plenty of American nostalgia.