20 | NOVEMBER 21 • 2024 
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hese days, it is common 
for top museums around 
the world to have robust 
web galleries and virtual exhibits 
available online to all with internet 
access. What is much more novel 
is a museum that exists solely in 
the digital world yet has all the 
galleries and exhibits one would 
expect to see in a physical space. 
The Hunger Museum is precisely 
the latter. 
MAZON worked with a team 
of architects, historians and 
designers, all with experience 
creating physical museums, to 
envision and build the fully virtual 
Hunger Museum, which launched 
in March 2023. 
Recently, a group of community 
members gathered at Temple 
Israel to learn about MAZON and 
experience a curated presentation 
of the Hunger Museum.
“It was conceived by Abby J. 
Leibman and MAZON’s leadership 
as an unprecedented exploration 
into the social and political history 
of hunger and anti-hunger policy 
— how the U.S. almost ended 
hunger, and how we can work 
together to do it again,” shared 
Liza Lieberman, vice president of 
public affairs at MAZON. 
“The museum’s digital nature 
and accessibility were motivated 
by shifting perceptions of virtual 
resources during the pandemic.”
Carolyn Schwarz Tisdale of 
Detroit, who recently began her 
term as chair of MAZON’s national 
board of directors, said, 
“MAZON 
has a well-earned reputation as 
one of the most impactful and 
innovative nonprofits in the Jewish 
community, and it’s an honor to 
serve as the organization’s board 
chair.
“I was delighted to host 
MAZON’s Board and staff 
leadership in Detroit, and I was 
proud to share MAZON’s amazing 
Hunger Museum with the Detroit 
Jewish community,” Schwarz 

Temple Israel hosted a curated presentation about 
this digital-only museum.
The Hunger Museum

STORY AND PHOTOS BY YEVGENIYA GAZMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

OUR COMMUNITY

Temple Israel 
Rabbi Joshua 
L. Bennett

Carolyn Schwarz 
Tisdale, Temple Israel 
member and chair 
of MAZON’s national 
board of directors

Naama Haviv, vice president 
of community engagement, 
MAZON

Abby J. Leibman, 
president and 
CEO of MAZON

