Center for Jewish History Announces Generous Grant from the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation

New York, NY (November 01, 2023)

The Center for Jewish History (CJH), home to the world’s largest archive of the modern Jewish experience outside of Israel, announced today it has received an Innovation Grant of $200,000 from the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation for a year-long initiative on the history of Jewish architecture and historic preservation. The program, set for 2025, will coincide with the 60th anniversary of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Law, and the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Center for Jewish History.

“We are excited to offer an in-depth historical analysis of the importance of historic preservation in the Jewish tradition, past and present,” said Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, president of the Center for Jewish History. “We are beyond grateful to Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel and the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation for this extraordinary grant. We look forward to working hand-in-hand over the next year and a half to arrange this program, inviting top-notch speakers and thought leaders worldwide to participate in this significant program that coincides also with Center’s 25th anniversary.” 

“The Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation created its Innovation Grants program to offer organizations the opportunity to create new programs and launch ideas that they would not normally undertake. This initiative brings together several areas that are important to both the Foundation and the Center for Jewish History – preservation, architecture, exploring the multiple histories of New York City, and Jewish History,” said foundation chair Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel. “We are pleased to be providing transformative support for this innovative and important work, which will help commemorate the upcoming significant 60th anniversaries of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Law, and the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Center for Jewish History.”

"Reimagining Jewish Space" will be comprised of three interconnected public history programs:

• A major public symposium, “Jewish Architecture and Historic Preservation: Past, Present, and Future,” that will be presented in New York City in April 2025 in coordination with the 6oth anniversary of the New York City Landmarks Law.

• A physical exhibition, “CJH at 25: Preservation and Innovation,” will chronicle the Center’s architectural evolution in the context of the NYC Landmarks Law.

• A lecture series, “Preserving Jewish Architecture: Case Studies Past and Present,” will examine key cases of historic preservation involving American and European synagogues to reveal lessons for present and future preservation initiatives. 

About the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation
The Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation was initiated by Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel and Ambassador Carl Spielvogel to continue and extend their long-term commitment to the common good and the public interest. With this focus, deeply rooted in inclusiveness, social equity and community service, the D-S Foundation creates and supports original projects based on results-driven and innovative strategies. The D-S Foundation funds projects that demonstrate creative promise in four priority areas: projects focused on civic leadership, public affairs, and diplomacy; projects of cultural merit; original educational initiatives; and science and medicine, in support of the advancement of the field of health. For more information about the Foundation's work, and for biographies of Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, chair, and Ambassador Carl Spielvogel, visit diamonstein-spielvogelfoundation.org.