All We Have Standing Between Us: 250 Years of Jews and American Democracy

New York, NY (August 10, 2026)

The American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS), the Center for Jewish History, and Yeshiva University Museum are proud to announce All We Have Standing Between Us: 250 Years of Jews and American Democracy, a new exhibition exploring the rich and often contentious history of Jewish political life in the United States. The exhibition opens July 21 at the Center for Jewish History, in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence.

Drawing on the American Jewish Historical Society’s collections, the exhibition spans from the Revolutionary era to the present, exploring how Jews have helped shape, debate, and challenge the ideals of freedom, equality, and popular sovereignty at the heart of American democracy. Organized into seven thematic sections, it features familiar figures such as Emma Lazarus, Henry Morgenthau Jr., and Betty Friedan alongside lesser-known individuals whose activism, public service, and ideas pushed the nation to reckon with issues of citizenship, labor rights, and voting access.

“One of the goals of this exhibition is to show that Jewish participation in American democracy has never been a single story,” said Gemma Birnbaum, Executive Director of the American Jewish Historical Society. “It is a history shaped by debate, conviction, disagreement, and public engagement. Through the stories, voices, and materials featured in the exhibition, we hope to bring that history to life and give visitors a more vivid understanding of the American Jewish past.”

Additional highlights of the exhibition include:

• Letters and artifacts from former presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Nixon, and Barack Obama, as well as First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt
• A Civil War-era physician’s patient diary
• A digital interactive featuring Emma Lazarus’ handwritten book of poems 
• Picasso drawings of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, symbols of Cold War-era debates over justice and political ideology 

A companion podcast launching on July 1 and produced by AJHS Digital will extend the exhibition’s reach beyond New York, bringing these stories and debates to audiences nationwide.

“From the first Jews arriving in New York in 1654 to today’s debates over voting rights and immigration, American Jews have always been active participants in the nation’s political life. All We Have Standing Between Us invites visitors to explore this vibrant, sometimes contentious history and to see how Jewish voices have helped shape the story of American democracy,” said Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, President of the Center for Jewish History.

All We Have Standing Between Us will be on view through December 31, 2026, and is made possible thanks to generous funding from the Leon Levy Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Knapp Family Foundation, Achelis and Bodman Foundation, the Atran Foundation, and Anonymous.

For media inquiries or to schedule a visit to explore the collection, please contact: Raquel Hochroth (raquel@rosengrouppr.com)