Press Room
The Center for Jewish History is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and while the physical doors on 16th Street have remained closed because of the pandemic, the vital work of preserving Jewish History for generations to come has continued.
Throughout these difficult times, the Center’s volunteers have remained dedicated in their unwavering commitment to the organization. During National Volunteer Week (April 18 – April 24) we recognize and thank our volunteers for their tireless efforts.
Julie Kaplan, the Center’s Manager of Volunteers, says, “Prior to the pandemic the Center for Jewish History had over 100 volunteers who provided research assistance, translated documents, conducted tours of exhibitions, and ushered at events. We were able to pivot some of these volunteers to virtual assignments. Some volunteers have been editing closed captions for recorded programs to ensure our programs are accessible to all audiences, while others are assisting guests virtually with family history research.”
Aaron Rosenberg answered the call to volunteer at the Center for Jewish History before the doors opened in 2000. He had worked at Bell Labs and AT&T Labs in New Jersey and was considering retiring when saw an advertisement seeking a volunteer in the Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute. https://youtu.be/tRk2tZlyVg8
Mark Shapiro began volunteering at the Center for Jewish History in 2013 in the Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute after he retired. He had been involved with genealogy on a personal level and thought he could help others. https://youtu.be/BtviversN78