Interpreting American Jewish History at Museums and Historic Sites

Interpreting American Jewish History at Museums and Historic Sites begins with a broad overview of American Jewish history in the context of a religious culture than extends back more than 3,000 years and which manifests itself in a variety of distinctive American forms. Five chapters examine key themes in American Jewish history: movement, home life, community, prejudice, and culture. Each thematic chapter is followed by a series of case studies that describe and analyze a variety of projects by historical organizations to interpret American Jewish life and culture for general public audiences. The last two chapters of the book are a history of Jewish collections and Jewish museums in North America and a look at ＂next practice,＂ intended to promote continuous innovation, new thinking, and programming that is responsive to ever-changing circumstances.

Avi Decter, managing partner of History Now, has worked in public history for nearly 40 years. His many projects include the Boott Cotton Mill at Lowell National Historical Park; the US Holocaust Memorial Museum; Louisville Slugger Museum and Visitor Center; and the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA.