A congressionally established commission convened Tuesday to explore the potential integration of The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History into the Smithsonian Institution’s network. The museum, situated on Independence Mall in Philadelphia near Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, is the only institution nationwide dedicated exclusively to preserving and presenting the history of Jews in America.
The commission’s mandate is to evaluate whether and how the museum could join the Smithsonian family of cultural institutions that represent diverse American communities, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of the American Indian, the forthcoming National Museum of the American Latino, and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
Created with bipartisan support in Congress, the commission’s establishment was unanimous in both the House and Senate before being signed into law by President Joe Biden in December 2024. At the inaugural meeting Tuesday, all eight appointed commissioners took their oaths of office, administered by Pennsylvania Senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman. Philip Darivoff, appointed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, was named chair of the commission, while author Dara Horn, appointed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, was selected as vice chair.
Darivoff stated the commission’s task is to rigorously examine what steps would be required to elevate American Jewish history to a national stage through the Smithsonian. He emphasized the museum’s unique dual role in preserving a history that is both distinctly Jewish and integrally American, highlighting the urgent need for greater understanding of Jewish identity and heritage amid contemporary challenges.
Horn underscored that the American Jewish experience is inherently part of the broader American narrative. She described the potential incorporation of the museum into the Smithsonian as a significant opportunity to enhance public knowledge of Jewish history, culture, and the contributions of multiple generations of American Jews.
The commission’s work arrives at a time of increased antisemitism in the United States and worldwide, and it aims to expand education and awareness around Jewish identity and history. The eight commissioners represent a wide range of expertise, spanning academia, government, cultural institutions, business, and communal leadership. In addition to Darivoff and Horn, members include Michael Goldfarb, publisher of the Washington Free Beacon; Amy Gutmann, U.S. ambassador to Germany and former University of Pennsylvania president; former U.S. Representative Kathy Manning; Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of the New-York Historical Society; Paul Packer, managing member of Globis Capital Advisors and former chairman of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad; and presidential historian Tevi Troy.
Over the next two years, the commission will review key aspects of The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, including its financial health, collections, governance, sustainability, and its role in confronting antisemitism. The group is tasked with producing a formal report, developing funding strategies, and offering legislative recommendations to the White House and Congress. It may also organize a national conference focused on Jewish American life, art, history, and culture.
Operating solely with private funding, the commission does not receive public appropriations.