Philly home to one-of-a-kind museum of Jewish history

Only in America could the Jewish people make something of themselves, said Sheila Newman, of Montgomery County.

And now, only in Philadelphia, is there a museum to share the Jewish people's experiences with the country.

"It's the history of Jews coming from everywhere in the world and coming to America," Newman said of the National Museum of American Jewish History, which celebrates its grand opening this weekend. "If you are Jewish like we are, this gives you such a feeling of pride to see this.

"My heart is full just because I think it is so fabulous that everybody who comes to Philadelphia can see the experience of Jewish people in this country."

This weekend's celebration includes a gala dinner tonight on Independence Mall, with performances from Jerry Seinfeld and Bette Midler for well-heeled donors. A dedication ceremony with Vice President Joe Biden will take place tomorrow afternoon.

The new $150 million, 100,000-square-foot building at 5th and Market streets in the heart of Old City - which replaces the museum's much smaller space inside Congregation Mikveh Israel a block away - is the nation's only museum dedicated solely to telling the story of Jews in America.

The five-story building features more than 1,200 artifacts, a 200-seat theater, and a multipurpose event space with capacity for 600 on the fifth floor overlooking the Mall.

Yesterday, the building was open to founding members for panel discussions with the building's architects concerning the use of public space, and discussions on how the freedoms of the Jewish people have changed throughout American history.

"I feel tremendous pleasure after seeing this building," said Carol Silverman, a founding member from Ambler. "This is unbelievable. It's just been a wonderful experience to enjoy our history."

After the grand opening weekend and a series of exclusive previews for founding members, the museum will open to the public on Friday, Nov. 26.