PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Julie Hirsch, Senior Director of Institutional Giving at Museum of Jewish Heritage
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172 sec
Julie Hirsch from the Museum of Jewish Heritage testified in support of Resolution 438, which recognizes "Landing Day" to commemorate the arrival of the first Jewish community in New Amsterdam in 1654. She emphasized the museum's role in Holocaust education and combating anti-Semitism in New York City.
- The museum offers free admission to NYC Public Schools, Community Students, and ID NYC Cardholders, as well as a free Holocaust Curriculum for teachers.
- They recently opened an exhibition for younger students and launched an online resource for educators on discussing anti-Semitism.
- The museum is preparing to open a new exhibition titled "Speaking Up: Confronting Hate Speech" to address discrimination and persecution.
Julie Hirsch
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Good afternoon, Sierra Rivera.
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Members of the committee, thank you for allowing me to testify.
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My name is Julie Hirsch and I am the senior director of institutional giving at the museum of Jewish heritage, a living memorial to the Holocaust.
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The museum of Jewish heritage wholeheartedly endorses Resolution 438 recognizing landing day in the 2nd week of September annually to commemorate the arrival of the 1st Jewish community in New Amsterdam in 16 54.
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As an institution dedicated to remembrance and education, we believe that recognizing the unique history of the Jewish immigration experience is unequivocally important.
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At our museum, we strive to do just that.
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The museum of Jewish heritage educates diverse visitors about Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust.
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We are committed to the crucial mission of teaching about what unchecked hate and bigotry can do.
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We are dedicated to education, remembrance, and serving the public by providing holocaust education.
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The museum is an essential resource for combating bigotry and anti Semitism in New York City.
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We provide free admission for New York City Public Schools, Community Students, and ID NYC Cardholders.
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Our Holocaust Curriculum, developed with support from the Department of Education, is a free and trustworthy resource for teachers.
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In 2023, we opened our 1st ever exhibition for younger students, courage to ask excuse me, courage to act, rescue, and Denmark.
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This world class exhibition has expanded our free holocaust education programs to younger students for the first time.
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Additionally, as part of our commitment to removing barriers, the museum subsidizes free transportation to and from our museum for schools in need so that all can access our educational resources regardless of means.
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Last year, the museum launched its first ever anti Semitism frequently asked questions, a free online resource for educators our team developed in response to a growing need for materials they can use to discuss antisemitism constructively with students.
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The mus the museum also operates an annual interfaith living museum in which Muslim and Jewish students come together to educate one another about their faith and cultural practices.
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This month, we will open our first ever hate speech focused exhibition titled speaking up, confronting hate speech.
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This exhibition will underscore the power of words that leads to discrimination, persecution, and mass violence.
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Rooted in the museum's crucial mission to fight anti Semitism and bigotry through education.
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This exhibition highlights the relationship between hatred of Jews and identity based discrimination in many forms.
Carlina Rivera
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You can just wrap up.
Julie Hirsch
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Okay.
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We thank the committee and the entire city council for your support, and we look forward to commemorating Landing Day.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
