The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History (The Weitzman) has named the appointment of its new president and CEO, Dan Tadmor. A longtime Jewish museum leader, Tadmor has been tapped to grow the Philadelphia institution into the biggest and most comprehensive museum of its kind in America, as well as to see it become the next Smithsonian.
For the last 12 years, Tadmor led Israel’s ANU Museum of the Jewish People on the campus of Tel Aviv University, where he shepherded a $100 million renewal, expansion and rebrand to make ANU the largest Jewish museum in the world, serving as a global hub for the history and living culture of the Jewish people. In Philadelphia, he will head a similar reimagining process for the Weitzman.
The Weitzman was established in 1976 as the only museum in the nation dedicated exclusively to exploring and interpreting the American Jewish experience. It has been in its current home—a 100,000-square-foot building on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall designed by James Polshek—since 2010.
“Our museum is the only one of its kind,” stated Sharon Tobin Kestenbaum, co-chair of the Weitzman’s Board of Trustees. “We are the only Jewish museum that tells the story of American Jews in its entirety, making us truly the nation’s Jewish museum. It is through this unique lens that we work to counter antisemitism, bigotry and hate by teaching broad audiences who the Jewish people are and how Jewish Americans have contributed to this country for nearly four centuries. We do this through our exhibitions, programs and educational initiatives that reach nationwide.”
Co-chair Mark Oster said “we are proud of all we have accomplished, and we are also excited to embrace change. We are ready to take the best of who we are and what we do and carry it forward, but we are also poised for a new chapter in which we tell the stories of Jewish Americans in powerful and relevant new ways.”
He continued, saying “that such a respected leader in the field sees the value of our mission and the opportunity of our new direction, and is excited to take the helm and lead us into our next era, is truly energizing. We’re thrilled that Dan Tadmor—a seasoned storyteller and fundraiser with a track record for reimagining institutions—will be leading us into this exciting new era with bold ideas and a fresh perspective.”
