Discovering 350 Years of Jewish History in America

KPBS | By KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published December 4, 2008 at 6:28 AM PST

This story was published more than 15 years ago.

The history of Jewish people in America dates back more than 350 years. Like many immigrants, Jewish settlers came to the U.S. To escape persecution and to seek the America dream. We'll talk about a

Tom Fudge : Beginning tomorrow, the New Americans Museum at Liberty Station will host a new exhibition called "From Haven to Home: 350 years of Jewish Life in America."

As the name suggests, this exhibition looks at Jewish America from its beginnings though its long evolution, as new waves of Immigration arrived.

Become a KPBS sponsor

The founding of the Jewish American community, in fact, predated the founding of this country by more than a hundred years. Though we've yet to see a Jewish American President, Jews have excelled in nearly every arena of American life. In fact, an Eastern European Jewish immigrant named Irving Berlin is know for writing that patriotic popular song "God Bless Amerca." Not to mention "White Christmas. "But more on that later.

The New Americans Museum exhibit "From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America" runs from December 5 through March 1, 2009.

Guest

Michael Feldberg , curator of the exhibit "From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America" which opens at The New Americans Museum in Liberty Station tomorrow. Felberg is also the former executive director and director of research for the American Jewish Historical Society.