Lifting Up Jewish Stories

As the calendar year comes to a close, I find myself especially grateful for the moments of joy and hope that have punctuated the year as difficult and often heartbreaking events unfolded locally, nationally, and internationally. Thanks to the support of our community and donors like you, the Magnes has remained a communal haven for experiencing joy and generating hope through the sharing of ideas and expansion of knowledge. 

Your gift today will enable us to create new opportunities for our community to learn from each other and explore the full range and complexity of Jewish experiences.  

In the spring, In Plain Sight: Jewish Arts and Lives in the Muslim World, prompted necessary and meaningful conversation about coexistence and cultural collaboration. Our current exhibition, Flowing through Time and Tradition invites reflection on the cultural context of our personal and collective relationships with the natural world. 

Public programming like our inaugural Jewish Arts and Bookfest and the recent “Diasporic Kitchens: Jewish-Mexican Recipes and Stories” event with Ilan Stavans and Margaret Boyle allow multigenerational audiences to learn together, often with a dose of humor. A highlight of the year for me was sitting in the auditorium and laughing with more than 100 other people as Daniel Handler recounted the origin story of his pen name, Lemony Snicket, which felt as meaningful as the text study on sacred light led by Drs. Deena Aranoff and Madjabeen Dhala led was profound.

Students in classes such as Professor Duncan Macrae’s “Pre-Modern Judaism: Religion and Society” deepen their knowledge through object-based museum visits. PJ Library Story Hour engages families with small children while our expanded Teens Take the Magnes program integrates high school students into the work of the museum. 

A Teens Take the Magnes participant reflected on their 2024-2025 school year experience when rejoining this year’s group:

“The [Teens Take the] Magnes community was super welcoming last year and I loved that we all could collaborate and build off of each other’s ideas. This collaboration helped spark new friendships and connections with Jewish teens from all different schools and backgrounds.”  — Teens Take the Magnes Committee Member

At the Magnes, we are proudly inspiring multiple generations to connect with Jewish culture and build community. I invite you to join us in our work. 

Please make a gift now to ensure students and community members alike have access to exhibitions and programs that lift up Jewish stories and generate joy. 

With gratitude,

Hannah E. Weisman
Executive Director