Council of American Jewish Museums

Judith Arcana Oral History Interview

Judith talks about the pandemic and how it has affected her writing and impacted her ability to see her friends and family. She talks about attending rallies in support of the post office in Portland, OR, and how important it is that we, as a society, continue to vote.

Alexis Abrams Oral History Interview

Alexis describes family and work life during the pandemic, specifically as a high school teacher, and how her Jewish background has shaped her responses. With a background in journalism, she assesses media coverage of the pandemic and social justice, and how she uses it to educate her children and her students.

Jan Molinaro Oral History Interview

Jan talks about the pandemic and her role as a disaster preparedness worker and community member.

Bonnie Reagan Oral History Interview

Bonnie Reagan and Anika Denali Luengo Oral History Interview

Mother and daughter physicians talk about a family tradition of social justice activism, and their personal efforts to change the world. They talk abut the COVID-19 pandemic personal and societal terms and about government and politics.

Abby Gershenzon Oral History Interview

Repair the World: Maayan Zik Oral History Interview

Maayan talks about her life during the pandemic and how it impacted her life routines including interactions with people, the temple, her kids, and school. She also brings a new perspective to the table about how the pandemic was able to bring people together and what future generations can take away from this.

Avi Kammen Oral History Interview

Avi Kammen talks about his pandemic experience. He talks about the challenges and opportunities that arose due to COVID. He speaks about how virtual platforms have changed Torah learning, and how isolation changed outlooks on world unity.

Rabbi Eli Cohen Oral History Interview

Rabbi Eli Cohen director of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council talks about the early pandemic, how Jewish observance shifted and how his organization served the community in times of crisis.

Repair the World: Joseph Grossman Oral History Interview

I spoke with my father, Dr. Joseph Grossman, about his life during the pandemic and about how his relationship to Jewish community has been affected.

Mx. Je'Jae Cleo Daniels Oral History Interview

Mx. Je'Jae Cleo Daniels (she/they) speaks about her experience supporting her community and surviving as an artist and activist during the pandemic.

Liz Cohen Oral History Interview

Liz Cohen talks about quarantining with her parents, working in retail at the beginning of the pandemic, working against hate at The Simon Wiesenthal Center and staying connected to family

Hannah Prince Oral History Interview

Hannah Prince talks about how her Jewish identity has shifted, and her experience of the pandemic in Brooklyn. She talks about working at a food pantry and how conversations around race have changed in her Jewish communities.

Repair the World: Jeremiah Lockwood Oral History Interview

Oral-history interview with Jeremiah Lockwood. Lockwood earned a Ph.D. in 2020 from the Stanford University Graduate School of Education, with a concentration in Education and Jewish Studies. He has been a performing musician since his teen years and is the founder of The Sway Machinery, a project that seeks inspiration from diverse realms of experience related to the cultural geography of New York City. He received the 2021 Salo Baron New Voices in Jewish Studies Award, among other distinctions.

Marta Braiterman Oral History Interview

Marta a retired school teacher speaks about living in an intergenerational home in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Antisemitism on college campuses, her family and Jewish life throughout the Pandemic.

Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky Oral History Interview

Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky, senior rabbi at Congregation Ansche Chesed in New York City, was interviewed by Naomi Steinberger on January 6, 2022, for the Collecting These Times oral history project. Rabbi Kalmanofsky, who lives in New York City, discussed transitioning to a virtual synagogue, halakhic challenges, pastoral care during the pandemic, the tremendous mental suffering of congregants and medical professionals, and the future of synagogues and prayer.

Arnold Eisen Oral History Interview

Arnold Eisen, chancellor emeritus of the Jewish Theological Seminary, was interviewed by Naomi Steinberger on October 20, 2021, for the Collecting These Times oral history project. Arnold Eisen, who lives in Riverdale, New York, reflects on his leadership at JTS at the beginning of the pandemic. He discusses the state of the Jewish community, the difficulties of working parents, democracy and polarization in the United States, the impact of climate change, and the importance of maintaining strong relationships.

Renee Ritz Oral History Interview

Renee Ritz was interviewed by Berenice Sylverain on July 7, 2021, for the Collecting These Times oral history project. Renee Ritz, who lives in Freehold, New Jersey, spoke about living in a senior living community, her love of Zoom services, and how much she has learned from the recent racial justice movements.

Jake Silverstein Oral History Interview

Jake Silverstein, editor in chief of the New York Times Magazine, was interviewed by Mary Silverstein on December 15, 2021, for the Collecting These Times oral history project. Jake Silverstein, who lives in Montclair, New Jersey, discusses how the shift to working at home affected the weekly New York Times Magazine workflow, beginning a practice of Torah study, the 1619 Project, his concerns about the future, and his gardening projects.

Dr. Barbara Paris Oral History Interview

Dr. Barbara Paris, physician and director of the Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Services, at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, was interviewed by Naomi Steinberger on June 18, 2021, for the Collecting These Times oral history project. Dr. Paris, who lives in New York City, describes her experiences at the hospital with patients during the pandemic, contracting COVID, attending her grandson's bar mitzvah and other family events, being a parent to two doctors during the pandemic, and advising her synagogue on reopening.

Rabbi Ysoscher Katz Oral History Interview

Rabbi Ysoscher Katz, chair of the Talmud Department at Yeshivat Hovevei Torah rabbinical school, was interviewed by Naomi Steinberger on January 10, 2022, for the Collecting These Times oral history project. Rabbi Katz, who lives in New York City, discussed the virtual as a new spiritual space, responsa (tshuvot) related to pandemic life, and Jewish services and practices on Zoom. He spoke about his sickness with Covid, attending a Black Lives Matter rally, challenges in supporting students as the events of January 6, 2021, unfolded, and resilience of human beings.

Amy Skopp CooperOral History Interview

Amy Skopp Cooper, director of the Ramah Camping Movement, was interviewed by Elizabeth Kobert on August 18, 2021, for the Collecting These Times oral history project. Amy Skopp Cooper, who lives in Riverdale, New York, and Jerusalem, Israel, discusses her leadership role at the National Ramah Commission, the difficult decisions to close camps in 2020 and reopen in 2021, medical guidance for the camps throughout the pandemic, and the emotional costs of camp closing.

Tamar Arnowitz Oral History Interview

Tamar (Tami) Arnowitz, mortgage loan officer and wife of Rabbi Jeff Arnowitz, Senior Rabbi at Westchester Jewish Center, was interviewed by Mary Silverstein on January 23, 2022, for the Collecting These Times oral history project. Tami Arnowitz, who lives in Mamaroneck, New York, spoke about the transition to virtual services, making friends/being new in a community, the difficulties of remote schooling, and the challenges of a full household during Covid. She also discussed her son's bar mitzvah and the opportunities she had for creating community.

Kate Campbell Oral History Interview

Kate Campbell, professional opera singer at the Metropolitan Opera, was interviewed by Naomi Campbell on January 31, 2022, for the Collecting These Times oral history project. Kate Campbell, who lives in Closter, New Jersey, discusses being unemployed from the Met for 18 months, moving from Harlem to the suburbs, the challenges of an interracial family, seeking Jewish connection in suburbs but finding it difficult during pandemic, the emotional and financial stress from pandemic, and returning to work and commuting. She also speaks about the silver linings in family life and suburban life, and ends with a plea to support the arts going forward.

Caleb Bromberg Oral History Interview

Caleb Bromberg, rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary, was interviewed by Naomi Steinberger on January 20, 2022, for the Collecting These <br>Times oral history project. Caleb Bromberg, who lives in New York City, discusses entering rabbinical school during the pandemic, his experience as a first-year student, developing relationships virtually and in person, and Zoom fatigue. He also talks about his increased religious observance during pandemic, being sick with the Omicron variant, making friends and creating community in a new neighborhood, resilience and adaptation, and his interest in pandemic halachah.