Annual Report - Center for Jewish History

Fred CharlesThe Center FacilityEducation, Exhibition and EnlightenmentSince its founding five years ago, the Center for Jewish History has become a majorpresence in New York’s educational and cultural landscape, and a prime destination forscholars from around the globe. A product of the institutions and resources housedwithin its walls, the facility itself is an architectural triumph. Exhibition galleries andclassrooms, the Leo and Julia Forchheimer Auditorium and the Paul S. and Sylvia SteinbergGreat Hall, the Fanya Gottesfeld Heller Book Store, the Jonas M. Rennert Chapel, and theConstantiner Date Palm Café – all combine to make the Center a magnet for the public.Michael LuppinoTHE CENTER ITSELFThe Center occupies a unique building that extends from16th to 17th Streets between the historically importantFifth and Sixth Avenues in the Chelsea/Union Squarearea. The area is a microcosm of New York City, withbeautiful residences, elegant shops, famous restaurantsand venerable religious institutions intermingled withsmall historic buildings, unique boutiques and a crosssectionof the diverse population of New York.The public areas of the building are designed tocombine aesthetics and function. They include the beautiful248-seat Leo and Julia Forchheimer Auditoriumwith superb lighting and acoustics, and with state-of-thearttechnology for film projecting, sound recording andvideoconferencing. The adjacent Paul S. and SylviaSteinberg Great Hall is an elegant, versatile space frequentlyused for receptions and dinners.The facility exists as a space that should attract5