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March 26, 2004/Nisan 4 5764, Vol. 56, No. 27
AJHS secures grant
JENNIFER GOLDBERG
Staff Writer
Celebrate 350 Arizona, the Arizona Jewish Historical Society committee dedicated to creating programming relevant to the 350th anniversary of the Jewish presence in North America, has received a $6,000 grant from the Arizona Humanities Council.
The amount exceeded the expectations of the group, said AJHS Executive Director Risa Mallin.
The grant money will be earmarked for community lectures on Jewish historical topics presented by humanities scholars.
Terms of the grant require the AJHS to match the grant amount, so the next step for the committee is to raise the remaining $3,000 needed. Mallin said that she hopes the local agencies, synagogues and other entities involved with Celebrate 350 event planning, including the American Jewish Committee, Bureau of Jewish Education, the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, Hillel Jewish Student Center at Arizona State University and Hadassah, will contribute to the need.
In return, she said, "they will become listed sponsors and be able to hold one or more programs."
One of the upcoming Celebrate 350 programs that will be covered by the grant is a discussion led by Rabbi Albert Plotkin about a collection of coins that reflect American Jewish history. The event has not been formally scheduled.
The grant "only provides funding for scholars, so an honorarium to Rabbi Plotkin would be provided by it," noted Mallin.
Another planned lecture, led by Arizona State University Professor Michael Rubinoff, will showcase portions of local resident Lee Shedroff's extensive collection of American stamps with Jewish connections.
Celebrate 350, an 18-month celebration that began in winter 2003 and features lectures, concerts, exhibits and more, is intended to reach beyond a Jewish audience, said Mallin. She stated that the Arizona Humanities Council's approval of the grant proposal sends a message that everyone can benefit from Celebrate 350 activities.
The Humanities Council sees that Celebrate 350 activities, as well as the education of the community as to the significance of the Jewish settlement in the United States, are two worthy causes, she said. "The fact that they've given us funds means that this is a significant area they want to invest their money in."
In addition to submitting a grant proposal to the Arizona Humanities Council, AJHS sent local grants to the Jewish Community Foundation and the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. Mallin said she expects to hear back from the other entities within the next several months.
For more information, visit www.celebrate350.org.
Contact the writer at jennifer_goldberg@jewishaz.com.
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