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May 27, 2005/Iyar 18 5765, Volume 57, No. 39
AJHS director resigns
LEISAH NAMM
Managing Editor
The executive director of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society resigned May 16 to pursue other opportunities.
Risa Mallin, AJHS executive director since 2002, said she has been approached by an author in Rockville, MD, to help research and write a book about how people across the country celebrated the 350th anniversary of Jewish life in America.
"I thought it was a wonderful opportunity," she said.
"I'm really sorry because I really love this job," said Mallin.
She plans to continue her work with the historical society, albeit on a smaller scale, and will remain there until a replacement is hired.
"I'm not really leaving the organization at all," she said. "I'm just leaving as executive director."
She said the position has been "very exciting" and has given her opportunities to do things she wouldn't otherwise have been able to do. However, she expressed that the position has become too time-consuming. "I don't know if I did the dishes in my sink this morning," she said.
In a letter dated May 18, AJHS president Jerry Lewkowitz informed board members of Mallin's resignation, stating that he is "very grateful for her direction and dedication," and suggested that the board begin seeking candidates for the open position.
At press time, Lewkowitz was out of the country and could not be reached for further comment.
Before assuming the role of executive director, Mallin was an assistant to the late Beryl Morton, AJHS executive director from 1989 to 2002.
Looking back on her years at the helm of the organization, Mallin said she's most proud of the leadership role the AJHS took in the celebration of the 350th anniversary of Jews in America. The commemoration, from the fall of 2004 through the spring of 2005, included lectures and library exhibits.
"To be able to facilitate that happening has been very exciting for me," she said.
Mallin also continued Morton's work of reclaiming the Culver Street Synagogue, the site of Phoenix's first synagogue. "We're working hard because we'd like to move our offices (there) soon," she said, when asked about the status of the building's renovation.
The future use of the site recently made headlines as AJHS and the Phoenix Holocaust Survivors' Association discussed building a Holocaust memorial there. However, a May 16 e-mail from David Kader, president of the PHSA, to Lewkowitz announced that the PHSA board of directors voted May 15 to terminate the effort to establish a memorial on the property.
Mallin said the timing of her resignation is unrelated.
Mallin also plans to continue conducting oral histories for AJHS and will coordinate a seminar about preserving sacred spaces for the Western History Association's 45th annual conference, scheduled for Oct. 13-16 in Scottsdale.
Larry Cutler, AJHS past president and current board member, said Mallin has "donated a tremendous amount of her time and effort and energy to the Jewish historical society."
"I'm sure we're all sorry to see her leave."
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