The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History’s exhibit “Humans of Judaism” showcases several influential Jewish Americans. The exhibit will be at the museum through the end of the week.
Emily August, the Chief Public Engagement Officer at The Weitzman, said the concept of “Humans of Judaism” comes from a popular social media account.
“Humans of Judaism is a popular social media account that features sometimes prominent Jews, like celebrities or business leaders, leaders in the community,” she said. “But, it’s really a great showcase for the diversity of Jewish people in America, but also globally, and the ways that small people can make a big impact.”
August says the concept is loosely based off the popular social media (and later book) project Humans of New York. The exhibit features everyone from U.S. Olympian Aly Raisman, to Texas A&M football player Sam Salz, to groups of families with unique generational stories.
The exhibit contains pictures of these figures and a short blurb about their accolades. The features will reference a corresponding page in the Humans of Judaism book, which contains a more in-depth summary and profile of each person or family.
Nikki Schreiber is the founder of Humans of Judaism and author of the accompanying book. She said she initially created the account as something meaningful to commemorate her father’s passing in 2013.
“So I started an Instagram page for Humans of Judaism in June of 2014 and was just sort of without any format or real full direction,” she said. “I just wanted to post some feel-good Jewish community content.”
She said the account was started in the midst of a tough summer for Israel. The country fought in the Gaza War in the summer of 2014. Schreiber said the account served as a place to provide uplifting stories during this time.
“People were looking for something positive, something to strengthen their mood, some good news, even something as simple as posting ‘Shabbat, Shalom’ on a Friday was enough to satisfy sort of just that we’re all together.”
Schreiber said the account is especially important the last two years, which have been dominated by the war between Israel and Hamas in 2023 that started with the Oct. 7 attack and the taking of hostages, some of whom remain captive in Gaza.
“We are all in our own version of grief,” she said. “Grief with people that we lost on October 7, grief with sort of Jewish American life, as we sort of knew it, with our feelings of just being together with our friends and neighbors, and they’re still there – there’s just this noise in the background that’s sort of making it seem like it’s not.”
She said the in-person exhibit at The Weitzman Museum serves as a place for community and education during this time.
“I think the exhibit allows people to, like I said earlier, sort of sit with it,” she said. “They’re able to just stand there and read the different stories.”
August said the museum and exhibits like this aim to offer education and empowerment around Jewish American lives and history – especially during this time.
“We’re really seeking to reach a broader audience with stories of American Jewish life and helping to teach how understanding another cultural religious minority, the Jewish people experience, can help to counter hate, preserve the values of democracy and help you to better understand America, because of the Jewish involvement in America for so many centuries,” she said.
August said exhibits like this are especially important to educate others following recent rises in antisemitism. She said antisemitism existed far before the war between Israel and Hamas.
“The rise in antisemitism in this country really began before October 7, but in sort of the environment after October 7, it just really became even more clear that there is significant work to be done to educate people about who Jews are,” she said.
She emphasized the importance of discussing the diverse Jewish population – including the different types of Judaism that exist in the religion and the areas various Jewish people are from.
“Jews are not one thing,” she said. “Jews are not monolithic and part of the work that we are doing through our explicit educational initiatives.”
She said this includes a national curriculum that is distributed to various schools, and rotating exhibits throughout the museum that celebrate American Jewish history.
Schreiber said she finds various subjects for the account, her book and this exhibit through community and a variety of sourcing options.
“It’s a blend of so many different things,” she said. “And I think it’s, the whole purpose is that there’s something there for everyone. So I like a mesh of format and style. I love contributing writers who write from their own voice.”
She added these stories provide a “significant strength” and education to others, and hopes this exhibit continues to support those who visit.
The “Humans of Judaism” exhibit will be on show at the Weitzman Museum through Feb. 2.
