All We Have Standing Between Us: 250 Years of Jews and American Democracy
For 250 years, American Jews have helped shape, challenge, and reimagine the nation’s democratic ideals. All We Have Standing Between Us: 250 Years of Jews and American Democracy invites you to explore this dynamic history, where debates over freedom, equality, and justice have never been settled, but have always been fiercely engaged.
Have we learned anything from history? From the Red Scare to the fight for civil rights, from women’s rights to today’s debates over democracy and equality, a new exhibit illustrates how many of yesterday’s battles continue to be fought today. While the faces and issues may change, the underlying struggles are remarkably familiar.
All We Have Standing Between Us: 250 Years of Jews and American Democracy features dozens of documents and photos including:
Emma Lazarus’s Manuscript Book, 1877 – Already gravely ill and seeking to shape her legacy, Emma Lazarus compiled her poems a year before her death at age 38. Placing “The New Colossus” first, with its welcome message for immigrants, was a bold choice. Seventeen years later, the poem was permanently installed inside the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty George Washington’s Letter to Hebrew Congregation of Savannah, 1790.
Picasso drawings of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
Letter from Eleanor Roosevelt stating Jews should be able to run for President of the United States, despite the existence of the State of Israel.
Exhibit Curators Gemma R. Birnbaum, Executive Director of the American Jewish Historical Society, and Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, President of the Center for Jewish History, will be available for tours and interviews.
Exhibition
Drawing on the expansive collections of the American Jewish Historical Society, this powerful exhibition traces Jewish participation in American political life from the Revolutionary era to the present. Through rare objects, compelling stories, and voices both renowned and lesser-known, visitors will encounter figures such as Emma Lazarus, Henry Morgenthau Jr., and others.
Spanning seven thematic sections, the exhibition reveals a community deeply committed to the democratic experiment, even when divided on how best to achieve its promise. At once inspiring and thought-provoking, All We Have Standing Between Us offers a timely opportunity to reflect on the past and consider the future of democracy in America.
All We Have Standing Between Us is on view July 21 – December 31, 2026 at the Center for Jewish History. Plan your visit, and view hours and other visitor information.
Podcast
From the American Jewish Historical Society comes a new narrative podcast featuring previously untold stories straight from the archives. All We Have Standing Between Us is an exploration of the history of the United States, told through the lives of the American Jews who not just lived through it, but helped shape it. Hosted by AJHS Executive Director Gemma R. Birnbaum.
Source: Reese Moskowitz / American Jewish Historical Society
