The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History presents Humans of Judaism

Another way that memory is honored is through naming. When babies are born, they are traditionally named in memory of an ancestor whom they will never meet. The passing of a name through generations carries a hope that a person’s unique life story may be remembered.

Humans of Judaism, then and now

Ten years ago, after Nikki Schreiber lost her father and completed the traditional mourning rituals following the first year of a loss, she was seeking an additional way to honor his memory. She decided to create an Instagram account called Humans of Judaism, with the intention of capturing and sharing uplifting stories. She started to highlight people who represent the diversity of Jewish culture and practice today (modeled on the one-story-at-a-time success of Humans of New York). The account took off. Now, Humans of Judaism has a community of 800,000 followers who actively engage with Schrieber’s content. The stories that she features include biographies and celebrity profiles, as well as current events and news stories.

They are expectedly bittersweet, capturing a bit of everything from the global Jewish experience of the last 100 years: the joy of Jewish holidays and life-cycle events and of course food; the celebration of Jewish athletes (like Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax) who have had to figure out how to balance Jewish observance with an American sports schedule; and also the sorrow, defiance, and grit that comes from an ancient culture that has survived against incredible odds. Schreiber lifts up the importance of capturing the stories of the last remaining living Holocaust survivors, now in their 80s, 90s, or even over 100. In a world facing a resurgence of Holocaust deniers, documenting these personal stories is critical.

And over the last 14 months, since October 7, 2023, the Humans of Judaism account has taken on additional significance by continuing to tell the stories of the hostages who were abducted by Hamas and are still being held in Gaza. Across all of its platforms, Humans of Judaism has become a virtual gathering ground for sharing grief and prayers during a time when even revealing Jewish identity online can be fraught.

From the Internet to the page to the museum

In addition to her social-media platforms, Schreiber has also just released a Humans of Judaism book: a glossy coffee-table collection of fan-favorite pictures and stories. In conjunction with the book’s release, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History is debuting an installation of photos and stories from Humans of Judaism. These represent the diversity of contemporary Jewish life, from American-born hip-hop artist Nissim Black who now lives in Israel, to Pearl Berg, who was the oldest Jewish person alive before she passed away last February at age 114.

The exhibition, installed in the museum’s second-floor gallery, is very accessible to people of all cultures and backgrounds. It’s small—you could easily digest it in less than an hour—but it’s timely and significant. The photos are great and the stories are written in the digestible social-media language that anyone active on Instagram will recognize.

I went to see the exhibition with my 19-year-old son; looking at the stories together was a fun way to both connect about Jewish celebrities, immigration stories, and a cute dog in a matzah box and also talk about the more painful parts of Jewish culture and history. It’s not easy for Jewish teenagers today to share Jewish pride in the social-media sphere. It’s clear why accounts like Humans of Judaism are needed; seeing these Jewish narratives lifted out of our phones and onto museum walls allowed us time to think about them more deeply, rather than just read and scroll on.

The story of Jewish life in the US

It’s also worthwhile once you’re inside the Weitzman to take a look around. The museum tells the story of Jewish life in the US in chronological order, from the 1600s to today. Whether you’re Jewish or not, there is lots to learn at the Weitzman. I’ve been there many times since the museum opened and always discover something new that helps me to better understand Jewish history and culture in the United States.

Part of the Weitzman’s mission is to “to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience.” The Jewish population in the US is only 2.45% of the entire population and negative stereotypes about Jewish people pervade our culture. Jewish history outside of the Holocaust is rarely taught in any school curriculum (Holocaust education is not mandated in every US state). During a time when antisemitism, history’s oldest hatred, is increasing once again, the Weitzman plays an important role in defying stereotypes and inviting visitors to get to know the depth of one part of the Jewish story: life in America. I appreciate the museum’s effort to continually update its content, with exhibitions like Humans of Judaism and artist Jonathan Horowitz’s The Future Will Follow the Past, which responds not only to antisemitism but also to racism, homophobia, and other forms of bigotry.

Nikki Schreiber’s book, an expansive collection including 300 stories, is available in the museum store, which is also a great place to shop for beautiful Jewish ritual objects, jewelry, books, and fun Hanukkah merch. And the museum is hosting a slate of December events for its Winter at the Weitzman program.

At top: America Israeli rapper, songwriter, and record producer Nissim Black in a ‘Humans of Judaism’ photo. (Image courtesy of the Weitzman.)