Chairman

This year, First Lady Michelle Obama designated the volunteers of the Museum at Eldridge Street as Preserve America Stewards in recognition of their outstanding work to preserve and protect our nation’s historic treasures. There are currently 21 Preserve America Steward institutions throughout the country, and the Museum at Eldridge Street is the only one based in New York City. What this prestigious designation points to is the excellence and commitment not only of our docents, but of the many other people associated with our landmark project.

In this letter, I want to recognize the community of supporters who has rallied around this project. In any endeavor, success or failure is always determined by the people associated with it. I am fortunate in that regard to work with an incredible group of businesspeople, preservationists, scholars and activists on our Board of Directors, and a talented and tireless staff.

2009 was our second full year operating as a Museum. For the nation, it was a year that will surely be remembered as one of the most financially brutal in recent history. And yet, because of the commitment of you and many other supporters, we were able to grow sectors of our visitorship, including schools and families. In the two years since the rededication of our building following its restoration, we have welcomed more than 70,000 people from around the globe, representing diverse faiths and cultural backgrounds. This community of visitors brings new energy to our 123-year building. It is their presence and participation that make the Museum so vital.

It is my pleasure to report that in 2009 we commissioned artist Kiki Smith and architect Deborah Gans to design the last piece of restoration, a monumental new stained-glass window that replaces a central window that was damaged and lost in the 1940s. We are grateful to the City of New York for providing essential funding, and are thrilled to have these internationally renowned figures as part of the Eldridge Street family. The window will be installed in 2010, and I am sure it will be breathtaking.

Finally, in recognizing those people who form a part of our community, I cannot help but think about the early immigrants who founded this grand house of worship and left their mark upon it. They are the first link in a chain of people who have rallied around this building since its opening in 1887. By sharing Eldridge Street with the public we commemorate their hard work and the legacy they left behind. Without them we would not be who we are and in the places we are today.

Michael Weinstein