Jewish history museum names chief

Ivy L. Barsky, deputy director of New York's Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, has been named museum director and chief operating officer of the National Museum of American Jewish History, in Philadelphia.

Museum officials cited Barsky's "depth of experience and passion for her work" in announcing the appointment to the museum, which moved last fall to a new Market Street facility across from Independence Mall.

"She will bring an important voice as we create new exhibitions and continue to develop our education programs," museum cochairs George M. Ross and Ronald Rubin and president and chief executive Michael Rosenzweig said in a joint statement.

Barsky, 46, will join the museum July 1 and will have overall responsibility for operations, including collections, exhibitions, education, programs, and visitor services.

Rosenzweig said museum curator Josh Perelman would continue his duties developing exhibits and related programs, reporting to Barsky.

"She has had a long and distinguished museum career," Rosenzweig said. "I am confident that she will help us realize our goals of becoming a truly national institution and a vital center of Jewish cultural life."

Barsky most recently supervised programs at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, including the Auschwitz Jewish Center (the MJH's affiliate in Oscwiecim, Poland).

In a statement, she lauded the officials and staff at the American Jewish history museum, adding that it had "a powerful core exhibition and a most poignant place in the Philadelphia landscape."

Prior to joining the MJH, Barsky spent a decade in art galleries and museums, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia, and PS1 in New York.