Public votes on exhibit at Jewish museum
Monday, July 20th, 2009
Who are the most prominent Jews in American history? The man who cured polio? Perhaps the Mother of Women's Basketball? In an unusual process, the Philadelphia-based National Museum of American Jewish History is letting the public choose which Jews should be included in their new exhibit. The online voting process has a wide variety of candidates.
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The list of 218 Jews in the "Only In America" voting process includes some un-American figures. Like Emma Goldman, who was deported to Russian in 1919 when J. Edgar Hoover called her the most dangerous anarchist in the country.
But museum president Micahel Rosenzweig says the list does NOT include the man who wrote the famous patriotic lyric, "They're coming to America…today."
Rosenzweig: Neil Diamond was not on the list. But Neil Diamond's fan club took offense and has mounted a very vigorous write-in campaign and we've gotten a lot of votes for Neil Diamond.
Rosenzweig says the museum is soliciting public input, but not handing curatorial control to the masses. He says the voting results will become a barometer for museum staff. The 135 million dollar museum currently under construction in center city is scheduled to open in 2010.
I am a long-time Neil Diamond fan who lives in the Philadelphia area. I saw the Inquirer article about the voting process, and my first thought was to go to the Neil Diamond online fan site at http://www.iaisnd.com and post the information about this so that fans from all over can suggest his name. However, after I learned that only 18 (a special number that means "life") American Jews are going to be included, I re-thought this philosophy and realized that even in the field of entertainment, there are other American Jews who, for one reason or another, are more accomplished. I think Neil himself would pick his one-time duet partner, Barbra Streisand, or his career-long inspiration, Bob Dylan (born Zimmerman), as more deserving than he is. Also, there have been a lot of other great American Jewish songwriters, including ones who spent time with Neil Diamond in the Brill Building in the 1960s, who are as deserving of this recognition – Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Neil Sedaka, and Howard Greenfield. (King and Sedaka have also had great singing careers.) Someone else ended up taking this to the Neil Diamond fans, and just as I thought they would, they have taken up this cause. I would love to see Neil get recognition, but when we're talking about a select group of 18 Jews from all different walks of life, I don't know if he's the best choice.
I do not agree that Neil Diamond, although a successful businessman, should be considered one of the most prominent Jews…….Ozzy Osborne sold lots of records in the recording business (not that I am implying he is Jewish,I am making a point.) What exactly besides a little culturally does that contribute to the advancement of society…..Neil Diamond Fans scream about anything that involves Neil Diamond….
Dear WHYY,
You better believe us fans want Neil added to the list and exhibit. Have to let Neil's success speak for itself on our reasons. He's managed to stay in the music business for over 50 years and seen his highs and lows(IE HE PAID HIS DUES). Sold over 115 million albums wordwide and over 1,000 sold out concerts.
His BIO on Wikipedia is just the gist of his accomplishments.
Thanks for listening.
Sincerely ONE PROUD SECOND GENERATION FAN!!
Michael Smith
1031 South Brackney St.
Brookston, Indiana 47923