Candidates for new US Jewish museum
Candidates for new US Jewish museumIsrael news photo: National Musuem of Jewish History

The National Museum of American Jewish History, to be opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2010, is allowing the public to vote on which 18 Jews from six different fields of activities will be featured in a multimedia presentation. In an unusual move for a museum, it is allowing the public to vote for three candidates in each category, including religion, business, entertainment, politics, sports and more. A total of 218 candidates are offered for consideration, and write-in votes also are allowed.

The voting, via the museum’s website, will end on August 6.

The five-story museum under construction will feature the Only in America display on the first floor. It will include classrooms and a theater to help visitors learn about Jewish contributions to American history going back to the years before the United States became a country.

The 18 displays will be on a rotational basis, with another 18 to replace the first set after a period of time.

The museum, with a glass facade, is being built on Independence Mall in historic Philadelphia.