Happy Mother’s Day from JMM!

For Mother’s Day this year, we asked our staff to share memories, stories, and thanks for the mother-figures in their lives! Many of their responses are below – we invite you to share your memories and stories with us as well.

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Volunteer Coordinator Wendy Davis:

For people of my generation, many of our earliest memories are of our mothers and our grandmothers cooking.  For me, I think of many of their dishes as comfort food. I inherited the recipe boxes/binders from my mother and grandmothers after my mother died 14 years ago.  I put them away in a drawer, planning one day to look over them.  As the years passed, I forgot about them. Until yesterday.

And then to find the recipe for the knish dough!  My paternal grandmother always had the bite size meat filled knishes at all the family gatherings, baked brown on the top and much tastier than what we find in the delis today.  In my mother’s box was her mother’s handwritten list of ingredients for fish chowder.  On many a cold winter’s day I sat at my maternal grandmother’s kitchen table eating the delicious chowder.  And, I found my mother’s recipe for tzimmis, something I always looked forward to eating at holiday meals.

Now it is my turn to bring those recipes to life and, at the same time, remember the women who helped mold me.

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Director of Education Ilene Dackman-Alon:

I think that Mother’s Day is a wonderful day- honoring all of the women in our lives that are near and dear to our hearts.  I recall in first grade making my mother a Mother’s Day card.  I assume that my mother loved the card- she kept it in my baby book for safekeeping – tissue-paper flower and all.

So, I want to give a shoutout to my mom, Barbara Levy Dackman who is watching over me, my siblings and our families.  My mother taught us to be honest, kind and loving to others and more importantly to have strength even in those moments of adversity.   You may recall my mother as a 21 year-old bride in a portrait from 1951 that was in the exhibition, Just Married: Jewish Weddings in Maryland.

Happy Mother’s Day!!

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Director of Collections and Exhibits Joanna Church:

As the oldest child, and first grandchild, in the family, there are many, many photos of me as a baby, carefully preserved in multiple albums. (Not so for the younger kids!) My mother carefully annotated these albums, which I appreciate both personally and as someone whose professional work is often frustrated by a lack of photo identification. However, my favorite notes are those like this one, with the helpful arrow and all. I know who you are, Mom, don’t worry. (And yes, she approved the sharing of this picture.)

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Visitor Services Coordinator Talia Makowsky:

I’m the luckiest daughter. I have the best mom in the world, Julie Makowsky (though sometimes she goes by Stein-Makowsky). My mom is incredibly strong, independent, highly intelligent, and a great sense of humor. At least a better sense of humor than my dad. My mother gave me her love of reading, her creativity (especially in knitting), and her ability to not take %&$* from anyone. My mom is one of my closest friends and my favorite traveling companion. I miss her a lot this year, as we break our tradition of getting our nails done together for Mother’s day, but I know that we’ll see each other soon and have another adventure together. To many more years exploring, laughing, and learning together!

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Deputy Director Tracie Guy-Decker:

When I was scrolling, I looked and thought “I don’t remember owning that sweater” and then I realized that I was not the woman in the sweater, but the little head in the foreground. This dopple ganger of mine is actually my mother, circa 1985, with my sister on one hip and our cousin on the other. If I had to go through life looking like someone, I’m sure glad it’s her! Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!

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Executive Director Marvin Pinkert:

When my mom was in her sixties she decided to learn pottery. At first her pieces were -to put it charitably-abstract.  But in just two or three years she was able to take a photo of our kids and turn it into a pretty recognizable sculpture. I was so proud of my mom for never losing her desire to learn something new.

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Development and Marketing Manager Rachel Kassman:

My mom might be surprised to learn she’s one of my favorite people (because who doesn’t butt heads with their mother, right?) but she really is. She’s always been supportive of my goals and ambitions, particularly here at JMM. Whether it was getting stuck hanging out at the Museum until 2:00am in the morning as we worked on last-minute exhibit installation, or just coming to celebrate our openings and projects, I know I can count on my mom to tell me we did a great job (and hit up the gift shop).

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Archivist Lorie Rombro:

Spending hours reading, playing and just being with them.  Occasionally I notice myself saying somethings that I swore I never would and when I tell her, she laughs and says “Now you understand what I went through!”

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Museum Educator Marisa Shultz:

My mother Michele is an incredible woman; her compassion, kindness, generosity, and strength (not to mention her laugh-until-your-sides-split sense of humor) have undoubtedly shaped who I am today. She always goes above and beyond for her family, her friends, and her neighbors, offering support, a kind word, a hug, and a perfectly-made cheesecake. She is always there for life’s important moments, little and big.

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Director of Development Tracey Dorfmann:

I think of my mom every day.   Jacqueline Zipken Dorfmann, had an infectious smile. She was a successful businesswoman who came into her own in 70’s when there were a precious few female role models in the workforce. She was ahead of her time in many ways including the fact that she believed it was possible to have a successful career while raising a family.  This was not common among her peers, nor in my friend’s families. I inherited her optimism and work ethic, and love of lipstick among many other traits.

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Administrative Assistant Ayana Harris:

I remember conversations she used to have with me as a little girl that provided me with wisdom that I am able to use in my life today. I’m grateful for my mom.

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