PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

“Always have a mentor in their 20s.” Those were the words of my cousin Sonia, then in her 80s, explaining how she maintained her energy and activity. Sonia’s flipping of the traditional interpretation of l’dor v’dor (from generation to generation) was often heard as light-hearted, but was, in fact, deeply powerful. Learning and guidance are rarely best when imagined as one-way relationships. Rather, new perspectives and great insight can come from all directions, including from those much much younger than us. This particular brilliance is front of mind as I reflect on the moments that brought us the most joy at the Skirball this past year.

In the museum’s much-anticipated exhibition on Jewish delis, we heard story after story of favorite meals shared with parents and grandparents. While hosting the Citizen University’s Civic Collaboratory, we beamed as high school students shared how they are building mutual aid projects in communities everywhere from rural Ohio to Atlanta, Georgia. During the inaugural Friedman Prize presentation, we all nodded in understanding as the awardwinning scholar Max Daniel recounted the experience of talking to his father, a Greek refugee from the Holocaust, about other immigrant journeys.

Over and over again, the moment of new learning, the spark of recognition, or the joy of discovery has come through an exchange between generations. Not only is this in keeping with the Skirball’s essential Jewish value to honor memory, it has also felt precious and rare at a time when intergenerational exchanges seem increasingly brittle. Why might these exchanges flourish here even as they whither elsewhere? The Skirball is, indeed, an oasis. A place of peace and welcome. A place where you can feel safe to experiment and falter. A place of unexpected learning and connection.

As I read this year’s Oasis Magazine, I find enjoyment in discovering new perspectives from surprising sources. And I feel overwhelmed with gratitude for the community who helped to create and sustain these experiences at this place.

Thank you for being part of that community, President and CEO Skirball

Cultural Center