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Weitzman to
Honor CNN’s
Wolf Blitzer
JARRAD SAFFREN | STAFF WRITER
F ormer Jewish Exponent colum-
nist Wolf Blitzer, who is also
that Wolf Blitzer, CNN anchor,
is coming to the Weitzman National
Museum of American Jewish History
on May 1.

Blitzer, 74, an Emmy Award-winning
journalist who started at CNN in 1990,
will be honored by the Philadelphia
museum at its reopening gala.

According to a press release, the event
“recognizes the achievements and
contributions of American Jews who
have significantly impacted American
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APRIL 28, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
afmda.org Wolf Blitzer 
society and culture, often despite fac-
ing antisemitism and prejudice.”
The reporter’s parents survived the
Holocaust; he remains a proud Jew to
this day. He even spent the first extended
chapter of his career at the Jerusalem
Post from 1973 to 1990. While there,
Blitzer wrote a syndicated column that
appeared weekly in the Jewish Exponent.

“My Jewish identity is so important,”
Blitzer said. “It has been my whole life.”
The Weitzman describes itself as
the “only museum dedicated exclu-
sively to exploring and interpreting the
American Jewish experience.”
With this gala, the museum is
reopening to the public after a two-year
closure due to the pandemic. (Though
it did host virtual events and pro-
grams.) It is also reopening for the first
time since it was bought out, and saved
from bankruptcy, by shoe designer
Stuart Weitzman.

The new and improved space
will feature a variety of new exhib-
its, including one focusing on mod-
Courtesy of CNN
ern antisemitism and using artifacts
from the January hostage crisis at a
synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. As it
reopens, the Weitzman is trying to live
up to its description.

But while the exhibits show that mis-
sion of exploring and interpreting the
American Jewish experience, Blitzer
personifies it.




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The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
Photo by Jeff Goldberg/Esto for Ennead Architects
His parents came to America as
refugees and, while they were proud
Jews, they may have become even
prouder Americans, according to
Blitzer. The CNN anchor called them
“among the most patriotic Americans
I have ever known.” They even flew
the American flag outside their house
year-round, not just on Memorial
Day and July 4.

“They truly loved this country, and
they were so grateful to the U.S. and
the American people,” Blitzer said.

That personal history explains why
the Weitzman honor is important to
the anchor, despite his many career
achievements. “I just wish my parents, who have
both passed away, could have been with
us to witness this evening,” he said.

“They would have been so proud.”
But for Blitzer, the honor also tran-
scends his personal story. As a Jew,
he believes in every aspect of the
Weitzman’s mission.

He said it’s important to make sure
that the next Jewish generation under-
stands our history. He also thinks it’s
perhaps just as vital to help non-Jews
gain an appreciation for the history of
Jews in America.

“And we do have a very proud history
in this country,” Blitzer added.

Misha Galperin, the president and
CEO of the Weitzman, believes that
Blitzer is a big part of that story.

Galperin explained that the museum
celebrates “both what America offered
to the Jewish people and what the
Jewish people give back to America.”
America offered the Blitzer family
a chance at freedom and prosperity;
and their son grew up to become a
renowned journalist who also rep-
resents the profession’s lofty values.

“The value of reporting and a free
press. All the things responsible and
good journalists do,” Galperin said.

Galperin first met Blitzer in 2002 at
the home of the Israeli ambassador in
Washington, D.C. Since then, he has
known Blitzer to be a serious supporter
of Jewish causes and institutions like the
Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

Two of Blitzer’s close friends, Ernie
Grunfeld (a former NBA player and
general manager) and Ed Cohen, say
that’s no joke. The man really does care
deeply about his religion.

Grunfeld lauded the anchor’s com-
mitment to “shining a light on the
events of the Holocaust” and to edu-
cating people around the world to “try
to ensure that it never happens again.”
Cohen said, “The traditions of Judaism
are important to him.”
“Things that are part of his makeup
that help ground him in a turbulent
world,” the friend added.

At the gala, Blitzer will give a speech,
enjoy a video about his life and work
and stay for the remainder of the event,
which will also include the unveiling of
the Colleyville exhibition. Then, once
it ends, he will continue to encourage
visits to the Weitzman, he said.

The CNN anchor called the muse-
um’s mission “more timely than ever.”
His mission, though, remains the
same, even in these turbulent and
polarized times.

“I believe it’s always best for us to
report the news as honestly and as
fairly as we can,” Blitzer said. “Ever
since I started my career in journalism,
I have always tried to do that.” JE
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