TEAM
UNITY CHAG SAMEACH!
A more cohesive Team Israel competes for the
Philadelphia International Unity Cup.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 / 10 TISHRI 5782
PAGE 19
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM — WHAT IT MEANS TO BE JEWISH IN PHILADELPHIA —
$1.00 OF NOTE
OBITUARY Former State Sen.

Bob Rovner Dies
at 77
Rovner was a fixture
in Philadelphia and
on the AC Boardwalk.

Page 4
LOCAL Is it Ethical to
Kill the Spotted
Lanternfly? Jewish ethics
experts weigh in.

Page 6
THEATER ‘The Last Boy’ to
Play on Broadway
Holocaust story was
locally penned.

Page 18
Volume 134
Number 23
Published Weekly Since 1887
NMAJH Exits
Bankruptcy, Looks
Forward SASHA ROGELBERG | JE STAFF
AFTER FILING FOR CHAPTER 11 in
March 2020, the National Museum of
American Jewish History in Philadelphia
will emerge from bankruptcy on Sept. 17.

NMAJH’s exit from bankruptcy largely
stems from a $10 million commitment
from former longtime trustee Mitchell
Morgan, who bought the museum’s
building and is loaning it back to the
museum for $1,000 a month.

Individual bondholders, many of whom are
on the museum’s board, such as Chairperson
Phil Darivoff , also agreed to collectively
forgive $14 million of the museum’s debt.

“Our family believes there’s a responsi-
bility — both locally and globally — for
the community to step up for vital institu-
tions like the National Museum of American
Jewish History,” Morgan wrote in a statement.

NMAJH fi led for bankruptcy on March
1, 2020, as it was unable to pay off the $30
million of debt remaining from the $150
million construction of its building on
Independence Mall.

Darivoff saw the need to reorganize as a
The basement of 2100 Arch St. is now dry, but damaged Sheetrock and drywall will have to be
demolished and replaced.

Photo by Steve Rosenberg
Ida Floods Jewish
Community Services
Building, Sports Hall
Th e remnants of Hurricane Ida the day
prior caused fl ooding along the Schuylkill
UPON ENTERING THE Jewish Community River, mere blocks from the building,
Services Building at 2100 Arch St. early on which is home to the Jewish Federation of
Sept. 2, one could hear the sound of water Greater Philadelphia, the Jewish Exponent
rushing beneath the ground fl oor.

and many other community organizations.

SASHA ROGELBERG | JE STAFF
See NMAJH, Page 12
See Ida, Page 13
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