Change at the Head of the Jewish Museum BerlinHT Lawrence E. Frizzell.
As of 1 September 2014, Prof. Dr. Peter Schäfer will take over as new director of the Jewish Museum Berlin. The Museum's Board of Trustees today agreed unanimously to Schäfer's appointment. At the request of Federal Government Commissioner for Federal Culture Commissioner and the Media Monika Grütters and Peter Schäfer, Prof. Dr. Michael Blumenthal, the longstanding founding director of the Jewish Museum Berlin, will serve in an advisory capacity for a transitional period.
Federal Commissioner Monika Grütters: "I'm very happy that it was possible to gain Professor Schäfer, an internationally active and acclaimed expert of Judaism, as the museum's new director. I am confident in his commitment to continue the work of Professor Blumenthal and build upon the museum's success to date while making his own mark."
Commissioner Grütters emphasized further: "The unprecedented success of the Jewish Museum Berlin is a direct result of Professor Blumenthal's passion and energy. We are greatly indebted to him for his years of commitment – all the more so in light of his biography!"
During the meeting of the Board of Trustees, W. Michael Blumenthal explained that he had been asking himself for some time when would be the right moment to pass the baton to a successor. When it became clear that Peter Schäfer, following his retirement from academic life, would be available, he knew he had his answer. "I realized immediately that we had to get this outstanding and highly distinguished academic on board. And this was reaffirmed by Culture Commissioner Grütters and our friends in politics, business and society at large," explained Blumenthal. "He will be able to give the museum key impulses like no one else I know."
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More recent news about Professor Schäfer is here and links.