Jewish Experience Museum

ABOUTJEM

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What is the Jewish Experience Museum?

The Jewish Experience Museum will be a vibrant and welcoming new center for children and adults of all faiths and backgrounds to engage in an immersive cultural experience designed to foster learning, understanding, and appreciation, the tools we all need to combat suspicion and hatred.

Using the latest in contemporary technology, the JEM will provide exciting programs and hands-on, interactive displays, events, exhibits, and more that bring Jewish history, values, culture, and practice to life.

From the Gold Rush era until today, the Jewish community remains an influential part of the story of California in general, and to the local region in particular. The JEM will highlight local stories and awareness of the integral role Jewish people play in our society.

Sadly, one of the oldest hatreds in the world is becoming more mainstream and acceptable. It cuts across the entire political spectrum, and is often disguised as legitimate discourse or couched in political rhetoric.

But used in any way or for any purpose, antisemitism is the same. And unfortunately it’s on the rise.

We have the power to challenge the narrative and impact the community in positive ways thanks to the Jewish Experience Museum, Northern California’s very own JEM.

Visionary Board

Parham (Avi) Shekarlab - President

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Parham Shekarlab is CEO and Founder of Terra Firma Group, a local full service real estate company. Parham was born in Iran, raised in Israel and moved to the United States as a young man. He is a family man with a strong devotion to his beautiful wife and two wonderful children and is active in the local Jewish community.

Parham has been involved with all realms of Real Estate in the greater Sacramento region for well over 30 years. He has also managed retail and business banking divisions of two of the largest national banks in the United States and more importantly, held positions of Senior Vice President.

David Philipp - Treasurer

David Philipp has more than 30 years of financial management experience across several industries, including technology, financial services, and retail. Prior to joining Mother Lode Holding Company and Placer Title Company in his current capacity as CFO, he provided financial management and investment banking services to emerging technology companies and was the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a supply-chain technology company from 1999 to 2001.

From 1992 to 1999, Mr. Philipp served as Executive Vice President, CFO and Secretary of a publicly held bank holding company headquartered in Central California, where he was also a member of the Board of Directors from 1997 to 2004. Mr. Philipp has also held positions as budget director and financial analyst for a national jewelry retailer after beginning his career at KPMG.

Bruce Deutsch - Secretary

Bruce Deutsch is a Portfolio Manager at a pension fund. He lives in the Sacramento area with his wife and kids. Bruce is active in the Jewish Community and enjoys studying Torah.

Gina Mulligan

Gina Mulligan is the founder of the international charity, Girls Love Mail. Girls Love Mail collects and distributes hand-written letters of encouragement to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Since the start in 2011, they have sent out over 220,000 letters. Gina is author of two historical novels; Remember the Ladies and From Across the Room, and the bestselling non-fiction Dear Friend: Letters of Encouragement, Humor & Love for Women with Breast Cancer.

Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum

Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Rabbi Yossi completed his rabbinic ordination in 2005 and in 2007, together with his wife, Goldie, established the Chabad Jewish Community Center located in Folsom and serving the communities along the Highway 50 corridor.

Rabbi Mendy Cohen

Rabbi Mendy Cohen is a published author of two scholarly volumes on the works of Maimonides. He is the co-founder of Chabad in the Greater Sacramento region which has grown to include 10 vibrant Jewish community centers.

WHATJEM

What to Expect

Upon arrival, guests will quickly realize the experiences offered are both transcendent and meaningful. The experience centers around being transported to a place in time before the world began and traveling forward through significant miraculous events, as well as historical events to provoke a deeper look at meaning, purpose, and discovery . . .

Among the many experiences at the Jewish Experience Museum, guests can expect to interact with Jewish culture, arts, food, and practices. In addition, guests are transported to a time and place when the world as we know it today began. Through highly interactive spaces, guests can suspend disbelief for a time and immerse themselves in a self paced personal experience where creation and history collide.

Using various technology, including augmented reality and theatrical design methods, guests are placed in the heart of each event that has contributed to telling the story of mankind. Guests will be enabled to interact in ways that trigger all of our senses and personalize each persons experience.

JEM Experiencs

JEM Experiences

JEM will offer a very diverse offering of experiences that speak to the Jewish culture, education, traditions, and history. Each experience will be designed as an immersive experience to maximize the guests interactivity and personalization. Among many traditional museum experiences, gusts can expect to participate in ...