Weaving Jewish History through Everyday Life.
We are arts and history. We are story keepers and story seekers. We are ATL and Jewish. We are the Breman: a cultural center that celebrates the joy and resiliency of life, connecting people from every walk of life. From engrossing conversations about the Holocaust and Civil Rights to captivating art collections and live musical performances, we welcome you to get inspired by remarkable moments and memories.
Our mission is to connect people to Jewish history, culture, and arts.
History of the Breman
Jews and Georgians:
A Meeting of Cultures
1983 The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta organizes an exhibition entitled “Jews and Georgians: A Meeting of Cultures, 1733-1983.”
- The exhibition displays memorabilia and artifacts from Georgia's Jewish community.
- The success of the exhibition highlights the need for a permanent space dedicated to the interpretation and preservation of the Southern Jewish Experience.
Our Archives are Created
1984 - 1992 A matching grant from the National Historic Records and Publications Commission and the Atlanta Jewish Federation establishes a community archives known as the Joseph and Ida Pearle Cuba Community Archives and Genealogy Center. A three-person staff works out of a closet at the Atlanta Jewish Federation to create:
- A community archive
- An oral history project
- Special exhibitions
- A series of educational programming
- A Holocaust Resource Center
The Archives receives its first manuscript collections:
1985 - 1995
- Rabbi Harry H. Epstein, who presided over Ahavath Achim Synagogue for over 50 years.
- Edward M. Kahn, former executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, places the federation’s records under the nascent museum’s care.
Bill Breman gives a generous gift to the Atlanta Jewish Federation in the hopes of establishing a Jewish heritage museum.
Early 1990s
The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum officially opens inside the Selig Center - just in time for the Summer Olympics.
Summer 1996 The museum contains a climate controlled space to house the archives and three galleries for exhibitions on the Holocaust, local history, and special exhibitions.
William Breman
More than a namesake, William Breman was a humanitarian with a vision of creating a space for people of different backgrounds to connect, learn, and grow. A focal member of the Atlanta Jewish community, he dreamed of building a permanent home to preserve and share Jewish stories, where people from all walks of life can learn about remarkable moments and memories.
Leadership & Staff
Leslie
Gordon
executive director
lgordon@THEBREMAN.ORG
404–870–1861
David
Schendowich
Director, Marketing & Communications
dschendowich@THEBREMAN.ORG
678–222–3732
Rabbi Joe
Prass
Director, Weinberg Center for Holocaust Education
jprass@THEBREMAN.ORG
404–870–1865
Casey
Fishman
Director of Archives
cfishman@THEBREMAN.ORG
404–870–1862
Lizzie
Lack
Director of Development
llack@thebreman.org
404–870–7684
Ariana
Gil
Volunteer and Education Manager
agil@thebreman.org
678–222–3742
Celia
Clarijs
Membership and Development Manager
cclark@THEBREMAN.ORG
404–870–1632
Linda
Richman
Holocaust Speaker Coordinator
lrichman@THEBREMAN.ORG
678–222–3707
Cameron
Litland
Visitor Services Coordinator
Cameron@THEBREMAN.ORG
678–222–3700
Susan
Aquino
Office Manager/ Book Keeper
saquino@THEBREMAN.ORG
678–222–3737
Kayley
Rapp
Archivist
archives@THEBREMAN.ORG
678–222–3752
Howard
Pousner
Public Relations
hpousner@THEBREMAN.ORG
Joel
Silverman
Artist in residence
joel@silvermanphoto.com
404–964–8236
Aimee
Schmidt
Programming and Production
aschmidt@THEBREMAN.ORG
Board Members
Mike Murphy
BOARD CHAIR
Rachel Finglass
VICE BOARD CHAIR
Rochelle Shinn
TREASURER
Cathy Papadopoulos
SECRETARY
Marilyn Eckstein
COLLECTIONS CHAIR
Lori Shapiro
GOVERNANCE CHAIR
Elaine Gutenstein
DEVELOPMENT CHAIR
Judy Bauer Cohen
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Bonnie Cook
VME CHAIR
Trustee Members
Elaine Alexander
Imara Canady
Judy Cohen
Bonnie Cook
Marilyn Eckstein
Howard Fagin
Rachel Finglass
Curt Friedberg
Elaine Gutenstein
Darby Israel
Adam Koplan
Joslin LeBauer
Mike Levison
Mike Murphy
Cathy Papadopoulos
Lori Shapiro
Rochelle Shinn
Judith Taylor
Emeritus Members
Spring Asher
Laura Dinerman
Gail H. Evans
Craig Frankel
Carole B. Goldberg
Valerie Needle
Carol Nemo
A.J. Robinson
Jerry Rosenberg
Marlene J. Schwartz
Joyce Shlesinger
Norman Zoller
Work With Us
Our amazing staff, docents and volunteers are wholeheartedly committed to helping share remarkable stories and guiding people along their Breman experience. Whether you’re interested in history, arts, music or culture, there are endless ways to get involved and join our outstanding team.
Our Partners
It takes a village (or a city) to collect, preserve and share stories. Whether they’re providing resources, space, connections or ideas, our partners are instrumental to helping us create dynamic and immersive experiences that span every aspect of Jewish life in the South.