Jay M. Ipson
Encyclopedia
Jay M. Ipson is a Lithuanian
-American Holocaust survivor and co-founder of the Virginia Holocaust Museum
in Richmond, Virginia
.
Jacob Ipp was forced into the Kovno Ghetto, a concentration camp of Nazi-Germany, with his family at age six. He and his mother were the only two people to survive of 5,000 deported for execution in one day. After escaping with his parents in 1943, they had to hide 9 months in a potato hole in the countryside. Ipp endured bleak post-war conditions until the family immigrated via Munich
to Richmond when he was twelve.
Jay M. Ipson graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School
and attended the University of Richmond
. He joined the United States Army Reserve
in 1954, serving as an instructor in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant after eight years of service. A skilled aviator, Ipson ascended to the rank of full colonel in the Virginia Defense Force Aviation Brigade, serving as its commander from 1988 to 1992.
As owner of American Auto Parts in Hopewell, Ipson was active in the Anti-Defamation League
and frequently spent his mornings giving talks at local schools about the Holocaust. A friend suggested that he should establish a museum to let people learn more from him. After a discussion with leaders at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
, and with backing from financial and legislative leaders, the Virginia Holocaust Museum was born.
was established in May 1997 in five small rooms at the old school building next to Temple Beth-el in Richmond. Ipson was mainly supported by Al Rosenbaum
and Mark Fetter. Rosenbaum created the sculpture of the menorah
used in the museum’s logo.
But the number of students wanting to attend was rising very fast and so they had to look for a new location. With support of Congressman Eric Cantor
the government of Virginia
provided an old warehouse at 2000 East Cary Street. After enormous efforts the new museum was opened in 2003.
The Virginia Holocaust Museum features tours, programs, lectures, films and other events, and many of the emphasized stories are about the experiences of Holocaust survivors who reside or had resided in Richmond. In 2007, the Virginia Holocaust Museum celebrated its 10th anniversary. On Yom HaShoah
in April 2008 Governor Tim Kaine
opened the only originally rebuilt Nuremberg Courtroom ("Palace of Justice") in the United States as new part of the Virginia Holocaust Museum.
Already more than 150,000 people have visited the Virginia Holocaust Museum; about 70 percent are students. The museum is one of many organizations worldwide where young Austrians
can serve their Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service
(Gedenkdienst).
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
-American Holocaust survivor and co-founder of the Virginia Holocaust Museum
Virginia Holocaust Museum
The Virginia Holocaust Museum is a Virginia museum dedicated to depicting the Holocaust as experienced by its victims. A main part of the exhibition is about the family story of Holocaust survivor Jay M. Ipson.-History:...
in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
.
World War II and immigration
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
to Richmond when he was twelve.
Studying and working
The Ipp family arrived in the United States on June 12, 1947. His father Israel, who had been an attorney in Lithuania, found work cleaning bathrooms in a gas station. His mother Edna worked as a seamstress in Thalhimer’s department store. To make their integration into American society easier, they decided to change their family name to Ipson.Jay M. Ipson graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School
Thomas Jefferson High School (Richmond, Virginia)
The Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Virginia is a public high school. The Art Deco building, constructed in 1929 and opened in 1930, has been listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by architect Charles M. Robinson...
and attended the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
. He joined the United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
in 1954, serving as an instructor in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant after eight years of service. A skilled aviator, Ipson ascended to the rank of full colonel in the Virginia Defense Force Aviation Brigade, serving as its commander from 1988 to 1992.
As owner of American Auto Parts in Hopewell, Ipson was active in the Anti-Defamation League
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
and frequently spent his mornings giving talks at local schools about the Holocaust. A friend suggested that he should establish a museum to let people learn more from him. After a discussion with leaders at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is the United States' official memorial to the Holocaust. Adjacent to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the USHMM provides for the documentation, study, and interpretation of Holocaust history...
, and with backing from financial and legislative leaders, the Virginia Holocaust Museum was born.
Virginia Holocaust Museum
The Virginia Holocaust MuseumVirginia Holocaust Museum
The Virginia Holocaust Museum is a Virginia museum dedicated to depicting the Holocaust as experienced by its victims. A main part of the exhibition is about the family story of Holocaust survivor Jay M. Ipson.-History:...
was established in May 1997 in five small rooms at the old school building next to Temple Beth-el in Richmond. Ipson was mainly supported by Al Rosenbaum
Al Rosenbaum
Al Rosenbaum was an American artist and the co-founder of the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, Virginia.-Personal life:...
and Mark Fetter. Rosenbaum created the sculpture of the menorah
Menorah
The menorah is described in the Bible as the seven-branched ancient lampstand made of gold and used in the portable sanctuary set up by Moses in the wilderness and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. Fresh olive oil of the purest quality was burned daily to light its lamps...
used in the museum’s logo.
But the number of students wanting to attend was rising very fast and so they had to look for a new location. With support of Congressman Eric Cantor
Eric Cantor
Eric Ivan Cantor is the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 7th congressional district, serving since 2001. A member of the Republican Party, he became House Majority Leader when the 112th Congress convened on January 3, 2011...
the government of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
provided an old warehouse at 2000 East Cary Street. After enormous efforts the new museum was opened in 2003.
Yom HaShoah
Yom HaZikaron laShoah ve-laG'vurah , known colloquially in Israel and abroad as Yom HaShoah and in English as Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Holocaust Day, is observed as Israel's day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews and five million others who perished in the...
in April 2008 Governor Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine
Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
opened the only originally rebuilt Nuremberg Courtroom ("Palace of Justice") in the United States as new part of the Virginia Holocaust Museum.
Already more than 150,000 people have visited the Virginia Holocaust Museum; about 70 percent are students. The museum is one of many organizations worldwide where young Austrians
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
can serve their Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service
Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service
The Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service is an alternative to Austria's compulsory national military service / alternative service founded in 1992. Since 1998 it is part of the Austrian Service Abroad...
(Gedenkdienst).
Publications
- Izzy's Fire: finding humanity in the Holocaust, Nancy Wright Beasley (2005)
- To See, to Feel, to Know: Experiencing the Holocaust Through the Virginia Holocaust Museum, Elisabeth Anne Custalow (2005)
Awards
- On January 16, 2001, Jay M. Ispon received a First Freedom Award from the First Freedom Center.
- In 2005, he was honored with the Director's Community Leadership Award by the FBI in Richmond.
- On May 11, 2010, Jay M. Ipson was the first U.S. citizen to receive the Austrian Holocaust Memorial AwardAustrian Holocaust Memorial AwardThe Austrian Holocaust Memorial Award was founded by the Austrian Service Abroad in 2006.- Meaning :The prize is annually conferred on a person who has shown special endeavors for the memory of the Shoa.- Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service :...
. Austrian Ambassador to the United States of America Dr. Christian Prosl officially visited the Virginia Holocaust Museum to present the award.
See also
- History of the Jews in LithuaniaHistory of the Jews in LithuaniaThe history of the Jews in Lithuania spans the period from the eighth century to the present day. There is still a small community in that country, as well as an extensive Lithuanian Jewish diaspora in Israel, the United States and other countries. For more detail, see Lithuanian Jews.-Early...
- List of Lithuanian Jews
- Austrian Holocaust Memorial AwardAustrian Holocaust Memorial AwardThe Austrian Holocaust Memorial Award was founded by the Austrian Service Abroad in 2006.- Meaning :The prize is annually conferred on a person who has shown special endeavors for the memory of the Shoa.- Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service :...