The United States Holocaust Memorial Council was established by Congress in 1980 to lead the nation in commemorating the Holocaust and to raise private funds for and build the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Once the Museum opened in 1993, the Council became the governing board of trustees of the Museum, an independent establishment of the United States government operating as a public-private partnership that receives some federal funding to support operations of the Museum building.
The Council, which meets twice a year, consists of 55 members appointed by the president, as well as five members each from the Senate and House of Representatives and three ex-officio members from the Departments of Education, Interior, and State. Presidential appointments serve for a five-year term; 11 members’ terms expire each year.
Because of the large size of the Council, its work is done primarily through the committee structure. The Executive Committee, which acts on behalf of the Council in between Council meetings, meets four times a year.
As of August 20, 2014
Tom A. Bernstein, Chairman, New York, NYJoshua B. Bolten, Vice Chairman, Washington, DCSara J. Bloomfield, Director, Washington, DC
Elliott Abrams, Great Falls, VAMatthew L. Adler, Miami Beach, FLElisa Spungen Bildner, Montclair, NJLee T. Bycel, Kensington, CAMichael Chertoff, Potomac, MDDiana Shaw Clark, London, EnglandWilliam J. Danhof, Lansing, MIShefali Razdan Duggal, San Francisco, CAKitty Dukakis, Brookline, MAJohn Farahi, Reno, NVTodd A. Fisher, New York, NYJonathan Safran Foer, Brooklyn, NYAmy R. Friedkin, San Francisco, CAK. Chaya Friedman, Baltimore, MDNancy B. Gilbert, Palm Beach, FLMark D. Goodman, Cambridge, MASamuel N. Gordon, Wilmette, ILSanford L. Gottesman, Austin, TXJoseph D. Gutman, Chicago, ILCheryl F. Halpern, Livingston, NJS. Fitzgerald Haney, New York, NYBeth Heifetz, Chevy Chase, MDJ. David Heller, Cleveland, OHAllan M. Holt, Washington, DCJane H. Jelenko, Los Angeles, CAAmy Kaslow, Potomac, MDRoman R. Kent, New York, NYHoward Konar, West Henrietta, NYM. Ronald Krongold, Miami Beach, FLAlan B. Lazowski, Hartford, CTDeborah E. Lipstadt, Atlanta, GASusan E. Lowenberg, San Francisco, CALeslie Meyers, New York, NYMichael B. Mukasey, New York, NYDeborah A. Oppenheimer, Los Angeles, CACheryl Peisach, Golden Beach, FLDana Perlman, Beverly Hills, CARichard S. Price, Chicago, ILRonald Ratner, Cleveland, OHGreg A. Rosenbaum, Bethesda, MDMenachem Z. Rosensaft, New York, NYMichael P. Ross, Boston, MAKirk A. Rudy, Austin, TXElliot J. Schrage, Menlo Park, CAMaureen Schulman, Chicago, ILDaniel J. Silva, Boca Raton, FLAndrea Lavin Solow, Chicago, ILMarc R. Stanley, Dallas, TXMichael Ashley Stein, Cambridge, MAMichèle Taylor, Atlanta, GAHoward D. Unger, Briarcliff Manor, NYClemantine Wamariya, Kenilworth, ILElie Wiesel, Boston, MA
Michael Grimm, New YorkSteve Israel, New YorkPatrick Meehan, PennsylvaniaHenry A. Waxman, California
Al Franken, MinnesotaOrrin G. Hatch, UtahBernard Sanders, Vermont
US Department of Education, Philip H. RosenfeltUS Department of the Interior, Sarah GreenbergerUS Department of State, VacantGeneral Counsel, Gerard LevalSecretary of the Council, Jane M. Miller
Fred S. Zeidman 2002–2010Irving Greenberg 2000–2002Miles Lerman* 1993–2000Harvey M. Meyerhoff 1987–1993Elie Wiesel 1980–1986
Joel M. Geiderman 2005–2010Ruth B. Mandel 1993–2005William J. Lowenberg* 1986–1993Mark E. Talisman 1980–1986
* Deceased