Once Upon a Time 12.18.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 12/18/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 2006.013.876

Status: Identified. JCC Garden club annual flower show, May 1974. Left to right: Elaine Weinstein, Floraine Applefeld, Jeanette Millstein and Judy Schwaber

Special thanks to: Adele Seidel, Rose Abelson, Eva Slatkin, Myra Fox, Betty Millstein, Debbie Zager, Rita Rubin, Charles Millstein, Shirley Diamond, Frances Klotzman, Harriet Feinglass

JMM Closed on Sunday

Due to the weather, the Jewish Museum of Maryland will be closed on Sunday, December 20, 2009.

Weekly Report: 12.18.09

Dear Friends,

Much of our time recently has been devoted to preparations for our 50th anniversary year in 2010. Anita Kassof, Deb Weiner, and Jenn Vess are hard at work with their team to complete work on our new core exhibition, The Synagogue Speaks, which will open in March. Deborah Cardin and Simone Ellin are planning for our kick-off events in March, while Lauren Silberman, Rachel Kassman, and Mindy Glaser McShane are dealing with the many administrative tasks associated with the 50th. Jobi Zink and Karen Falk are staffing up two Anniversary initiatives, Telling Time (oral histories) and Stories We Live By (video interviews). Other staff are pitching in as needed, and a dozen JMM trustees are involved on steering committees for various anniversary events and programs. We are very grateful to The Herbert Bearman Foundation for generously supporting our opening events in March.

This high level of activity and engagement is very likely to persist throughout calendar 2010 as we rev up our programs and activities. In the meantime, a lot of other things are going on-and here are some highlights:

GIFTS AND GRANTS: We are delighted to acknowledge a grant from the Leo V. Berger Fund in support of our acclaimed Immigrant's Trunk program; a grant from M&T Bank Foundation in support of our Museum-School Partnership program; a grant from the Number Ten Foundation (Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Brunn) in support of A Blessing to One Another, a major exhibition on Pope John Paul II and the Jews, which we will host in fall 2010; and a gift for general operating support from the Dopkin-Singer-Dannenberg Foundation. We are very grateful to all our benefactors for their commitment, generous support, and kind encouragement.

COLLECTIONS: The JMM Collections Committee, chaired by Duke Zimmerman, met this week to review proposed accessions to the collections. This was, as usual, a lively, thoughtful meeting. Our thanks to the Committee and the JMM collections staff, especially Senior Collections Manager Jobi Zink.

Archivist Jennifer Vess reports that the archives inventory is complete at 94.6%. The next step will be to address the issues and problems raised by the inventory. With the inventory complete, Jennifer has begun cataloging new accessions once again. This week she also began organizing and cataloging institutional archive photographs pertaining to B'nai Israel and the Museum building. Also, two new volunteers began work in the archives this week, processing a collection of scrapbooks from the CJE, and moving forward with the organization of the Institutional Archives.

PROGRAMS: On Monday 14 December the JMM and BJC held a jointly-sponsored Holocaust-themed teacher-training workshop. A group of 40 educators, representing Jewish day schools, public, private, and home schools, and universities spent the morning studying the multi-media curriculum, Echoes and Reflections presented by Anti-Defamation League educator Deborah Batiste; after lunch the group moved to the Lloyd Street Synagogue to hear survivor testimony from Warsaw native Sam Ponczak, followed by a tour of the Synagogue. Many of the participants "discovered" the JMM with this workshop and are planning a return visit with their students.

OUTREACH: On Saturday 5 December, the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Shabbat Shelanu Mini-Kiddush featured JMM Special Projects Consultant Dr. Barry S. Lever representing the Museum's Speakers Bureau, sponsored by Attman's Delicatessen. Dr. Lever's delivered an interactive presentation of an art project, The Heart is a Pump!? based on his personal experience with heart disease. On Monday 14 December, Barry Lever and Esther Weiner brought a JMM Speakers Bureau presentation, sponsored by Attman's Delicatessen, to Roland Park Place. The residents delighted in blessing the candles and singing the traditional holiday melodies. Barry's discussion of the fascinating history this festival and Esther's delicious latkes made for a lively program. The delights of this JMM program also engaged residents of other faiths to share in the festivities. The Tot Shabbat programs are part of the JCC's program, "JCC Beyond the Borders" funded by the The Jacob & Hilda Blaustein Fund for the Enrichment Jewish Education

The JMM participated in the Community-Wide Chanukah Celebration on Tuesday, 15 December at the JCC. Deborah Cardin, Ilene Dackman-Alon, and Simone Ellin distributed information about the JMM and helped children make edible dreidels using marshmallows and chocolate kisses. This activity was a big hit with families!

IN-REACH: On Sunday 13 December, the Shimanov family held their son's Bar Mitzvah at the synagogue, followed by a reception in the lobby. Over 70 people attended the simcha. Also on Sunday, members of the Downtown Jewish Family Network participated in their monthly family program at the JMM. The program featured a Chanukah celebration, and participants created beautiful Chanukiot using recycled materials, decorated cookies, played dreidel, and sang Chanukah songs.

On Tuesday 15 December, the Maryland-Israel Development Center held a wine and cheese Chanukah party at the Museum for over 80 people. Attendees included members of the business world in both Maryland and Israel, as well as other important figures, including Doug Gansler, Maryland's Attorney General, and Ken Ulman, Howard County Executive.

EDUCATION: On Wednesday 16 December, several D.C. home school families visited the Museum as part of their American Girl book club. They are currently reading books about Rebecca Rubin, a young Jewish girl in New York in 1914, whose grandparents immigrated from Russia. The families toured the historic Lloyd Street Synagogue as part of the Introduction to Judaism program, used the scavenger hunt in Voices of Lombard Street, played Chanukah related games and sang songs, and held a book discussion. On Friday 18 December, 80 high school students from Washington DC-based Schools Without Walls visited the JMM for an immigration-themed field trip. Students toured our historic synagogues and Voices of Lombard Street exhibition and participated in a staff facilitated exploration of the Leo V. Berger Immigrant's Trunk.

STAFF ACTIVITIES: Esther Weiner hosted Sen. Barbara Mikulski's Director of Constitutent Services, Marianne Kreitner, who came in to shop for a menorah for their office at the recommendation of Councilwoman Rikki Spector. Marianne was absolutely delighted with her purchase, which is now gracing a Chanukah display in their office.

On 13 December, Simone and Esther participated in live interviews on WJZ's morning show. To view, click here and here.

Simone Ellin, Rachel Kassman, and Lauren Silberman are making excellent progress in completing re-design of the Museum's website. The JMM website development team met their goal of having all text dropped into the new website's shell. Currently, our web designer is "theming" the site in preparation for its launch at the end of this month. Also on the digital front, Jobi Zink uploaded 17 Once Upon a Time photos to our blog and images to Past Perfect.

Deborah Cardin and Jeanette Parmigiani met with Jeremy Swerling of Chizuk Amuno Congregation, Erika Schon, and Katherine Lyons to discuss plans to produce Brundibar, an opera performed by a children's choir at the Theresiendstadt concentration camp during the Holocaust. Ilene Dackman-Alon and Deborah Cardin met with curatorial and program staff at the Lewis Museum to learn more about the Lewis's plans to host a traveling exhibition, Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow: Jewish Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges. The JMM hopes to partner with the Lewis Museum on collaborative programming exploring the exhibition themes.

On Thursday, Anita Kassof convened the board of Historic Jonestown, Inc. at the Fairfield Marriott. Logan Bailey-Perkins of A&R development spoke to the group about plans for the parcel on the southwest corner of Lombard Street and Central Avenues. They are planning a mixed-use development that includes retail and parking at grade (with stores fronting both Lombard and Central), and a four story, 104-unit apartment building above. They are currently working with the City to consolidate the properties in the parcel.

Ilene Dackman-Alon attended "Knit One Learn Two" at Chizuk Amuno Congregation led by Melton educator Judy Meltzer. Ilene also attended the Historic Jonestown Meeting at the Fairfield Hotel to discuss with community neighbors the JMM's upcoming Street Festival for Fall 2010.

Best wishes to everyone for a peaceful Sabbath, a delightful last night of Chanukah, and a pleasant weekend.



Avi

ONCE UPON A TIME 12.11.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 12/11/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 2006.013.869

Status: Identified JCC Garden Club, 1967. Phyllis Z. Cohen and Dorothy Cordish stand by a single flower arrangement, which is on a table, by a wall sculpture.

Special thanks to: Sylvia Cordish, Ruth Taubman, Audrey Bornstein, Adelaide Habel, Ann Robinson, Elliott Dickler, Ira Askin

The JMM on WJZ!

Last Sunday, WJZ aired two segments at the Jewish Museum of Maryland on Chanukah. Check it out by clicking the link here and here.

ONCE UPON A TIME 12.4.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 12/4/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 2006.013.844

Status: Identified. Molly Ruthenberg and Chad Kerbel on skates, Noreen Kerbel is on the right.

Special thanks to: Arthur Brown, Molly Ruthenberg

ONCE UPON A TIME 11.27.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 11/27/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 2006.013.253

Status: Partially Identified. Ruth Levie is the teacher

Special thanks to: Paula Williams, Ruth Hoffman, Ruth Levie

ONCE UPON A TIME 11.20.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 11/20/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 1987.223.026

Status: Identified. Members of the Lutzker Relief Society, 1952. Photograph taken in the home of Samuel Pollack at 308 Lanvale St.
Back Row (L-R) 1. (large) unidentified 2. Adolph Tayman 3. Mr. Feit 4. Mrs. Feit 5. Mrs. Weintraub 6. Bert Katz 7. Betty Peremel 8. Anna Katz or Sarah Katz 9. Louis Peremel 10. Jack Snyder Front Row (L-R) 1. (large) Benjamin Bark 2. Mrs. Bertha Peremel (Louis’ mother) 3. Jack Gold 4. Jack Needle 5. Sam Pollack 6. Abe Fine or Paul Barditch. Portrait of Rachel Diamond, Sam Pollack’s mother-in-law on the wall

Special thanks to: Beatrice Yoffe, Barbara Sachs, Steve Berlin, Irvin Pollack, Sam Lichter, Marvin Schein, Esta Peremel Schein, Rae Rossen, Paul Lichter

ONCE UPON A TIME 11.13.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 11/13/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 1987.2164.026

Status: Partially Identified. "The end of the Meyerbeer Singing Society," n.d. 1. Samuel Wolkovsky 2. George Castile 3. 4. 5. 6. Dr. Israel Dvorine

Special thanks to: Miriam Silverman

ONCE UPON A TIME 11.6.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 11/6/09, 6/20/08, 11/28/08

PastPerfect Accession #: 2001.100.011

Status: Identified. Members of Tikvah Youth Group at an unknown event, (L-R) Ralph David, Eric Sachs, Inge Lauer (David), Hilda Mann, unidentified, Gisela Miller, Ernest Bravman, Marian Stern (Strauss), Lottie Cassel (Hirshfeld) and Mark Adler

Special thanks to: Karen Kanefsky; Margaret Stern; Marian Stern Strauss,

ONCE UPON A TIME 10.30.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 10/30/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 1987.196.007

Status: Identified. Six young men from the Habonim Zionist Youth Group, (L-R) 1. Simmy Katzen 2. Obediah “Vadie” Cohen 3. Sonny Braiterman 4. Eddie Fedder 5. Marvin Skolnick 6. (seated in front) Harold Hill

Special thanks to: Zelda Zabin, Obediah Cohen, Shlomo Cohen, Allan Pristoop

ONCE UPON A TIME 10.23.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.


Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 10/23/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 1987.196.003

Status: Partially Identified. Isaac Davidson Hebrew School Graduation Class, 1942 Back Row (L-R): 1. Aaron Epstein 2. Tsvi Shubin 3. Herb 4. Gerald Esterson 5. Irvin Weintraub 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Ray Sherman Front Row (L-R) 1. Hilda 2. Pauline 3. 4. Pearl 5.


Special thanks to: Irvin Weintraub

ONCE UPON A TIME 10.16.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 10/16/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 1987.193.002

Status: Unidentified. Members of Washburn Club, each holding a stringed instrument. Haim Herman, pictured but not identified, was the only Jewish member of the club.

ONCE UPON A TIME 10.9.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 10/9/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 1987.168.017

Status: Identified. Liberty Jewish Center graduation class, 1959. Front Row, seated (L-R) 1. Dennis Brager 2. Dennis Levinson 3. Marc Cohen 4. 5. (in white) Susan Lipsitz (Green) 6. 7. Jeffrey Paper 8. Stuart Braiterman 9 10. Back Row (L-R) 1. Seymour Stauber (standing) 2. Steven Fine 3. Stanley Book 4. Harold Katz 5. 6. Max Berhig 7. (standing) Rabbi Jacob Max, 8. 9. 10. Ben Rudo 11. Myron Melnicuff 12. Andrew Katz 13. Mr. Liebowitz

Special thanks to: Stuart Braiterman

ONCE UPON A TIME 10.2.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 10/2/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 1987.019.015

Status: Unidentified. Two doctors and three nurses standing on steps, n.d. Dr. Bernard Mark Berngartt is second from the right.

Special thanks to: Stanford Reed

ONCE UPON A TIME 9.25.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 9/25/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 1986.113.006

Status: Unidentified. Druid Hill Park, May 3, 1925. Joseph I. Strauss and Ruth Rudo Strauss are on the front left.

Special thanks to: Maury Strauss

ONCE UPON A TIME 9.11.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 9/11/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 1984.106.010

Status: Identified. Left to Right: 1. Nat Buxbaum 2. AJ Billig or Arnold Fleischmann or Bob Smelkinson 3. Aleck Resnick, Stanley Hiken, William (Bill) Greenfeld, Meyer Cardin with an award, April 1978.

Special thanks to: Andrew Cardin, Mark Rosenfield, Fran Klotzman, Jeffrey Legum, Sally Thomas, Ellen Stein, Mrs. Frieberg, Rhona Kogan, Maxine Solomon, Michael Shavitz, Myra Fox, Alan Zersky, Bob Shumer, Barry Lever, Alleck Reznick, Bob Hankin, Rafi Rothstein

ONCE UPON A TIME 9.4.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 9/4/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 2001.103.008

Status: Unidentified. Unidentified man wearing a hat, February 1970

ONCE UPON A TIME 9.18.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.


Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 9/18/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 1985.159.030

Status: Partially Identified. A group of people standing at a conference for Israel Bonds in Miami, FL, 1956. Ben Shuster is on the left and Florence Rogers is in the center.

Special thanks to: Edward Kramer, Carol Sibel, Robin Klein, Shoshana Cardin

Once Upon a Time Photos: 8.28.09

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 8/28/09

PastPerfect Accession #: 2006.004.130

Status: Unidentified. Unidentified woman in a coat and hat.

Weekly Report 12.11.09

Dear Friends,

The arrival of Hanukkah this evening reminds us that autumn is coming to a close and winter is about to begin. Before we go into seasonal mode, however, we have been very active in preparing for our 50th Anniversary programs and events. Here is a report on current activities:

LEADERSHIP: On Tuesday 8 December, we hosted a lively crowd at our monthly Leadership Luncheon: Deborah Adler, executive of the Howard County Jewish Federation; community leader Katie Applefeld; Irene Hoffman, director of the Contemporary Museum; JHU Hillel director Rabbi Debbie Pines; community activist Leonard Schleider; and Randi Vega, program officer of the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA). JMM President David Liebman welcomed our guests, and animated conversation ensued. Our thanks to all the participants.

PRESS AND MEDIA: On Sunday morning, 13 December, WJZ- Channel 13 will be on-site at the Museum for two live spots focusing on Hanukkah. An article just appeared in the Sun on Hanukkah in East Baltimore. The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bal-md.fa.hanukkah11dec11,0,7255046.story. Kudos to Marketing Director Simone Ellin for her success in promoting the Museum.

KUDOS: On Tuesday evening 8 December, our new initiative, Student Immigration Stories, headed the agenda of the Baltimore City Pubic Schools Board meeting. This compelling program was funded by the Frank and Helen Risch Endowment at THE ASSOCIATED.

Education Director Deborah Cardin, Program Director Ilene Dackman-Alon, storyteller Jennifer Rudick Zunikoff, Ms. Franklin and Ms. D’Anna (teacher and principal at Patterson High School), and Therese Kapange, a student storyteller from Patterson, attended the meeting. Ilene gave opening remarks about the project and Jennifer gave brief closing remarks. Therese spoke for five minutes to an attentive audience, receiving praise for her courage in making and describing her journey to a new life in America. After the presentation, Luke Dillon and Michael Sarbanes, Director of Communication at BCPS, expressed appreciation for the project. The program is highlighted on BCPS Channel 77 www.baltimorecitypublicschools.org.

PROGRAMS: On Sunday 6 December, students and parents participating in the Lessons of the Shoah (our high school interfaith initiative) met at the Basilica of Baltimore for a session exploring aspects of the Catholic faith. We received an in-depth tour of the Basilica from docent Don Henderson (who is also a staff facilitator of the program). A highlight of the visit was the opportunity to meet with Cardinal Keeler who made a special visit to the Basilica to greet the group and to discuss his work promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperation. The visit ended with small group discussions as Catholic students shared their personal experiences of growing up in the Catholic faith.

On Monday 7 December, approximately 60 people--students, faculty, area educators, survivors, and community members--heard an intriguing, thought-provoking presentation, “The Phenomena of Holocaust Denial and the New Antisemitism” by Ephraim Kaye, director of International Seminars for Educators at Yad Vashem, Israel. This successful program marked the first collaboration between The Jewish Museum of Maryland and the Baltimore Hebrew Institute (formerly Baltimore Hebrew University) at Towson University.

EDUCATION: On Sunday 6 December, about 30 elementary students from Beit Tikvah and their parents toured the Museum and participated in activities from the Paving Our Way: Early Maryland Jewish Life 1632 - 1845 educational resource kit. On Tuesday 8 December, a group of Israeli teens made their annual visit to the Museum courtesy of the Bronfman Foundation in New York. On Thursday, nearly 50 1st graders from Federal Hill Prep (Baltimore City Public School) participated in the Introduction to Judaism program, toured Voices of Lombard Street with a scavenger hunt, and enjoyed a great cooking presentation by Esther Weiner on latkes and Chanukah. On Friday, about 40 high school students from an ESOL (English as a Second Language) class at Patterson High School (Baltimore City Public School) toured the Museum. Their tour is in conjunction with the recent initiative: Coming to America: Student Immigration Stories. Also on Friday, Ilene went to Temple Emanuel Early Learning Center and did an outreach program, the Leo Berger’s Immigrant’s Trunk for the preschool.

STAFF ACTIVITIES: The LSS exhibition team went over to St. Alphonsus (successor congregation to St. John’s) for research. On Monday, Jobi, Karen and Jenn installed a Hanukkah display at City Hall; the JMM will also have a Hanukkah display at the Baltimore Visitor Center again this year. Also on Monday, Ilene Dackman-Alon met with Rabbi Dovid Katz, Edward Hoffman, and David Liebman to discuss possible programming for the upcoming year, and the collections staff met to review possible accessions to the Museum’s collections.

On Wednesday, Karen Falk attended a presentation in the Sant Oceans Hall at the National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian) on museum applications of Sony’s new 3D film technology. Lauren Silberman and Simone Ellin attended a meeting on social marketing at THE ASSOCIATED on Thursday. Also on Thursday, Karen Falk and Susan Vick, curator of the Goldsmith Museum at Chizuk Amuno, visited two exhibitions of Judaica in New York, as part of their research for the Object Lessons exhibit of Judaica.

This week we welcomed a new intern, Charlotte Knight, who began work on Wednesday in the collections department. Charlotte holds a BA in Art History (minor in Anthropology) from Rutgers University and is new to Maryland. She has previously worked at Acorn Hall, a historic house museum, in Morristown, NJ. Heather Besch wrapped up her internship with us on Friday; she starts a full-time job as a Teacher’s Aide next week. Our thanks and best wishes go with her. Intern Nicole Paterson continued work on The Synagogue Speaks archaeology component, contributed cataloging information on the artifacts excavated from the mikveh complex within the LSS, and developed a timeline for the changes to the mikveh structure. Development Coordinator Mindy Glaser McShane responded to a call from a gentleman who asked for a definition of “putz,” having heard the word in the film, Blazing Saddles!

Best wishes to everyone for a delightful fall weekend, a peaceful Shabbat, and a joyous Hanukkah festival!

Avi

Weekly Report 12.04.09

Dear Friends,

This has been a busy week, as we gear up for our 50th Anniversary in 2010. Here are some highlights:

50TH ANNIVERSARY: The Steering Committee for the re-dedication of Lloyd Street Synagogue, chaired by Vice President Jerry Doctrow, met this past Monday to discuss details of the re-dedication. Meanwhile, Anita Kassof, Deb Weiner, and Jennifer Vess sent a full exhibition text to the designers this week, as we prepare for the opening of our new core exhibition, The Synagogue Speaks.

This coming Sunday, volunteers and staff will resume filming for our new video initiative, Stories We Live By. This week, the topic will be Chanukah foods and celebrations. We will be at the Lifebridge Health and Fitness Center and at the JCC in Owings Mills. We have also completed work on our 50th Anniversary logo and tagline, which will appear on our letterhead throughout the anniversary year.

GIFTS AND GRANTS: We are delighted to report that we have received a $9,000 grant from M&T Bank in support of our Museum-School Partnership program and a second grant, also in the amount of $9,000 from the Baltimore National Heritage Area for stabilization of the archaeological excavation in the Lloyd Street Synagogue's 1845 mikveh complex.

Warm thanks to Jason Davidov, son of Museum Docent Howard Davidov and owner of J.D. Outdoors Landscaping. Jason is donating labor and materials to spruce up the plantings and beds in our courtyard and around the Museum. We are very grateful to these generous supporters.

PROGRAMS: Today, the JCC and JMM partnered on a Hands-On Holiday program for Chanukah geared for downtown families of very young children. Young children, along with their parents, caregivers and grandparents were actively engaged in craft activities, songs and stories and a yummy snack all in connection with the upcoming festival. These Hands-On Holiday programs and Tot Shabbat programs are part of the JCC initiative, "JCC Beyond the Borders," funded by the The Jacob & Hilda Blaustein Fund for the Enrichment of Jewish Education.

This Sunday 6 December, 1:00-4:00p.m., the JMM is hosting a special series of free book talks by local authors. At 1:00 p.m. JMM Education Coordinator Lauren Silberman will talk about her book, The Jewish Community of Baltimore. The volume chronicles the history of Jewish Baltimore and features numerous photos from the Museum's collections. At 2:00 p.m., Mark Carp will discuss his new novel, The End of Hell, the story of a man who has experienced life to the fullest as he has seen everything from the storming of Normandy Beach to the bombing of the World Trade Centers in NYC on 9/11/01. And, at 3:00 p.m., Steven Luxemberg will talk about Annie's Ghosts: A Journey into a Family Secret, a non-fiction book that is part detective story, part social history, and part memoir about his mother's decision to hide the existence of a disabled sister. Join us for a stimulating exploration into the nature of family secrecy. For reservations or more information, call 410-732-6400 x 214 or idackmanalon@jewishmuseummd.org.

Also, on Monday 7 December, the JMM and BJC are co-sponsoring with the Baltimore Hebrew Institute (BHI) at Towson University, The Phenomena of Holocaust Denial and the New Antisemitism at 7:00 p.m. in Hawkins Hall. The program features Ephraim Kaye, Director of International Seminars for Educators at Yad Vashem, Israel. The JMM/BJC/ BHI team looks forward to collaborating on many more programs focused on the Shoah. RSVP to lchandler@baltjc.org to receive a parking code for free parking at a nearby lot.

The JMM Program Committee, chaired by JMM Trustee Carol Glusman, met on Tuesday evening to continue discussions on enhancement of the visitor experience at the Museum and to review ideas for new modes of orientation. This was, as usual, a fruitful discussion. Our thanks to all of the participants.

COLLECTIONS: Archivist Jennifer Vess reports that she has reached 94.4% in the archives inventory. Jennifer spent much of this week scanning institutional archive photographs, partly due to a need for images of past LSS archaeology for The Synagogue Speaks. To date we have complete catalog records with attached images for 804 Lloyd Street Synagogue photographs. Jennifer has also been gathering objects, which will be photographed by Shelby for an exhibition interactive for The Synagogue Speaks. Senior Collections Manager Jobi Zink spent time on the paperwork for three outgoing loans this week, including the loan of 14 styrofoam heads to the Gregg Museum of Art and Design at North Carolina State University.

EDUCATION: On Sunday 22 November, the Jewish Downtown Families made their first visit to the Museum in a series of monthly programs. Additionally, a group of 4th graders and their parents from Beth El toured the Museum and participated in the Paving Our Way: Early Maryland Jewish Life, 1632 - 1845 resource kit program. Krieger Schechter Day School 3rd graders participated in their annual field trip on Monday 23 November. During their visit they participated in a scavenger hunt in the Lloyd Street Synagogue and toured Voices of Lombard Street.

VISITORS: On Sunday 29 November, a group of young Russian Jews from EZRA USA, based in New York, toured the Museum. In the afternoon, over 100 people attended a bat mitzvah reception for the Leventer family.

STAFF ACTIVITIES: On Thursday, Lauren Silberman attended the monthly Greater Baltimore History Alliance education and marketing meeting. Deborah Cardin and Jeanette Parmigiani were busy completing the final plans for the December 14th teacher-training workshop, Echoes and Reflections. More than 30 area teachers have registered for this program. Intern Jessica Levine began researching the history of property ownership and occupancy for the six lots comprised in our parcel at the corner of Lloyd and Lombard Streets; intern Nicole Paterson continued to plan for archaeology exhibits in The Synagogue Speaks; and intern Heather Besch began marketing our programs and resources to Jewish organizations throughout metropolitan Baltimore.


Best wishes to one and all for a delightful fall weekend and a peaceful Sabbath.

Avi

New Clip of Immigrant's Trunk performance

Actress Katherine Lyons portrays Ida Rehr in the Leo V. Berger Immigrant's Trunk
Courtesy of videographer Chris Smith

Contact Lauren Silberman, Education and Program Coordinator, at 410.732.6400 x229 or lsilberman@jewishmuseummd.org for more information.

Weekly Report 11.20.09

Dear Friends,

This has been an unusually busy and productive week for the Museum. Here are some highlights:


50th ANNIVERSARY: On Wednesday, Trustees Manuele Wasserman, Sarah Manekin, Carol Sandler, Judy Langenthal, and Duke Zimmerman, staff, and interns involved in the Museum's video interview initiative, Stories We Live By, met for a training session with consultant Jayne Guberman. Pilot interviews will be conducted this coming Sunday at Trader Joe's and later on at a second uptown location. Rachel Kassman convened a steering committee meeting for next year's Purim Pandemonium that included JMM Trustee Jonathan Mogol.


THE SYNAGOGUE SPEAKS: Anita Kassof and Deb Weiner continue to conduct research and to refine the script for our new Core Exhibition at the historic Lloyd Street Synagogue. The project team met this week with the prospective fabrication firm. Intern Nicole Paterson continues to plan for a hands-on archaeology element; staff are also working with Fr. Bob Albright and the CJE to create an interactive card game featuring religious objects. The public opening of The Synagogue Speaks is confirmed for Sunday 21 March; please mark your calendars!


LEADERSHIP: The JMM Finance and Development Committees met jointly on Monday evening to review our current budgets and fundraising progress. The joint committees also began discussion of projections for the coming fiscal year (FY2011).


EDUCATION: On Sunday 15 November, 60+ 6th graders and parents from Congregation Beth Or in Pennsylvania visited the Museum and participated in several programs on immigration. That afternoon, our second group from Kol Ha Lev brought children to experience the resource kit, Paving Our Way: Early Maryland Jewish Life, 1632 - 1845. On Tuesday, a group of 12 adults from Revitz House in Montgomery County toured the Museum, as did groups from the Kaleidoscope program with Roland Park Country School and Atrium Village on Thursday. On Wednesday, Deborah Cardin and Ilene Dackman-Alon participated in American Education Week at Baltimore City partner school Fallstaff Elementary by reading to two separate classes of students


Katherine Lyons portrayed Ida Rehr in the Leo V. Berger Immigrant's Trunk for 40+ 3rd graders at Kreiger Schecter Day School on Thursday and then for a group of 24 3rd graders from Calverton School at the Museum on Friday. The Calverton School group also toured our exhibits.


A group of families attended our regularly scheduled Tot Shabbat program, held in conjunction with the JCC. Our next Tot Shabbat will be on Friday, December 4th and will feature Hands-On-Holiday Chanukah activities. To register, please contact Cindy Neuman at 410.356.5200 x344 or cneuman@jcc.org.


COLLECTIONS: Collections Committee Chair Duke Zimmerman reports that a dozen interesting items have recently been offered to the Museum for possible accession into the collections. Archivist Jenn Vess has completed 91% of the archives inventory and has just finished another new finding aid (we now total 180 finding aids-critical tools for all researchers). Deb Weiner sent two more cemetery lists to the Jewish On-Line Worldwide Burial Registry, a fully-searchable database used by people around the world. They now have 70 percent of the JMM's cemetery listings entered into their system.


STAFF ACTIVITIES: Deborah Cardin and Deb Weiner met with Thomas Howell and Patricia Anderson at the Maryland Historical Society to discuss possible joint publication projects. Education and program staff met with Molly Ross of Nana Projects to refine plans for our winter break family program taking place on 30 December. Nana Projects will be leading a shadow puppetry workshop using images from our Voices of Lombard Street exhibition as a backdrop. The program is designed for children aged 5-12.


This week, intern Jessica Levine has been researching the history of our lot at the corner of Lloyd and Lombard Streets. Jessica started with our in-house records and will be at the Maryland Room of the Enoch Pratt Free Library today. Holocaust Educator Jeanette Parmagiani spent time arranging speaking engagements for Holocaust survivors, doing preparation work for Lessons of the Shoah, the Holocaust Denial program at Towson (7 December), and a workshop at JMM (14 December).


Jobi Zink and I conferred with community leader Neil Gordon from Howard County on a prospective exhibition on Israel at the Howard County Library. On Tuesday, Anita Kassof and I met with Trustee Len Weinberg and architect John Srygley to brainstorm about scenarios for future expansion.


Program Director Ilene Dackman-Alon attended the Israel Education & Engagement Summit this past Monday evening which was held at the Park Heights JCC. Israel educators Michael Wegier and Jonny Ariel spoke to the summit about ways to engage American youth to care about Israel. Ilene facilitated a roundtable discussion on ways to engage youth through arts and culture. Ilene also attended "Knit One Learn Two" at Chizuk Amuno led by Melton educator Judy Meltzer. And, Education Coordinator Lauren Silberman attended the annual meeting and awards ceremony for Preservation Maryland at the Maryland Club on Wednesday 18 November.


That was the week that was. Best wishes to everyone for a peaceful Sabbath and an enjoyable fall weekend.

Avi

Education Video Update: Tot Shabbat and Immigrant's Trunk

The JMM has been hosting Tot Shabbat along with the Jewish Community Center on several Friday mornings. Here is some video from a recent Tot Shabbat program.




Interested in attending? We will have more Tot Shabbats, along with candlelighting, songs, Kiddush, and challah snack on Fridays, November 20, December 4 (also Hands on Holidays Chanukah!), and December 18th from 10:45 - 11:15am at the Museum (15 Lloyd Street / Baltimore 21202). Admission is free! Just rsvp to Cindy Neuman at cneuman@jcc.org or 410.356.5200 x344

***

One of our most popular programs is the Leo V. Berger Immigrant's Trunk: Living History Performance which features professional actors portraying actual Jewish immigrants to Baltimore at the turn of the 20th century. In this short clip, actress Katherine Lyons portrays Ida Rehr, who discusses becoming an American citizen. To find out about reserving this program, please contact Lauren Silberman at lsilberman@jewishmuseummd.org or 410.732.6400 x229.

Weekly Report 11.13.09

Dear Friends,

We continue to have very busy and productive work weeks at the Museum. Here are a few of the highlights:


PROGRAMS: The Steering Committee for Lloyd Street Synagogue Re-Opening, chaired by JMM vice President Jerry Doctrow, met with Deborah Cardin and Simone Ellin on Friday 13 November to develop plans for the LSS public opening and a VIP event at LSS. These twin programs will mark the kick-off of the Museum's 50th Anniversary year.


On Tuesday, the JMM program Committee, chaired by Carol Glusman, convened at the PH JCC to resume discussion about enhancement to the visitor experience. This was, as always, a lively and substantial conversation.


Actress Katherine Lyons performed for Covenant Guild, Inc., at their annual Membership Dinner, as Ida Rehr in The Leo V. Berger Immigrant's Trunk. Her very moving portrayal was very much appreciated by the audience.


On Sunday 8 November, the Sisterhood of B'nai Israel Congregation listened to JMM Research Historian & Family History Coordinator Deb Weiner present a Speakers Bureau presentation, sponsored by Attman's Delicatessen, about "Women in the Family Business." The talk touched on three Baltimore Jewish Women who were at the forefront of their family businesses: Rose Shanis of Rose Shanis Loans, Min Shavitz of Nates & Leon's Resturant, and Dora Silber of Silber's Bakery.


LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON: On Monday 9 November, JMM Trustee Larry Kamanitz hosted community leader Gail Bendit; Jim Blum, a long-time member and supporter; Greg Cantori, director of the Knott Foundation; Dr. Adam Gregerman, resident scholar at the Institute for Jewish and Christian Studies; and community leader Glenn Weinberg. As usual, conversation was lively and engaged. We thank our guests for an enjoyable visit.


VISITORS: On Sunday 8 November, the Museum hosted four Jewish congregations from a variety of geographic locations: Baltimore Hebrew, who brought their 6th graders; Temple Rodef Shalom from Virginia who brought their 7th graders; Temple B'nai Israel of Easton, Maryland who brought a range of ages; and Temple Sinai from Washington, DC, who brought a group of adults. On Thursday 12 November, Independence High School (Baltimore City Public School) brought another group of 9th graders to tour the Museum, while on Friday, a group of 5th graders from Patapsco Elementary (Baltimore City Public School) watched the Leo V. Berger Immigrant's Trunk before participating in Introduction to Judaism and Voices of Lombard Street programs.


EDUCATION: On Tuesday 10 November, the JMM was invited to participate in a full-day World War II-themed educational program at the Maryland Historical Society. More than 100 Baltimore City high school students (participating schools included Northwestern High School, Mergenthaler Vocational Tech, Forest Park High School, and Poly) spent the day exploring aspects of WWII and the Holocaust. In the morning, students had the opportunity to listen to personal testimony from Holocaust survivor Rubin Sztajer and WW II US Army veteran Sol Goldstein who participated in the liberation of Buchenwald. In the afternoon, the group split up to take part in a variety of activities. One of the groups participated in a Lives Lost, Lives Found photograph exploration activity facilitated by JMM education staff. Many thanks to Naomi Coquillon of the MdHS and Amy Rosenkrans of Baltimore City Public Schools for including us in this program.


On Wednesday 11 November, we held our first session of the Lessons of the Shoah high school interfaith initiative. Fr. Robert Albright and Rabbi Geoff Basik jointly provided a brief overview of the history of Judaism and Christianity, as they explored the Parting of the Way and how centuries of anti-Jewish discrimination promulgated by the Catholic church provides context for the Holocaust and the Nazis' antisemitic doctrine.


COLLECTIONS: Archivist Jennifer Vess reports that our inventory of archives and manuscripts has reached the 87.8% completion point; this long-term effort is part of the continuous process of raising standards in collections management by giving us greater intellectual control of our historical resources. Intern Heather Besch completed a draft transcription of Allan Hirsh II's oral history interview.


Collections volunteer Debbie Farthing named and photographed our mannequins on Wednesday, and on Thursday Collections Manager Jobi Zink added the records and photos to our database, as part of our effort to track exhibition display material. Jobi also compiled a list of audio tapes from the institutional archives and added those to the database


STAFF ACTIVITIES: We welcome Nicole Paterson, who started an internship in the Collections Department on Thursday. Nicole will receive her MA in Historical Studies from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County next month. At the Museum, she will help develop hands-on archaeology activities for The Synagogue Speaks exhibition.


Rachel Kassman organized a JMM table for the Jewish Health, Wealth and Lifestyle Expo in Pikesville this coming Sunday. Be sure to stop by and visit! On Tuesday 10 November, volunteer Robyn Hughes brought Dr. Linda Lee to the Museum to meet with the Education and Program departments to discuss the possibility of the Museum hosting a chess tournament for Baltimore City Public School students in the spring.


On Monday, Ilene Dackman-Alon attended an International Month Celebration sponsored by MSDE in Annapolis. Education leaders from around the State of Maryland and three countries celebrated International Education Month during the kick-off event that showcased international curricular programs and teacher exchanges in fine arts, social studies, and world languages. Storyteller Jennifer Rudick Zunikoff and our three storytellers from the JMM's latest educational initiative Student Immigration Stories, shared stories of their recent immigration experiences. Ilene also attended a meeting with representatives from The Jewish Salons, an international network that addresses Jewish identity through arts and culture. Currently, this project is being done in cities Amsterdam, Mexico City, Vienna, Budapest and Tel Aviv. The salons network connects young Jews from different communities by co-producing community events that present contemporary international Jewish culture.


On Tuesday. Anita Kassof and I met with Trustee Lee Rosenberg and architect John Srygley to discuss plans for the Museum's future expansion. Meanwhile, Rachel Kassman and Jennifer Vess are organizing a steering committee for the 2010 Purim Pandemonium, our annual young adult extravaganza.


Karen Falk, Deb Weiner, and Heather Besch were out at Trader Joe's in Pikesville this week, running a pilot for a video interview project we are calling Stories We Live By as part of the preparation for a training session next week with Dr. Jayne Guberman, a consultant on oral history.


Lots of other, ongoing activities took place, as well. I hope that everyone enjoys a peaceful Sabbath and a brisk, but clear fall weekend. Best to one and all.

Avi

Come Visit Us at the Jewish Health, Weath & Lifestyle Expo!

The Jewish Museum of Maryland will have a table at the Jewish Health, Wealth & Lifestyle Expo this Sunday, November 15th. Held at the Hilton in Pikesville from Noon to 5:00pm, we hope to see you there!

Check out www.jewishbusinessconnection.com to find out more!

Spring Semester Internship Announcements

Spring semester internships can begin as early as January 15, 2010

LIBRARY INTERN

The Jewish Museum of Maryland seeks a qualified graduate intern to assist in the Library department. The Library Intern will be responsible for entering a backlog of library materials into Past Perfect, conducting a full shelf read in the open stacks, and assisting with new acquisitions.

Interested students should be working toward a degree in history, art history, material culture, Jewish studies, museum studies, or library science. Previous museum or library experience is not required. The internship is 12 weeks long and requires a minimum of 8 hours/week. This internship can be used for academic credit.

Please send a cover letter, resume, availability and list of three references to Ms. Rachel Kassman, Photo Archivist and Librarian, Jewish Museum of Maryland, 15 Lloyd Street, Baltimore MD 21202 or to rkassman@jewishmuseummd.org. Please include “Library Intern” in your subject line. Applications will be reviewed as received.

JMM PHOTO INTERN

The Jewish Museum of Maryland seeks a qualified intern to assist in the photo archives. The Photo Intern will be responsible for processing, cataloging and digitizing the photographic collections of the museum. The photo intern may also be asked to assist with other collections tasks such as photographing objects, exhibition de-installation, exhibition installation, and photographing museum events.

Interested students should be working toward a degree in history, art history, material culture, Jewish studies, museum studies, photography or library science. Previous museum or library experience is not required. The internship is 12 weeks long and requires a minimum of 8 hours/week. This internship can be used for academic credit.

Please send a cover letter, resume, availability and list of three references to Ms. Rachel Kassman, Photo Archivist and Librarian, Jewish Museum of Maryland, 15 Lloyd Street, Baltimore MD 21202 or to rkassman@jewishmuseummd.org. Please include “JMM Photo Intern” in your subject line. Applications will be reviewed as received.

BHU ARCHIVES INTERN

The Jewish Museum of Maryland seeks 1-2 qualified graduate interns to assist in the processing of the Baltimore Hebrew University archive collection.

Interested students should be working toward a degree in archival science, library science or history with an archives concentration. Equivalent experience outside an academic environment may be substituted. Previous museum or library experience is not required. The internship is 12 weeks long and requires a minimum of 10 hours/week. There is a small stipend available for these internship, dependent on number of hours worked. This internship can also be used for academic credit.

Please send a cover letter, resume, availability and list of three references to Ms. Jennifer Vess, Acting Archivist, Jewish Museum of Maryland, 15 Lloyd Street, Baltimore MD 21202 or to jvess@jewishmuseummd.org. Please include “BHU Archives Intern” in your subject line. Applications will be reviewed as received.

BHU PHOTO INTERN

The Jewish Museum of Maryland seeks a qualified intern to assist in the processing of the Baltimore Hebrew University photograph collection. The BHU photo intern will be primarily responsible for cataloging the photograph collection into Past Perfect and scanning images, as time permits.

Interested students should be working toward a degree in history, art history, material culture, Jewish studies, museum studies, or library science. Previous museum or library experience is not required. The internship is 12 weeks long and requires a minimum of 8 hours/week. There is a small stipend available for this internship, dependent on number of hours worked. This internship can also be used for academic credit.

Please send a cover letter, resume, availability and list of three references to Ms. Rachel Kassman, Photo Archivist and Librarian, Jewish Museum of Maryland, 15 Lloyd Street, Baltimore MD 21202 or to rkassman@jewishmuseummd.org. Please include “BHU Photo Intern” in your subject line. Applications will be reviewed as received.

EXHIBITION INTERN

The Jewish Museum of Maryland seeks a qualified intern to assist in the Collections and Exhibitions department to work on an upcoming exhibition, Chosen Food: Cuisine, Culture and Jewish Identity. The exhibition intern will be responsible for visual and newspaper research for exhibition development, conducting and/or transcribing oral histories, cataloging new donations and loans, data entry, gallery preparation, and artifact handling.

Interested students should be working toward a degree in history, art history, material culture, Jewish studies, museum studies, or archival science. Previous museum or gallery experience is not required. The internship is 12 weeks long and requires a minimum of 8 hours/week. This internship can be used for academic credit.

To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, availability and list of three references to Ms. Karen Falk, Curator, Jewish Museum of Maryland, 15 Lloyd Street, Baltimore MD 21202 or to kfalk@jewishmuseummd.org. Please include “Exhibition Intern” in your subject line. Applications reviewed as received.

COLLECTIONS INTERN

The Jewish Museum of Maryland seeks a qualified intern to assist in the Collections and Exhibitions department to work on general collections management projects. Tasks include, but are not limited to: cataloging new donations and loans, processing archival collections, object photography, data entry, digitizing photographic collections, artifact handling, and conducting and/or transcribing oral histories.

Interested students should be working toward a degree in history, art history, material culture, Jewish studies, museum studies, or archival science. Previous museum or gallery experience is not required. The internship is 12 weeks long and requires a minimum of 8 hours/week. This internship can be used for academic credit.

Please send a cover letter, resume, availability and list of three references to Ms. Jobi Zink, Sr. Collections Manager, Jewish Museum of Maryland, 15 Lloyd Street, Baltimore MD 21202 or to jzink@jewishmuseummd.org. Please include “Collections Intern” in your subject line. Applications reviewed as received.

New Feature: JMM Weekly Report 11.06.09

JMM Weekly Report
From the Desk of Avi Decter, Executive Director
November 6, 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,

This has been an eventful, productive week at the Museum. On Sunday, the JMM welcomed the Baltimore Chapter of Brandeis Women for a private program with noted scholar Dr. Melvin Urofsky, who has just published Louis D. Brandeis: A Life. Following his morning lecture, Dr. Urofsky spoke at a public program and book-signing. On Monday, the Lloyd Street Synagogue Steering Committee, chaired by JMM Trustee Lee Rosenberg, held its final Phase 2 progress meeting, marking the conclusion of our $1 million restoration project. Also on Monday, we held our quarterly Board meeting, with a lively discussion about budgets. On Tuesday, the Museum sponsored the Herbert and Irma Risch Memorial Program at Patterson Park Charter School (more below). And so on. Here are some other highlights of the week that was:


GIFTS: I am delighted to report that the Herbert Bearman Foundation (Drs. Sheldon and Arlene Bearman, Trustees) have committed $18,000 to support the re-dedication of Lloyd Street Synagogue, the kick-off event in our 50th Anniversary programming, and to provide General Operating Support. We are very appreciative of the Bearman Family's continuing generous support and encouragement.


PROGRAMS: On Monday and Tuesday, the JMM hosted patrons Frank and Helen Risch during their recent visit to Baltimore. On Monday, the Risches participated in a class at Patterson High School and met with the students who are sharing the stories of their journeys to America with other students. The JMM is working with storyteller Jennifer Rudick Zunikoff and intern Tamara Filipovic on this educational initiative. On Tuesday, three student storytellers from Somalia, Uzbekistan, and Togo shared their stories of immigration at an assembly of 160 students and 30 invited guests at Patterson Park Charter School, one of the JMM's Museum-School partners. The Herbert B. and Irma B. Risch Memorial Program Coming to America - Then and Now featured Student Immigration Stories and a presentation of the Leo V. Berger Immigrant's Trunk. The Risch Memorial Program is funded through the generous support of the Frank & Helen Risch Philanthropic Fund at THE ASSOCIATED. This was a wonderful event


The Museum's October 29th program at the Park Heights JCC, Finding Refuge: The Holocaust and Latin America, was an enlightening and enjoyable program. The group of 43 participants, who included Holocaust survivors, area teachers, members of the Baltimore Jewish Council's Hispanic Dialogue, and the Latino Providers Network, listened intently as speaker Christina Chavarria from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) explained Latin America's unique role in Holocaust history: notoriously sheltering fleeing Nazi criminals and, more significantly, accepting Jewish refugees from Hitler's Europe. Jewish refugees and their lives in Latin America represent a new focus by the USHMM. As a result of this gathering, Christina was also able to collect family names, contributing to the USHMM's research and Registry of Survivors. A follow up program, featuring a trip to the USHMM, is planned for spring 2010. The program was moderated by Lois Rosenfeld of The American Jewish Committee.


On Friday, the JCC and JMM partnered for a Tot Shabbat Program geared for downtown families of very young children. Participants listened to a Shabbat Story, sang and danced to Shabbat songs and finished the morning with juice and challah for snack. These Tot Shabbat programs are part of the JCC's program, "JCC Beyond the Borders" funded by the The Jacob & Hilda Blaustein Fund for the Enrichment of Jewish Education. Also on Friday, B'nai Israel Young Adults will hold a Shabbat dinner in our lobby.


COLLECTIONS: The oral history archive of the Museum received a gift of two hours of tapes about Ner Israel Yeshiva in the 1970's when it was located on Garrison Boulevard. The interview of Jonathan Zylberman, a former Ner Israel student, was conducted and recorded by JMM special Project Consultant Dr. Barry S. Lever.


Collections volunteer Debbie Farthing photographed all of the cases, bases, vitrines, and platforms in the Museum. These images have been added to the database to further assist us in tracking our exhibition display materials. The collections staff held a lively meeting on Wednesday to discuss the library collecting policy. On Thursday the collections staff discussed their budget with Susan Press. Both meetings were very helpful and have made us more aware of how we can improve our collections spending and oversight.


EDUCATION: On Tuesday, Mother Mary Lange (Baltimore City Catholic School) brought around 35 middle school students to tour the Museum and listen to survivor Vera Kestenberg discuss her life in Hungary. On Thursday, Running Brook Elementary (Howard County Public School) brought 46 3rd graders to listen to the Leo V. Berger Immigrant's Trunk and tour the Museum. At a Wednesday session, seventh grade students at Chizuk Amuno's Kreiger-Schecter Day School, engaged Dr. Barry S. Lever, JMM Special Project Consultant, in an oral history interview to develop skills necessary to conduct successful oral histories of their own family members.


The Education Department met with JMM docents to discuss plans for the upcoming Synagogue Speaks exhibition in the Lloyd Street Synagogue. We also discussed ways of improving current tours for adult and student groups. Many thanks to Ilene Cohen for arranging the meeting and for our dedicated volunteer docents who attended.


STAFF ACTIVITIES: Thursday, Jobi Zink led a training session on Past Perfect for Mindy Glaser McShane, Heather Besch, and Jessica Levine. Jobi also began posting advertisements for winter and spring interns this week and interviewed one candidate.


Anita Kassof and Deb Weiner are completing the exhibition script for our new Core Exhibition, The Synagogue Speaks. Curator Karen Falk has been working on our Jewish foodways show, our projected Judaica exhibition, and a retrospective exhibition of work by artist Nancy Patz. Program Director Ilene Dackman-Alon with Harriet Lynn to discuss programming for the 50th anniversary year of the JMM. Deb Weiner, Rachel Kassman, and I reviewed layouts for our next issue of Generations magazine, and I sent in my final edits for a book review that will appear in American Jewish History.


All in all, a very exciting week for the Museum and the communities we serve. Best wishes for a peaceful Sabbath and lovely fall weekend to one and all.

Avi

Lloyd Street Synagogue and LEGOs?

Is the historic Lloyd Street Synagogue (1845) related to LEGOs ^®? You decide!



Photo courtesy of board member Duke Zimmerman.

Waah!

Jobi is SO SAD! Why so sad Jobi?

I miss the interns! And it’s not just because I need someone to flip my desk calendar (time has frozen since August 19^th),

to file my closed-out loan folders (a nice big pile is mounting – see the pencil pup for reference!), and to make phone calls to lenders about retrieving their materials!

I miss all of their energy and enthusiasm; their delight as they discover fun, interesting (and sometimes bizarre) items in the collection; the pencil competitions; conversations at the picnic tables outside…

Sure, interns take a lot of time and work: staff has to train them to be the little collection managers/curators/educators of tomorrow. We need to answer questions that often seem self explanatory (but only until we realize we’ve been doing our job for years and it really ISN’T that obvious!), try and arrange for cool field trips and remember to bring in the occasional snack. But interns help us be more efficient, more productive and better behaved (we have to set a good example you know!).

Who is going to scan that photo for the next issue of Generations magazine? Who is going to help put together the packets for the board retreat? Who will run downstairs and complete object measurements? Who will eat all of these delicious cupcakes…?

My piles have grown, the data entry is mounting, and there are projects just itching to be worked on. Bottom line: we need a few hardy interns to brave Baltimore’s winter weather (and welcome in the spring!) in our collections and exhibition department. If you can get to the museum 1 or 2 times per week we want you! Work for class credit, to build up volunteer hours or simply for the joy of getting to pick your own awesome pencil from the cup on my desk!

Interested? (And why wouldn’t you be!?!) Send me, Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and official Intern wrangler, an email at jzink@jewishmuseummd.org, and let’s talk!

Student Immigration Stories

The Baltimore Jewish Times recently. wrote a great story about our student immigration stories program. Check it out here!

One more day to eat in the Sukkah!

Tomorrow, Friday - from 11 - 2pm - will be the last day that the sukkah at B'nai Israel Synagogue will be open during the week for people to enjoy for lunch. Please visit www.jewishdowntown.org for more information. Visiting is free but please bring your own lunch. Additionally, it is the last day that the Chabad sukkah at Power Plant, 601 E Pratt St (on the right side of the Hard Rock Cafe) will be open. Please visit http://www.chabaddowntown.net for additional information.