JMM Blog FAQ

BLOG FAQs

What is a blog?

A blog is an online diary. Most blogs are kept for personal reasons, but more and more businesses and organizations are using them to keep their employees, patrons, customers, and colleagues informed about a wide variety of topics.

What is a feed, and how do I sign up for it?

This blog uses FeedBurner, and you can click here to see an explanation of feeds, how you sign up for them, and how the content will be delivered to you.

Can I contribute to the blog?

Yes, we would love to hear from you! Do you have a story to share? Do you have a question that you would like us to answer? Please send all of your questions and comments to Rachel Kassman (rkassman@jewishmuseummd.org) or Elena Rosemond-Hoerr (erosemondhoerr@jewishmuseummd.org), and we’ll make sure it gets to the right person (or answer it ourselves)

JMM FAQs

What is the JMM?

The Jewish Museum of Maryland is America's leading museum of regional Jewish history, culture and community. The Museum interprets the Jewish experience in America, with special attention to Jewish life in the state of Maryland. The Museum was founded in 1960 to rescue and restore the historic Lloyd Street Synagogue, and has become a cultural center for the Jewish community and for those interested in Jewish history and traditions.

Today, the Museum campus includes the historic Lloyd Street and B'nai Israel Synagogues and a modern museum building with exhibition galleries, program areas, a research library, museum shop, and meeting rooms. Through our collections, exhibitions, sites and programs, we encourage discourse about Jewish life in Maryland and beyond.

Can I volunteer at the JMM?

Absolutely! Please contact Ilene Cohen (icohen@jewishmuseummd.org or 410.732.6400 x 217) for more information.

Do you have a calendar of events?

Yes, we do. Please click this link for more information about upcoming events: http://www.jewishmuseummd.org/events-programs

LSS FAQs

What is the LSS project?

The JMM is currently renovating and restoring the historic Lloyd Street Synagogue (LSS). The synagogue was built in 1845 and has undergone over a century and a half of changes. We are working to bring those changes to light in an exhibit that utilizes both the historic fabric of the building itself as well as items from the JMM’s extensive collection.

Who is funding the project?

For the restoration of the LSS, the JMM has received funding from the city of Baltimore, the state of Maryland, and the Save America’s Treasures program of the National Park Service. We are also coordinating all activities with Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) and the Commission for Historical & Architectural Preservation (CHAP) to ensure that we adhere to all of the guidelines for historic propertiesFor the exhibition, the JMM has received grants from MHT, the Museums for America program and the Institute for Museum Library Services (IMLS), and from Charlotte Cohen Weinberg and Carroll Weinberg, M.D.

What is the timeline for the renovation?

The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009 and will open in 2010 as part of the JMM’s 50^th anniversary celebrations.

Why renovate at all?

The congregations who have called the building on Lloyd Street “home” made many changes to the structure during its long history. As the custodians of the LSS, we want to make that rich cultural history available to our patrons. We are also taking this opportunity to improve the preservation and safety of the building.

What will happen after the renovation is complete?

The LSS will house a permanent exhibit regarding its own history and the history of the congregations that called it home. The sanctuary will remain open for viewing and tours during public hours.

What is the (brief) history of the building?

The LSS was built in 1845 by a group of German Orthodox Jews who named their congregation Nidchei Yisrael The Scattered of Israel.” It was also known as Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. By 1860, Baltimore Hebrew had grown to such an extent that the building was expanded to its current size. In 1889, the LSS was sold to St. John the Baptist, a Lithuanian Catholic congregation. In 1905, the building was sold to Shomrei Mishmeres HaKodesha group of Orthodox Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, who remained active until the late 1950s. In 1960 the building was scheduled for demolition, but a group of concerned citizens formed the Jewish Historical Society of Maryland to save the building from destruction.

Do you have a personal story about the LSS that you would like to share with us?

If so, we would love to hear from you! Please email Rachel Kassman (rkassman@jewishmuseummd.org), and she will work with you to get your story published to this blog!