Keneseth Israel: The Archives

On November 7, 1883, an exhibition organized by “May Wright Sewell, her husband Theodore, and a small group of art-minded citizens” (History, 2017) began what would one day become the establishment now known as the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Since that first exhibition, the IMA has gone through several identity changes. They were first named, the Art Association of Indianapolis. Their next identity was as the John Herron Art Institute, which opened a whole new chapter, as they became “a campus featuring both a museum and an art school.” (History, 2017) Today, the IMA is one of the largest encyclopedic art museums in the nation. The IMA has had various leadership and staff over the years that have lent to how the museum operates today.

Jews, nickname Jewish people, also called the Jewish people, belongs to the Sumerian, race to Europa Semitic race - including milt subspecies, is widely distributed in many countries around the world for a nation.According to Jewish law "card", the definition of all the people who were converted to Judaism (religious meaning), and by the son of a Jewish mother (national) belong to the Jews.The land of Israel, or Hebrew Jews originated in western Asia. The Jewish nation, has a strong correlation between culture and religion, Judaism is to maintain all the Jewish identity between traditional religion.Judaism does not welcome foreign converts to foreigners must pass the test can be converted to Judaism, though in the history of the world, there

Torah Scrolls: This object is the most significant to the Synagogue, which is made up of the five books of Moses hand written by a pious scribe. The scrolls are kept inside an Ark of each synagogue and are read aloud in all synagogues four times a week.

On February 7th we visited the Lane County Historical Museum. Faith Kreskey, the exhibits curator, facilitated the tour, and gave us an inside look at her job and the challenges of the museum. Topics included: staffing, collections care, facilities, budgeting, the museum’s recent history, community partnerships, and exhibits.

Jewish American Heritage Month celebrates the achievements of Jewish Americans, fosters pride among the American Jewish community, and aims to educate and enlighten a wider audience about the achievements

The museum has a collection of more than 54,000 works and a calendar full of public programs and events, exciting and engaging exhibitions, and more. The IMA invites visitors from Indianapolis elsewhere to explore the connections between art, design, and the natural environment. The museum is committed to serving the creative interests of the Indiana community by providing dynamic and enriching experiences through vibrant and diverse programs and venues. These programs are executed with the museum’s expertise and research capabilities in art, historic and environmental preservation, conservation, education, nature, and science and technology. The Indianapolis Museum of Art has built significant and sustained partnerships with other local and statewide arts, education and community organizations that strengthen and impact the state of Indiana in positive ways.

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which was initially made in 1947, represents one of the most important archeological discoveries made in the twentieth century. In the caves of the cliffs overhanging the northwestern end of the Dead Sea, in an area now known as Khirbet Qumran, a number of large clay jars containing more than six hundred ancient Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts were discovered by some travelling Bedouins. These manuscripts were attributed to the members of a previously unknown Jewish brotherhood, and were written approximately between the years of 100BCE and 68CE. While these scrolls provide scientists and historians with a window into a previously undiscovered community,

Though there are several factors that I considered when deciding where to do my fieldwork paper, I chose Beth Israel Synagogue located in Lexington Park, Maryland primarily for accessibility. St. Mary’s County is a rural area with a predominately Christian population. As I begin to search for a congregation with beliefs which differed from my Catholic beliefs, I did not have many options in the immediate area. The nearest Buddhist, Hindu, or Sikh congregations are located in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore; both areas are at least an hour and half drive from my house. Within the Southern Maryland area, there are a few synagogues and Islamic temples. Location limited my choices to the Jewish and Islamic faiths as choices. Though I would have loved to visit the Islamic temple as well, I chose Beth Israel Synagogue because it was located closer to my house than the Islamic temple in Calvert County.

Ever since the early 17th century, the Jews in Philadelphia have been striving to become an important part of the American society, while staying true to their roots. Although the Jews faced exile from their homelands of Portugal and Spain, they were able to build and sustain a strong Jewish community within Philadelphia and pave the way for future generations through extensive actions throughout the community. They built hundreds of Jewish schools, Community Centres, synagogues and established many congregations. They became strongly involved in the American society and paved the way for many of America’s moral codes (Telushkin). There are currently 275, 850 Jews in Philadelphia, making it one of the strongest Jewish communities in the United States (Levine).

The Paradesi Synagogue hold most the ritual objects gathered during the duration of the Black and White Cochins of India. Whether given or created by the affluent Indian-Jewish community, it had been secured within the Synagogues. According to the Jewish Museum, the Torah Case finial had been discovered during the 18th and 19th century. The uniqueness of their Torah Case Finial is the usage of Gold to create it, which indicates the Indian influence within Judaism, one of the reasons why this certain Finial was displayed in the museum because of its golden decor. The significance of this ceremonial object was to dress the Torah, which represented the law of God. The Jewish religion follows the Torah in order to remain a good

Both the previously mentioned Holocaust museums have archives and exhibits that preserve, not the loss caused by the events of the Shoah, but the success and on-going life of the victims. The Jewish Museum in Berlin holds a traditional museum collection that is meant to educate people on ‘the richness and vibrancy of Jewish cultural history’ (Univeristy, 2015). This use of conventional museographic means is capable of representing the loss felt in the Jewish community through remembering and documenting the history and accomplishments of the Jewish

A Jewish burial service is recognized by its straightforwardness, modesty, and seriousness. Its general arrangement has not changed for more than four thousand years. It is typically held inside of 24 hours of passing, however no later than three days. The mitzva of going with the dead to the last resting spot is so extraordinary it supersedes all other mitzvot, including Torah study. Be that as it may, before the memorial service can happen, the body of the perished must be arranged for internment as per Jewish convention. A Jewish memorial service is recognized by its straightforwardness, quietude, and seriousness. Its general arrangement has not changed for more than four thousand years. It is typically held inside of 24 hours of passing,

There was a group of people wanting to organize a preservation group. The headline in the local paper read, “Meeting Planned Friday to Organize Historical Society.” “Its purpose to be the preservation of historical data and historical spots.”9 Clarence Jones was one of the first members of the Licking County Historical Society. Their organization started in 1867. They must have made a great effort for preservation. However, with the aforementioned events, I find it difficult for them to carry out their purpose.

On Saturday, February Fourth, I went to a morning Shabbat service at the synagogue “Temple Beth Sholom” off of Wickham rode, Melbourne Florida. My mother had attended the local children’s hunger project fundraiser held at the synagogue and is relatively familiar with it. I chose to go to the synagogue because Judaism is the oldest living monotheistic religion. It was also convenient to go on Saturday morning.

On Visit number two I attended a Jewish morning service in a Temple. I went along with Brady and we went to the Temple Beth Israel. We walked in and sat down in the booths. The service was led by Rabbi Bruce Benson. A Rabbi, I learned, is a Jewish scholar or teacher appointed by other Jewish leaders. We had come on what they called Shabbat Morning, it was a special service because it was to celebrate a young girl named Elexis Goldberg on her Bat Mitzvah. A Bat Mitzvah is a Jewish tradition that celebrates a young man or women coming of age.