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Fourth Annual Florida Jewish History Month Begins Next Week

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By David Morris - FJN Editor

Restored first synagogue of Miami Beach to become newest part of Jewish Museum


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With the historic restoration of Miami Beach’s first synagogue, Congregation Beth Jacob as its theme, the fourth annual observance of Florida Jewish History Month (FJHM) will kick-off at 10:30 am on Sunday, January 7, 2007 at the Jewish Museum of Florida. The museum’s building-- a 1936 historic structure with 77 stained glass windows, marble bimah and Art Deco chandeliers—was itself once a synagogue. In 2007, the museum will expand into the original 1929 synagogue, Miami Beach’s first, and a glass-domed roof will connect the two buildings that are both on the National Register of Historic Places.

The museum’s recently installed president, Ira D. Giller, explained that the opening will feature a special exhibition about the eighty-year-old congregation that played such a critical role in Miami Beach’s early Jewish history. Beginning in 1929, Beth Jacob occupied the structure at 311 Washington Avenue and in 1936 moved into the adjacent building, designed by Henry Hohauser, at 301 Washington Avenue (which now houses the museum).

"The keynote speakers for the celebration will be Ted and Jonathan Nelson. The Nelson family has been involved with Congregation Beth Jacob since 1933 and is immensely versed in the history and personalities of the congregation," Giller said. "At this event the museum will award cash prizes to the winners of our student creative writing and art project competition. This contest asked Miami Beach students at all levels to submit entries inspired by the historic relevance of the synagogue."

The concept for Florida Jewish History Month began at the Jewish Museum of Florida, which collects, preserves and interprets the Jewish experience in Florida since 1763. Marcia Zerivitz, the Museum’s Founding Executive Director and Chief Curator, worked closely with legislators to translate the museum’s mission into a statewide observance.

"It seemed appropriate to honor Jewish contributions to the state, as 16 percent of the American Jewish community lives in Florida," Zerivitz said. "But while Florida hosts the nation’s third largest Jewish community, it is perceived as having a relatively young Jewish history starting in earnest only after World War II."

Since Florida was owned by Spain from 1513, it was "for Catholics only." In reality, Jews and any people other than Catholics have been allowed to live in the state only since 1763 when Florida was taken from the Spanish and turned over to the British in the Treaty of Paris following the French and Indian War. The first Jews settled in Pensacola that year. David Levy Yulee, a Jew, brought Florida into statehood in 1845, served as its first U.S. senator and was the first person of Jewish ancestry to serve in the U.S. Congress.

"Among the myriad of ethnic groups that have passed through our State over the last 500 years, Jews are notable for remaining here and retaining their identity," Zerivitz said. "Like other groups, Jews have actively participated in shaping the destiny of Florida and the month of January has now become the appointed time to reflect on the significant contributions Floridian Jews have made."

Zerivitz says the first three years of commemoration have been so successful in terms of developing curricula for schools that the museum’s materials were recently approved by the Miami-Dade County Public School Board and are to be distributed to all counties in Florida. In fact, the success of Florida Jewish History Month inspired the legislation for Jewish American Heritage Month, observed in May with a Proclamation signed by President George Bush in April 2006.



In preparation for the month of activities, Zerivitz posted remarks addressed to the Jewish community on the museum’s website. Below are several excerpts:



…This is a critical time in Jewish history. Based on old prejudices and slanders, anti-Semitism is growing throughout the world, on college campuses and in our communities. The number of Jews around the globe is diminishing. World Jewry is down to 12.9 million of 6 billion people and the world’s largest Jewish population, in the United States, is shrinking. We are 5.2 million and have lost 500,000 Jews in the last decade.

Sixteen percent of our nation’s Jews live in Florida so we have a huge responsibility to help insure Jewish continuity. Rabbis tell us that if our memories are Jewish, we will be Jewish. Jewish educators tell us that to sustain our people and attract Jews to stay Jewish, especially our youth, we need more knowledge and more sense of pride.

During the month of January, please make a special effort to come to the museum and discover for yourselves what the Florida Jewish community has accomplished and how they maintained the rich traditions of our heritage. The museum is saving Florida Jewish cultural history and at the same time forging the next link in the chain of Jewish continuity.

And when you visit, think about bringing your own photographs and artifacts so that your own family story will be preserved for the next generations. In this way, there will be even more material evidence of the indelible footprints made by Jews in our great State.


Organizations interested in having a guest speaker for Florida Jewish History Month should contact the Museum at 305-672-5044 ext. 12. The Museum’s current temporary exhibit, Bonim: Jewish Developers Building Florida & Building Community runs through March 11, 2007. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Museum is located at 301 Washington Avenue, South Beach and is open daily 10 am to 5 pm except Mondays and civil and Jewish holidays. Admission is adults $6; seniors $5; families $12. Members and children under 6 are free and admission on Saturday is free. For information, visit: http://www.jewishmuseum.com.


Posted by David Morris - FJN Editor on 12/29 at 01:00 AM • Hits: 498



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