THE JEWISH MUSEUM OF NEW JERSEY (JMNJ) was founded in 2003 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in the State of New Jersey.  The museum is housed at Congregation Ahavas Sholom, a state and national landmark and the oldest continually active synagogue in Newark.

 
HOW DID IT ALL BEGIN?

The concept for a Jewish museum emerged after visits by founder and former Board President Joseph Selzer to the Jewish Museum of Florida which is located in a restored 1936 synagogue in Miami Beach.  Subsequently, it was realized that the State of New Jersey, which has the fourth largest Jewish population in the country and can trace its Jewish roots to the 17th century, did not have a permanent state-wide museum to preserve and exhibit the state’s Jewish history.  To fill this void, Mr. Selzer formed a small group of interested individuals to provide the leadership for the establishment of a Jewish museum in New Jersey. 

WHY DO WE NEED A JEWISH MUSEUM IN NEW JERSEY?

Almost one-half million people in New Jersey are Jewish - the 4th largest in the country.  Organized Jewish communities exist in all of the state’s 21 counties.  Jews on an ongoing basis have made major contributions in the state.  The Museum will have an important impact on the Jewish residents throughout New Jersey.  By creating The Jewish Museum of New Jersey, the state will have its first centralized location with permanent, rotating, and traveling installations for the research, preservation, and exhibition of more than 400 years of Jewish history in New Jersey.  No other organization has undertaken such a unique and substantial endeavor. 

In addition, children and adults, Jewish and non-Jewish, will benefit from the Museum’s projects and presentations on tolerance and diversity, historical tours of “old Jewish Newark,” and inter-faith programs with local churches and mosques.  The Museum will also serve as a dynamic contributor to the revitalization of its neighborhood, the rebirth of the 100-year-old Ahavas Sholom congregation, and the renaissance taking place in the state’s largest city.  

It will also be an exciting addition to the cultural fabric of Newark as it joins the Newark Museum, The Newark Public Library, the NJ Historical Society, the Newark History Society, the NJ Performing Arts Center, and the Prudential Center as premiere educational and artistic venues in the city.

 To the Jewish community throughout New Jersey, the creation of a state-wide Jewish Museum is a long-awaited and welcomed development.

WHAT ARE OUR PLANS FOR THE MUSEUM?

The Museum includes space for permanent, rotating and traveling exhibitions; a small library and media center; an office; and a gift shop.  Presentations at the Museum will have themes that resonate with Jewish people in New Jersey utilizing photographs, paintings, panel displays, artifacts, text, music and multi-media.  Exhibits might feature such topics as local Holocaust survivors, Jewish immigration in the state, Newark’s Jewish community, history of Sephardim in NJ, Jewish farmers in South Jersey, role of NJ Jews in the civil rights movement, Jewish film moguls in NJ, popular Jewish resorts like Bradley Beach, Lakewood and Mount Freedom, and the many Jewish individuals who have distinguished themselves in sports, entertainment, literature, education, government, labor, industry, and the military.

Moreover, the JMNJ will serve a larger purpose, developing educational and cultural programs that promote greater understanding between individuals representing different backgrounds and religions.  It will reach out to other groups, creating meaningful conversations and activities around topics such as cultural diversity, social justice, prejudice, nonviolence, and shared religious values. 

Moreover, it will form partnerships and develop age-appropriate activities for public, private and parochial school students.  The location of the Museum in a city with many ethnic and religious groups provides a wonderful opportunity to establish itself as the first center for the study of tolerance in New Jersey.

WHY IS THE MUSEUM HOUSED AT AHAVAS SHOLOM IN NEWARK?

Congregation Ahavas Sholom, which last year celebrated its Centennial milestone, represents a unique story of survival in a city that now has few Jewish residents.  During the past 15 years, the synagogue has experienced a rebirth with a diverse membership of more than 300 – some who come from Iran, Sudan, Brazil and Peru.  The sanctuary, which is adorned by a magnificent wooden carved Holy Ark (the oldest in the state) will be a major Museum exhibit providing an outstanding example of how a small orthodox shul once looked. 

Recently, the outside of the synagogue building was restored, an elevator was installed, and a handicapped accessible ramp was completed.  Currently, funds are being raised for the restoration of the interior.  As the last surviving synagogue in Newark, it also serves as a the only remaining portal to Newark’s thriving Jewish community of year’s past when the Jewish population of Newark reached a high of 70,000 with more than 50 synagogues.  Today the city is viewed as the birthplace of Judaism in New Jersey. 

WHAT HAS THE MUSEUM ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR?

Currently in its startup phase, The Jewish Museum of New Jersey has been involved in tasks related to organization, development, public relations, and programming.  Its Board of Trustees have met with professional museum and fund raising consultants and tow years ago it hired its first Executive Director.  Numerous articles about the Museum have appeared in various newspapers, including the Star-Ledger and NJ Jewish News.  Its first newsletter was published in 2005 and a new professionally designed brochure has been completed.  In the near future, the Museum will unveil its new web site which will create New Jersey’s Jewish experience in “virtual reality.” 

During the past three years, the Museum has held three standing-room only events at Ahavas Sholom with the following presentations:  Rutgers University Professor Michael Rockford, the author (with Patricia Ard) of The Jews of New Jersey, A Pictorial History; Dr. Arthur Shapiro on the fascinating Jewish cooperative and artistic community in Roosevelt, NJ, and Civil Rights and Civil Unrest: Jews and Blacks in Conversation - centering on 1960's and beyond.  In addition, it sponsored a symposium for Jewish historians in the state of New Jersey.

In addition, the Museum offers tours of the Ahavas Sholom synagogue, and is planning a presentation and bus trip with the Newark Landmarks and Preservation Committee to three of Newark’s former historic synagogues, B’nai Abraham, B’nai Jeshurun and Oheb Shalom and the original YMHA building.   

Most recently, the Museum and synagogue completed the intial renovation of the 2nd floor space which will be used by the Museum.  New lighting was installed, walls were replaced, the ceiling was repaired and painted, and the original wood floor was sanded and stained. 

WHERE ARE FUNDS COMING FROM TO OPERATE THE MUSEUM?

Administrative and operational funding has been provided through memberships, small foundation grants from the Dodge Foundation and the Jewish Community Foundation, and individual contributions. 

IS THERE ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE MUSEUM?

The Museum is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums, the Council of American Jewish Museums, and the Jewish Museum of Florida and has affiliations with the Jewish Historical Society of MetroWest, the Jewish Historical Society of North Jersey, the Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey, the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County, the Newark Museum, the NJ Historical Society, The Newark Public Library, Rutgers University, and the Eldridge Street Project in NYC.  It also maintaines a relationship with Kean University’s Department of Jewish Studies.