Jewish Museum of Maryland facts for kids
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Lloyd Street Synagogue (left), the museum (center) and B'nai Israel Synagogue (far right)
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| Established | 1960 |
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| Location | Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Public transit access | Shot Tower |
The Jewish Museum of Maryland is in the Jonestown area of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. This museum shares the story of Jewish people in Baltimore and all over Maryland. It shows what life was like for them in America.
Contents
Discovering Jewish History and Culture
The Jewish Museum of Maryland is a top place to learn about Jewish history and culture. It has two main areas, called galleries, where new exhibits are often shown. These exhibits cover interesting topics from Baltimore and across the country.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum collects many cool things! Its collections include:
- Works of art
- Old photographs
- Clothing
- Special Jewish ceremonial art used in Jewish traditions
- Rare books
- Everyday objects
- Important documents
- Recorded stories from people (oral histories)
- Memorabilia, which are items that remind people of past events
The museum first opened its doors in 1960.
Exploring Historic Synagogues
This museum is special because it is the only one in America with two historic synagogues. These old buildings have been saved and are open for everyone to visit.
- The first synagogue is the Lloyd Street Synagogue. It was designed in a Greek Revival style by Robert Cary Long Jr. and finished in 1845.
- The second is the B'nai Israel Synagogue. Henry Berge designed it in a Moorish Revival style, and it was finished in 1876.
Both synagogues are in an old Jewish neighborhood. They tell the stories of two big waves of Jewish immigrants who came to Baltimore. Baltimore was the second largest port for people moving to the United States.
Inside these restored synagogues, you can see many interesting things:
- A matzoh oven, used for baking special bread.
- Mikvehs, which are ritual baths.
- A beautiful, hand-carved Torah Ark, where holy scrolls are kept.
- Women's balconies, which are separate seating areas.
- An active archaeology dig, where people are still discovering old items.
The B'nai Israel Synagogue is still used today by about 200 families. They have services every Shabbat (the Jewish day of rest) and on Jewish Holy Days.
Where to Find the Museum
The Jewish Museum of Maryland is located at 15 Lloyd Street in Baltimore. It's only a 10-minute walk from the National Aquarium in the Inner Harbor.
The museum is closed on certain Jewish festivals and holy days. These include:
- Rosh Hashana
- Yom Kippur
- Sukkot
- Shemini Atzeret
- Simchat Torah
- The first two and last two days of Passover
- Shavuot
Museum Updates
The museum was closed for renovations from June 12, 2023, until February 2, 2025. It has since reopened.
In 2024, David Rubenstein, who owns the Baltimore Orioles baseball team, gave $1.5 million to the museum. This generous donation helps the museum continue its important work.
