Maltz Museum facts for kids
The Maltz Museum is a special place in Beachwood, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. It's a museum that teaches about the history of the Jewish community in the Cleveland area. It also celebrates the many different experiences of people everywhere. The museum opened on October 11, 2005.
The Maltz Museum has two main collections: An American Story and The Temple - Tifereth Israel Gallery. These exhibits share personal stories using films, interactive computers, and special displays. You can see old items, art, documents, and pictures. The museum also brings in new exhibits that change often, and it hosts public events every week.
Milton Maltz, one of the museum's founders, had a company called The Malrite Company. This company helped create the museum. They also develop other exciting museum projects, like the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.
Contents
An American Story: Journeys of Jewish People
An American Story tells about the challenges and successes of Jewish people in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. It covers many generations, from the first European settlers in the 1800s to the people who live in the region today.
The Temple – Tifereth Israel Gallery: Traditions and Connections
The items shown in The Temple – Tifereth Israel Gallery highlight Jewish traditions and rituals. They also show how Judaism connects with other faiths. This gallery displays 175 valuable items from The Temple-Tifereth Israel's large collection of Jewish religious objects and fine art.
Special Exhibitions: Exploring Different Stories
The museum has a large gallery for special exhibitions. These changing exhibits come from all over the world or are created by the Maltz Museum itself. Here are some examples of past exhibitions:
- The Jewish Journey: Frederic Brenner's Photographic Odyssey (October 2005 - January 2006): This exhibit showed 115 photographs that highlighted the many different Jewish people around the world.
- Deadly Medicine: Creating The Master Race (September 2007 - January 2008): This exhibit from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum explored Nazi eugenics. It used photos, copies of documents, real items, films, and stories from people who saw these events. The Maltz Museum also created Where Would You Draw The Line? for this time. It asked visitors seven questions about modern medical ethics.
- Zap! Pow! Bam! The Superhero, The Golden Age of Comics (September 2008 - January 2009): This exhibit looked at the history of superheroes through old artwork, rare early comic books, and toys. It especially focused on Superman, the very first superhero, who was created by people from Cleveland.
- The Nazi Olympics Berlin 1936 (October 2010 - January 2011): This exhibit, also from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, showed how world politics, sports, and racism came together in Germany. It explored topics like how the Nazis used propaganda, the debate about boycotting the games, and the amazing performance of Jesse Owens.
- Violins of Hope (October 2015 - January 2016): This special exhibit featured violins that survived the Holocaust. A man named Amnon Weinstein restored them. These instruments were often played during the exhibition. The exhibit showed the strength of the human spirit and the power of music.
- Operation Finale: The Capture & Trial of Adolf Eichmann (February 2016 - July 2016): This exhibit was shown for the first time at the Maltz Museum. It used photos, films, and recently declassified spy items. It told the secret story behind the daring capture and public trial of a main person responsible for the plan to harm Jewish people during World War II.
Survivor Talks: Learning from History
The museum focuses on remembering a very dark time in human history. This was when the Nazi regime in Germany carried out terrible acts against Jewish people, Roma, and many others in Europe. The museum remembers these events through items, pictures, and the voices of men and women who survived. They share their stories of strength and bravery with students.
School Tours: Education for Young People
Every year, the Maltz Museum welcomes more than 7,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. These students come from many different types of schools. Young people of all backgrounds learn about the history of Northeast Ohio and the experiences of immigrants who helped build the region. They also learn about Jewish customs and traditions. The museum teaches about the ongoing fight to end discrimination and create a more welcoming society for everyone. Many students receive free transportation and admission if they need it. All student tours follow Ohio's learning standards for social studies, language arts, and fine arts. This means museum programs help young people think critically and talk about important issues in today's world. Students are also encouraged to be themselves and think about how they can make the world a better place.
Notable Programs: Making a Difference
The Maltz Museum offers special programs that help people connect and learn.
- Stop the Hate®: This program celebrates students in grades 6-12 across Northeast Ohio. These young people take action to create a more accepting and inclusive society. The Maltz Museum challenges students to think about how intolerance affects people and how each person can make a change. By encouraging students to be leaders, Stop the Hate® reflects Jewish values of being a good citizen and respecting all people. Since this program started, over 20,000 students have spoken out against discrimination. The Maltz Museum has given out $800,000 in scholarships and grants to support anti-bias programs.
- Begin the Conversation: This series started in 2014. It helps people from all faiths and backgrounds meet and talk about their differences and shared values. These programs encourage discussion on current topics. They include guest speakers, film screenings, and musical performances. Topics have included Arab-American heritage, LGBTQ issues, and discussions between different faiths. The goal is to offer new ideas for audiences to consider, to listen, to ask questions, and to understand different opinions.
- Jewish American Heritage Month Ceremony: This is an annual event held at Cleveland City Hall every May since 2010. It includes speeches from leaders like Mayor Frank G. Jackson and honors early Jewish city councilmen in Cleveland.
- Jesse Owens Way Street Dedication: On November 15, 2010, a street in Downtown Cleveland was named after Jesse Owens. This was connected to the museum's exhibition The Nazi Olympics Berlin 1936.
See also
- Jews and Judaism in Cleveland
