Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience

The MSJE receives several unique and meaningful donations to our permanent collection throughout the year.  In addition to aiding our mission to document, preserve and interpret the Southern Jewish Experience, donations allow for future exhibits and museum partnerships.  We are grateful for the generosity of our donors and of the ongoing public interest in discovering the southern Jewish experience.  Below is a selection of the 2006/2007 donations:

• The papers of Jane Mendel of Little Rock, Arkansas.  Ms. Mendel was a prominent community leader whose legacy of civil rights activism, progressive politics and public school service made a significant impact on Little Rock. 
• Religious artifacts from Congregation Agudas Achim of Corsicana, TX.
• Religious artifacts from Temple B’nai Jeshurun of Demopolis, Alabama.  After the congregation disbanded twenty years ago, the former sanctuary was maintained by the local Episcopal Church.  Unable to continue storing them, the church donated the ritual objects and furniture to the MSJE. 
• The record and minute books of Temple Emanu-El of Jasper, AL, donated by Joe Engel.  In addition to preserving the history of Temple Emanu-El, the papers will aid the History Department in writing an upcoming history of Jasper’s Jewish community. 

We are continuously expanding in order to remain a prominent educational and cultural institution in the field of southern Jewry and owe our collection to the kindness of donors.  If you are interested in donating something to our collection, please contact Kate Lubarsky, Museum Project Director: klubarsky@isjl.org.