Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage

An American Story

An American Story chronicles the challenges and celebrates the achievements of generations of men, women and children in Northeast Ohio’s Jewish communities, from the original 19th-century European settlers to the individuals who today call the region home. One of the Museum’s two core exhibitions, An American Story showcases artifacts, images, audio and visual resources and interactive displays to tell the Jewish immigrant experience – a narrative that shares commonalities with other groups of newcomers who sought opportunity in the United States.

The Temple – Tifereth Israel Gallery

The artifacts showcased in The Temple-Tifereth Israel Gallery embody Jewish tradition and ritual, but they also highlight the links between Judaism and other faiths. The gallery features 175 treasures from The Temple-Tifereth Israel’s extensive collection of Jewish ritual objects and fine arts. Spanning more than four centuries, the collection connects the past and present through objects that are internationally recognized for their quality and uniqueness.

Special Exhibitions

A 4,000-square-foot (370 m²) special exhibition gallery regularly features changing exhibitions of national and international prominence, including:

Survivor Talks

The Museum maintains a special focus on remembrance of one of the darkest periods in human history. The rise of the Nazi regime in Germany and its subsequent acts of genocide against Jews, Roma and many others in Europe represented an unparalleled act of criminality that today is nonetheless in danger of being forgotten or denied outright. The Museum commemorates those events through artifacts and images and through the voices of men and women who survived the nightmare and share their stories of fortitude and heroism with students.

School tours

Each year the Maltz Museum welcomes more than 7,000 K–12 students from public, private, parochial, home and charter schools. Young people of all beliefs and ethnic and racial backgrounds are introduced to the history of Northeast Ohio and the experience of the immigrants who helped to build it. They also gain new understanding of Jewish customs and traditions, as well as the enduring struggle to end discrimination in all its forms to create a more inclusive society. Some 40 percent of student visitors receive free transportation based on need, and Cleveland Metropolitan School District students also receive free admission. All student tours are aligned with State of Ohio Learning Standards in Social Studies, Language Arts and Fine Arts, which means that Museum programs and events help young people to develop critical thinking and observation skills and engage in meaningful dialogue about issues relevant to contemporary society. Students are also encouraged to express their individuality, channel their curiosity and reflect on what steps they can take in their own lives to make the world a better place.

Notable programs

Stop the Hate® - Stop the Hate® celebrates 6–12th graders across 12 counties of Northeast Ohio who take action to create a more accepting and inclusive society. The Maltz Museum initiative challenges young people to consider the impact of intolerance and the role of the individual in effecting change. By encouraging students to be leaders and upstanders, Stop the Hate® reflects the Jewish values of responsible citizenship and respect for all humanity. Since Stop the Hate® was introduced eight years ago, more than 20,000 6–12th graders have used their voices to take a stand against discrimination and indifference in their communities. In recognition of their efforts, the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage has awarded $800,000 in academic scholarships and programmatic anti-bias grants.

Official Stop the Hate® Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out website

Begin the Conversation - In promoting a more inclusive society and encouraging connection, the Museum serves as a cultural hub – a venue for people of all faiths and backgrounds to meet and explore their differences and the common values they share. “Begin the Conversation,” a series inaugurated in 2014, stimulates just such communication through programs that foster dialogue on contemporary issues, with guest speakers, film screenings, staged readings of dramatic works and musical performances. Programs center on themes ranging from Arab-American heritage and LGBTQ issues to interfaith discussions, or respond to global current events. The goal of these events is to present new points of view for audiences to consider – to provide an opportunity to listen, to question and to begin to understand different attitudes and opinions.

Jewish American Heritage Month - Jewish American Heritage Month Ceremony at Cleveland City Hall - a now annual event that commenced in May 2010 and featured remarks from Mayor Frank Jackson and recognition of early Jewish councilmen. Ten finalists in the 2010 “Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out!” essay contest received special recognition from City Council. Open to the public.

Jesse Owens Way Street Dedication - on November 15, 2010, in connection with the exhibition The Nazi Olympics Berlin 1936, East Roadway in Downtown Cleveland (near Public Square) was dedicated to Jesse Owens. Mayor Frank Jackson, Maltz Museum Founder Milton Maltz, track and field teams from Cleveland Metropolitan School Districts, and Jesse Owens’ daughter Gloria Owens Hemphill participated in the ceremony.

Volunteers

One key to the Museum’s success is its ability to bring people together in an environment that encourages new connections. No one does more to foster those encounters than the dedicated volunteers who play multiple essential roles at the Museum. Volunteers serve as docents for visitors and school groups, provide program support and board oversight, staff the front desk and Museum Store, and reach out to the larger community through a Speakers’ Bureau. As members of the Friends of the Maltz Museum, more than 130 individuals give of their time, talents and expertise, providing 8,677 hours of annual program support, board oversight and ambassadorship including efforts in the greater community as part of the Mitzvah Corps.

Testimony

Milton Maltz stated, “The Permanent Collection is the American story. It explores the lives of individuals and their families in terms of their social, cultural, economic and scientific contributions to the region, the nation and the world. The first Jewish immigrants arrived in Cleveland in 1839,” Maltz continued. “The Museum tells their story of achievement through stunning, state of the art exhibits.” He and his wife Tamar made their vision for the Museum a reality through their generosity and hands-on involvement in all aspects of the institution’s development. Adds Tamar Maltz, “Visitors from all backgrounds and faiths learn here about the similarities between the experiences of their ancestors and Jewish immigrants, enabling them to better understand and appreciate their own personal history.”