As we enter the new year the Temple Judea Museum (TJM) is thriving, in large part due to the support of our broad community, including the creative energy of TJM Artists’ Collaborative members; the dedication of our volunteers; and the enthusiastic support of our Friends and Patrons. In addition, TJM thrives because of our positive collaboration with KI leadership and with the entire KI community.
Here is a little bit about who we are and what we have been up to recently:
HISTORY OF THE TJM ARTISTS’ COLLABORATIVE: In 2006 the museum formed the TJM Artists’ Collaborative to promote the artistic presence of its member artists. Through programming, exhibitions and seminars TJM conveys the vitality and vision of our in-house talent. Member artists consult, work with our school children, curate exhibitions and exhibit their own work, as well as network to bring other artists into the world of TJM.
The installation in the KI Kitchen is our most recent Collaborative project – this one in honor of Cantor Amy’s 20th year at KI.
Our current count of 33 artist members is our largest number since 2006.
All Collaborative artists are also members of KI.
New members are welcome! (email us at: TJMuseum@kenesethisrael.org)
Marlene DOrazio Adler is chair of the Collaborative
Temple Judea Museum Artists’ Collaborative members as of September 2024 (5785):
Joan Abrams, Marlene D’Orazio Adler, Irina Bakis, Joanne Taylor Brown,
Leon Chudzinski, Robert Dennis, Rhea Dennis, Rochelle Marcus Dinkin, Alina Dolinsky, Morty Freedman, Alexa Galtman, Naomi Godel, Doug Heath, Jane Hirshberg,
Kim Isaacson, Bonnie Kane, Bonnie Klein, Leslie Kraemer, Ricki Lent,
Paula Mandel,Heather Michaelson, Robyn Miller, Linda Nesvisky, Dana Perlman,
Walter Plotnick, Rita Rosen Poley, Roz Reichstein, Karen Shain Schloss, Maxine Schwartz, Joan Myerson Shrager, Stan Singer, Elissa Sunshine, Kelly Sussman, Ethyl Treatman
THE ARTS ALIVE/WORDS ALIVE GALLERY (located off the second floor lobby)
Established in 2016, this unique gallery is a forum for professional artists to “speak” directly to children of the KI preschool. Activities and assets consist of original exhibitions, gallery visits and “hands-on” art projects led by exhibiting artists, unique collections of dolls, shells, musical instruments and fine art reproductions; gift collections of works by photographer, Stan Singer, and prints, paintings and sculpture by the late Mili Dunn Weiss. An original Carousel Horse, gift of Dr. Steven and Mrs Hess, is an Arts Alive kids’ favorite. The Meyers Library also offers special preschool programs in the AA/WA Gallery.
Marlene DOrazio Adler is chair of the Arts Alive Gallery
THE TJM PERMANENT COLLECTION continues to grow thanks to meaningful gifts from our members. Now numbering well over 6,000 objects: from ancient to modern; historic to contemporary; original art to press photographs; religious to secular; from Israel to Europe and beyond; pop culture to folk traditions, music and more, our collection covers all of Jewish material culture.
Currently, eight volunteers work in our office with the collection to make sure that each object is preserved properly and is accessible. This includes assigning ID numbers and registration; photography; data entry into our computer system; display in the building and labels and QR codes for most displays. Maxine Schwartz, Hannah Kaufman, Norma Meshkov, Rob Sirota, Leon Chudzinski, Jan Marshall, Marlene D’Orazio Adler; Karen Shain Schloss all are integral to TJM collection care and presentation.
Search on line: Temple Judea Museum Online Exhibition to see highlights
Another group of volunteers works with our Judaica collection every fall to polish all the silver that is part of our KI High Holyday observances and lobby Judaica display case. This year, Judy Maslin, Eve Maslin, Naomi Godel, Meryl Fisher, Kim Isaacson, Maxine Schwartz and Rhea Dennis all helped out. We also had a student volunteer, Meir Elstein from Tide Academy, work with us.
EXHIBITIONS FROM THE COLLECTION: The museum’s current exhibitions focus on four different aspects of the collection. In the main gallery “Carved Legacies” showcases sculpture. In the lobby showcases are two mini-exhibitions. One offers a Jewish take on fashion, curated by Jan Marshall, another, curated by Maxine Schwartz, is about Jewish Humor. The new installation in the Temple Judea Synagogue Memorial showcase highlights gifts of Judaica that honor a loved one. In 2025, guest curated by TJM volunteer and Installation Curator, Leon Chudzinski, “Unpacking the Jewish Journey” will be a major look at the collection and at the Jewish Diaspora in a new light.
AND, also … TJM works with JQuest to bring specialized art activities to our kids; *TJM oversees the KI Sukkah, making it a true work of art lovingly created by our adult artists and our JQuest kids; *Each December TJM presents a holiday craft show in the gallery, with works for sale by our in-house talent; *We recently welcomed TJM Collaborative artist, Leon Chudzinski to our team as Installation Curator. In this capacity Lee will take over the responsibility for installation of exhibitions. Director/Curator Rita Rosen Poley retains responsibility for the creation of all exhibitions and is really happy to have Lee’s installation design expertise on board; *Looking ahead, TJM is planning to celebrate the USA Semiquincentennial in 2026 as part of a Cheltenham-wide event.
TJM FRIENDS AND PATRONS, chaired by Norma Meshkov, are integral to the support of the museum. Our Friends/Patrons membership continues to grow each year as more and more of you realize the importance of your financial support. Your gifts have a direct impact on our ability to do our work. We could not do it without you! It certainly does take a village.
Sincerely,
Karen Shain Schloss, TJM Chair
Rita Rosen Poley, TJM Curator/Director
Marlene D’Orazio Adler, TJM Collaborative Chair
Norma Meshkov, TJM Friends Chair
Leon Chudzinski, TJM Installations Curator