Exhibitions at the HUC-JIR Museum in Cincinnati
Docent-led tours of the Skirball Museum and Archeology Center for groups of 5 or more are offered Monday through Thursday and can begin at any time between 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
All tours must be scheduled in advance.
To schedule a tour, please call the Skirball Museum office at 513-221-1875.
The Skirball Museum also offers an Introduction to Judaism presentation and tour of Scheuer Chapel tailored to school groups or adults. Please call 513-221-1875 for information and scheduling.
“A Blessing to One Another” – On View September 10 – December 31 at HUC-JIR/Cincinnati
“A Blessing to One Another: Pope John Paul II and the Jewish People” will be on view from September 10 - December 31 at HUC-JIR/Cincinnati. The exhibition is an interactive experience that allows visitors to follow in John Paul II’s footsteps from his childhood to his role as head of the world’s largest church. The exhibit is divided into four major sections, reflecting the four periods in the pope’s life. Learn more about the exhibition.
An Eternal People: The Jewish Experience
Ongoing
The museum's permanent exhibit comprises seven thematic galleries that portray the cultural, historical and religious heritage of the Jewish people:
Immigration – The history of the arrival of Jewish immigrants and their contribution to American culture and society. Features such prominent figures as Albert Einstein and actor Danny Kaye.
Cincinnati Jewry – Highlights the impact of the Jewish community on Cincinnati with particular attention given to the establishment and contribution of Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion
Archaeology – Items from Egypt and Palestine that focus on the life, death and religion of everyday people. The exhibit includes examples of material from the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.
Torah – Centralized around a beautiful Torah Scroll that survived the rise and fall of Nazi Germany, the Torah section illuminates the importance of the Book for ancient and modern Judaism.
Jewish Festivals and Life Cycles – Illustrative artifacts related to the various holidays and life events are prominently displayed. The importance of the calendar, festivals, and events such as coming of age, and marriage, are emphasized to enhance the understanding of what it means to be Jewish in the modern world.
The Holocaust – Art and a remembrance wall inspire the visitor through the depiction of the atrocity of the Holocaust and the courage of the human spirit in the face of great evil. A video presentation relates the astounding story of the refugee ship the Exodus.
Israel – An artistic overview that reveals the spirit of the land, its people and its culture.
The Archaeology Center at the Skirball Museum
A hands-on learning and research facility for furthering and enhancing the study of Archaeology and integrating it with Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern history and culture. The artifacts at The Archaeology Center were discovered at HUC-JIR's excavations in Israel spanning the 2nd to 1st millennia BCE. The Center's visual displays, artifacts, and educational games provide students of all ages with a window into the multi-cultural world of antiquity. Visitors will learn how archaeologists identify and date pottery by its features and where it is found. The evolution of the alphabet and the significant periods and events of ancient history are also featured in colorful maps and timelines and there are opportunities to practice digging for artifacts and making a mosaic.
Founded by a gift from Dr. Ira and Judy Gall.
Tears of Hope, Tears of Joy
Tears of Hope is an art piece of hand blown glass and stainless steel by artist Joel Otterson. It was commissioned as a gift from Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson in honor of Rabbi Alfred Gottschalk, Ph.D. for his years of dedication as President of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion from 1971 to 1995. It is on display on the Cincinnati college-institute campus in Mayerson Hall.
