The Southern Shmooze
March 2023
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Celebrating Women's History Month
"A Force and a Warning"
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Across the South, in towns big and small, Jewish women have been important activists for local and national issues. Individually and as part of organizations like temple Sisterhoods, Hadassah, and the National Council for Jewish Women, Southern Jewish women have been leaders in advocating for suffrage, educational reform, civil rights, and expanded career opportunities for all women. Whether quietly or formidably, these women changed Southern—and American—history.
Here in New Orleans we remember the accomplishments of Ida Weis Friend, Rosalie Cohen, Sara Stone, Jane Buchsbaum, and many others, who strove to improve the community through hard work, determination, and a commitment to volunteerism. Within that pantheon stands a giant of civic philanthropy and service: Edith Rosenwald Stern.
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Edith Stern (1895-1980) was the daughter of Sears, Roebuck founder Julius Rosenwald and the wife of New Orleans business and community leader Edgar Stern. She learned early on from her father's example to give back to the community, not just in money, but in time, commitment, and dedication. She became an important philanthropic and civic force in New Orleans and far beyond. Her accomplishments included helping to found Dillard University in partnership with the African American community, advocating fiercely for integration, voting rights, and voter education, and directing dollars from The Stern Fund to countless arts, civic, and educational causes, locally, nationally, and internationally. She hosted presidents, politicians, civil rights leaders, and even The Beatles at her New Orleans home, Longue Vue.
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"Edith Stern constituted a force and a warning. No funny business with
those voter rolls."
–Iris Kelso, political reporter, New Orleans
"Is this the first one you ever got? My dear, I get them every day."
–Edith Rosenwald Stern, to a friend on receiving antisemitic hate mail
for supporting integration in 1956
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In 1964, Edith Stern was honored with The Times-Picayune Loving Cup, one of the highest civic honors in New Orleans. Edgar had been awarded the Loving Cup in 1930, making the Sterns the only husband and wife in the city's history to have each individually received this tribute.
In 1977, the New Orleans States-Item newspaper named the couple the leading philanthropists of the past hundred years, saying, "every city should have its own Sterns."
Join us in celebrating Women's History Month by making a donation to MSJE in honor of the Southern Jewish woman or women in your life.
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Above: Edith Stern receives the Times-Picayune's 1964 Loving Cup from the paper's editor George Healy at Country Day School (which she helped establish). |
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Our Southern Jewish Purims
Parties, Pageants, & Pastries
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Members of the Chattanooga Jewish community went all out costuming for their annual Purim Ball. The Chattanooga Daily Times newspaper reported on the variety and creativity of costumes in their March 18, 1888 edition.
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Sisters Cheryl Brownstein, Amy Brownstein Mencher, and little Cindy Brownstein Munn show off their hamantaschen costumes at Temple Beth Israel's Purim pageant in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 1956.
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Young bakers make-their-own in preparation to bake-their-own at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience's Hamantaschen Family Workshop, in partnership with Chabad of Louisiana, on February 26, 2023.
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UPCOMING PROGRAM
Virtual Tour: God, Goats and Pickup Trucks
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Out of town and want to see our newest exhibition? MSJE Curator Dr. Tine Rassalle will lead a virtual tour of “God, Goats, and Pick-up Trucks: Maurice Schmidt’s Visions of Texas” on Thursday, March 9 at 12pm Central Time. You’ll see Schmidt’s works, learn about his background and inspirations, and get a museum insider’s view on how the exhibition came together. There will also be a Q&A. This event is free, so click below now to register for the Zoom link!
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Limmudfest NOLA 2023
March 17-19
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MSJE is a proud community sponsor of LimmudFest NOLA, coming up this month at Congregation Gates of Prayer in Metairie and the Uptown JCC. Two members of our Museum team will be presenting sessions at this year's weekend of Jewish learning. Learn more about the 2023 lineup and schedule here, and get tickets for this three-day gathering of hundreds of Jews from diverse backgrounds, coming together in New Orleans to celebrate and learn about everything Jewish, here.
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The Ancient Synagogue: Origin, Form and Function
Dr. Tine Rassalle, Curator
When and where was the first synagogue built? Why was it needed? What did the first synagogues look like and what did people do in them? Backed by archaeological evidence, this session will give an overview of the ancient synagogue building in Israel and the Diaspora from the 2nd century BCE to the 7th century CE.
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Lizzi Meister, Public Programs Manager
Teens will explore their complex both/and identities through the both/and identity of southern and Jewish through the resources of the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience.
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Want to Volunteer at MSJE?
Now's Your Chance!
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On Thursday, March 9th, we will have a New Volunteer Training Session from 2:30–4:00pm. You'll learn about the history of the Museum, the lay-out of our exhibits, and our famous visitor-centered hospitality. We have something for everyone's interests, from front-facing gallery attendant to back-of-house help with collections care and office tasks. Got a special talent (like a foreign language ability, database skills, or sewing)? We may have a special project for you!
To learn more or RSVP for this training, please contact Lizzi at lizzi@msje.org or 504-384-2480 x105.
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Deadline is March 20th!
2023 MSJE Middle School Essay Contest
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If you were building a Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, which 3 things would you put in it?
The contest is open to all students grades 5–8 in or from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. You don’t have to be Jewish to submit an essay!
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Awards: 1st Place - $500, 2nd Place - $250, 3rd Place - $150. For contest guidelines and submission, click below.
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Museum Store Special Feature
Our Sellers' Stories
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Meet Erin Bressler, Bead Artist
Erin, 31 years old, was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of 4. Throughout her battle and recovery, arts and crafts were her primary therapy. A native of Marietta, Georgia, Erin is now a resident of Hyannis, Massachusetts year-round.
Through Erin’s Super Beads, Erin has found a way to apply her talents to help other special needs children. A portion of each sale goes to the Erin’s Super Beads Fund at the Jewish Children’s Regional Service, which benefits special needs children in the Southern states.
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Handcrafted Beaded
Challah Knives
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Handcrafted Beaded
Honey Dippers
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The Museum Store is dedicated by Harold Wainer in memory of George & Helen Wainer
and Harriet Wainer Kugler.
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This Month in Southern Jewish History |
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ALABAMA: March 1, 1881
Amelia Greenwald is born in Gainesville to German Jewish immigrant parents. She attended the Touro Infirmary Training School for Nurses in New Orleans. As a nurse in the U.S. Army during and after World War I, she established the first American hospital in Coblenz, Germany and received the Polish Golden Cross of Merit (shown here) for opening the Jewish Nurses’ Training School in Warsaw in 1923.
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ARKANSAS: March 15, 1886
Fiction writer Thyra Samter Winslow is born in Fort Smith, where her parents ran a dry-goods store. An avid writer in her youth, Winslow made a career from writing more than 200 short stories, in popular magazines of her day and in published books. She set many of her stories in her native Arkansas. Like other Southern writers (William Faulkner, Truman Capote), Winslow was lured by Hollywood and contributed to several films in the 1930s.
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KENTUCKY: March 19, 1933
Suzy Post is born in Louisville. An activist in many fields, Post organized a march of nearly 6,000 to protest President Richard Nixon’s bombing of Cambodia in 1973. She served as the executive director of her local ACLU chapter and founded the Metropolitan Housing Coalition to secure affordable housing. In 2007, Post was inducted into the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights Hall of Fame.
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NORTH CAROLINA: March 23, 1986
Sara Nachamson Evans dies in Durham. A national leader of Hadassah, Sara Evans was known as the “Southern Voice” of the Zionist women’s organization. Evans signed fifty-five affidavits of support on behalf of Jewish refugees escaping Nazism in the 1930s. She also played a leadership role in the local United Way. As the wife of six-term Durham mayor Emanuel "Mutt" Evans, Sara helped built support for Israel and create Judaic studies programs at Duke and UNC.
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MISSISSIPPI: March 27, 1917
The Daily Commonwealth newspaper, in Greenwood, prints the following notice: The Jewish Ladies Aid Society will give a Moving Picture Show Benefit next Friday night. Your patronage is solicited to help these noble women in raising funds for their new synagogue. Marguerite Clark in "The Fortunes of Fifi" will be shown at the Greenwood Theater. Pictured is actress Marguerite Clark (not Jewish) and dog (religion unknown).
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LOUISIANA: March 31, 1953
Mayor J.L. Johnson, of Lake Providence, makes a proclamation honoring recently deceased local resident Raye Sarsar Stockner. Among other things, Johnson declares that Stockner, "led an exemplary life as a wife and mother," and that, "her passing is a great loss to our community." He further encouraged all businesses in Lake Providence to close during her funeral. The Museum has an original of the proclamation in its permanent collection.
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Ways to Support the Museum |
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We have now raised $9.6 million toward our $10 million Capital Campaign goal. Your donation will help us reach that goal. |
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GIVE ONLINE
MAIL US A CHECK
to PO Box 15071, New Orleans, LA 70175
DONATE FROM YOUR IRA
required distribution
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DESIGNATE MSJE
as a recipient of your Donor Advised Fund
DONATE STOCK
or other marketable securities
INCLUDE MSJE
in your estate planning (we can help)
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Shalom. Make yourself at home.®
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Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
818 Howard Avenue | New Orleans, LA 70113
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Banner images (l-r): Members of Congregation Beth Israel in Clarksdale, MS, c.1910. Collection of Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience; Blue Star campers, North Carolina, 2016. Courtesy of Blue Star Camps.
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