Jewish people have been making a life for themselves and forging history in Florida since 1763. The core exhibit is Mosaic: telling the tales of 250 years of Jewish life through the timeline wall, 600 photographs, documents and artifacts, and three audio-visual exhibits. These cover a range topics covering everything from Jewish settlement, their holiday practices, rituals, discrimination and the Land of Opportunity - how they rose through the ranks to establish themselves in the competitive workforce. Walk through the “Chuppah”, a marriage canopy wreathed in garlands that is the chamber where the bride to be awaits the arrival of her groom, and envy the gorgeous 9th century community weddings rings which European brides would borrow from the synagogue. The collection of photographs and artifacts take you back to every Jewish military event of significance to showcase how Jews have contributed to the defence of Florida. Marvel at a dress, gloves, head covering and stocking crafted from Floridian seashells by the creative Fannie Moss. The Dzialynski Pocket Watch is another masterpiece with the times displayed in Hebrew numbers and Moses and the Ten Commandments inscribed on the reverse, which belonged to the first ever Jewish boy born in Florida.

All people, both Jewish and non-Jewish, will benefit from a visit to this museum to be enlightened about Jewish contributions and traditions to society, and be surprised to learn that some of Florida’s most prominent were Jewish born and raised!