The Skirball Museum on the historic Cincinnati campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is currently featuring the exhibition A Portrait of Jewish Cincinnati in celebration of the Cincinnati Jewish Bicentennial. Jewish community life in the city of Cincinnati formally began with the founding of Chestnut Street Cemetery in Cincinnati’s West End in 1821. The exhibition opened on November 4 and will be on view through January 30, 2022. For the opening, the Skirball welcomed several descendants of individuals whose portraits appear in the exhibition.
A Portrait of Jewish Cincinnati brings together the likenesses of many of Cincinnati’s prominent Jewish citizens from the early 19th century to the present day, gleaned from the museum’s own rich collections as well as those of local and national museums and private collections. Portraits include oil paintings, sculptures, drawings, and mixed media representations of figures who have made a significant impact on Jewish Cincinnati and the larger secular community. Augmenting the portraits are several decorative arts objects, including a tall clock made by Joseph Jonas, Cincinnati’s first permanent Jewish settler, who was a jeweler and watch and clock manufacturer.
“Bringing together almost 40 works of art in celebration of 200 years of Jewish life in Cincinnati has been an incredible journey of discovery and learning for the Skirball Museum staff,” comments Skirball director Abby S. Schwartz. “From Fanny and Abraham Aub, the couple who gave the land to build the third location of Cincinnati’s Jewish Hospital—the first such hospital in the country—to Sally Priesand, the first woman ordained a rabbi in America, in Cincinnati at Hebrew Union College—to so many scions of philanthropy, civic service, industry, education and culture who made their mark on the Cincinnati community, the narratives of these portraits are colorful and diverse and will engage viewers of all backgrounds.”
While her husband and brother were busy becoming the largest producers and merchandisers of whiskey in Ohio and Kentucky, Duffie Workum Freiberg founded the Jewish Foster Home on West Sixth Street in 1892 and served as its first president, was a director of United Jewish Charities, the predecessor of today’s Jewish Federation, and a trustee of the Cleveland Orphan Asylum. A preponderance of the subjects in A Portrait of Jewish Cincinnati are immigrants or first-generation Americans. Whether merchants, physicians, attorneys, industrialists, teachers or volunteers, in almost every instance, these men and women found ways to give back, to support their secular and religious communities, making them a source of pride for all Cincinnatians. A case in point is Milton Schloss, who began his career in the family business, E. Kahn & Sons, as an apprentice in the slaughterhouse and built the company to the pinnacle of success, eventually running a more than billion-dollar consolidated national meat company – Hillshire Farms and the Sarah Lee Meat Group. In the years leading up to World War II, Schloss sponsored several German Jews to immigrate to Cincinnati and provided employment for them at Kahn’s. He served his country in World War II, liberating a German concentration camp and earning a Bronze Star Medal. Later, he taught at the University of Cincinnati School of Business and supported local Jewish organizations, most notably the Jewish Community Center.
On December 14 at 1pm, Skirball Museum director Abby Schwartz will offer “A Portrait of Jewish Cincinnati: Up Close and Personal,” a slide talk overview of the exhibition followed by a gallery visit. The program will be held in Mayerson Hall Auditorium and will be delivered in person and via Livestream. Reservations are required by calling 513.487.3231 or emailing awheeler@huc.edu, or by registering online at A Portrait of Jewish Cincinnati: Up Close and Personal! – Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (huc.edu). Capacity is limited. All visitors 12 years of age and older are required to show proof of vaccination for entry into the Skirball Museum. Masks are required for all visitors over the age of 2.
Event is subject to change or cancellation as we continually assess the ever-changing impace of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For additional information call 513.487.3231 or email awheeler@huc.edu, or visit the Skirball Museum website at http://csm.huc.edu.