Hebrew Union College’s Skirball Museum is proud to present Israeli artist Sam Griffin’s paintings expressing resilience and hope for peace.
Israeli artist Sam Griffin grapples with the personal and collective trauma sparked by October 7th and the ensuing war. The quick, trembling brushwork and erasure of layers of paint in his disquieting landscapes and compelling biblical works express the psychological and physical intensity of war and its aftermath. His art has a powerful resonance as we seek to strengthen the empathy and mutual responsibility linking North American Jewry and the people of Israel. Griffin’s paintings, forged in the crisis of war, convey the human capacity for healing and hope for a peaceful future for Israel and humankind.
On View: March 5 – May 10, 2026
Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.; Sundays 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Admission: Free
Join guest curator Abby Schwartz for an illustrated talk about the collars of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Schwartz will also discuss jewelry and amulets in the collections of the Skirball as they reflect symbol, function, and beauty in similar ways to the collars depicted in Carucci’s photographs. The evening includes a walk-through of the exhibition.
Reservations recommended.
Enjoy a light lunch and illustrated overview of the exhibition followed by a walk-through of the exhibition.
SPECIAL BONUS! Schwartz will also comment on the retrospective exhibition of the works of renowned artist Mark Podwal (1945–2024) surrounding guests in Mayerson Auditorium.
Reservations required.
A month after the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933–2020), award-winning Israeli-American photographer Elinor Carucci (b. 1971) was hired by Time magazine to photograph the collars of RBG as a commemorative piece. The twenty-five neckpieces captured in these photographs offer insight into RBG’s legacy. Each one, whether bold, ornate, or subversive, is a powerful point of entry for exploring Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life and her tireless work on America’s highest court. The stories behind these collars honor the lives she touched, the freedoms she defended, and the Supreme Court opinions that changed the course of history. Complementing Carucci’s photographs is a selection of jewelry and amulets from the collections of Hebrew Union College’s Skirball Museum. Like the collars, these objects of material culture explore the societal and religious aspects of adornment throughout history.
Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 11am–3pm, Sunday 1–4pm
Admission: Free
Tours/Information: awheeler@huc.edu or 513.487.3231
Photographs copyright ©2023 by Elinor Carucci. All rights reserved.
Transform Difficult Conversations into Connection
Join For the Sake of Argument for an interactive workshop where we’ll practice arguing about Israel and other charged topics — helping you reframe disagreement as something healthy and necessary for learning, growth, and stronger relationships. Because these conversations can feel tense, even with the people we love most, this lively, story-driven evening introduces a fresh approach that helps people listen with curiosity, speak with courage, and find connection across differences.
Marking 30 years since the assassination of Yitzak Rabin, on Yom Rabin (Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Day in Israel) and reminds us that communities stay strong only when we can argue without dehumanizing — and disagree without destroying. Together, we’ll practice healthy disagreement and leave with practical tools you can use at home, at work, and in the community.
- Doors open 6:30 PM (dessert & coffee)
- Program 7:00–8:30 PM
Facilitators: Robbie Gringras & Abi Dauber Sterne — Co-Directors, For the Sake of Argument
Who Should Attend:
Adults—young adults, parents, grandparents, community members, and professionals—who want to navigate hard conversations in healthier ways.
What You’ll Gain:
- Greater confidence to navigate charged topics — with family, friends, colleagues, and across the community
- Experience listening with curiosity and speaking with courage
- Practical tools to turn disagreement into healthy conversation
Register here.
An exhibition the world needs you to see. Be a witness.
Through this daunting selection of more than 500 original artifacts from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland, as well as more than 20 institutions and museums all over the world, Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. portrays the complex reality of the notorious camp while sharing firsthand stories from those who survived, and those who perished.
These remarkable artifacts range from:
- Concrete posts that were part of the fence of the Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp
- Fragments of an original prisoners’ barrack from the Auschwitz III-Monowitz camp
- A gas mask used by the concentration camp officers
- Personal items including shoes, clothing, children’s dolls, eyeglasses and suitcases
When guests enter the exhibition, they will confront one of history’s darkest periods… but they will also be part of an ongoing remembrance and will leave bearing the weight of society’s responsibility to combat hate and evil everywhere.
Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. is hosted at Union Terminal by Cincinnati Museum Center and the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. The exhibition was created by Musealia in cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
The opportunity to bring this impactful exhibition to Cincinnati has been generously supported by Rhonda and Larry Sheakley, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati and the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission.
We invite you to join us for a unique panel discussion experience that transcends the typical conference session—an evening dedicated to celebrating the legacy of Rabbi David Ellenson, z”l. Drawing upon Rabbi Ellenson’s groundbreaking scholarship and his transformative leadership at Hebrew Union College, our panelists will examine the dynamic tensions between tradition and innovation that define Reform Judaism today.
In partnership with the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, this session welcomes academics, clergy, students, and community members to engage with the enduring questions that Rabbi Ellenson championed throughout his remarkable career.
