Temple Israel Historical Preservation Board’s Permanent Exhibition

"Know where you came from; know where you are going; and [know] in whose presence you will have to make an accounting.” Pirkei Avot 3:1.

Committee: Mara W. Cohen Ioannides,

Chair, Temple Israel Historical Preservation Board

Member URJ Congregational Heritage Preservation Committee

Sue Conine

Billie Marsala

Judith Peavey

Special Consultant: Anne Baker, Archivist, Meyer Library, Missouri State University

The purpose of this project is threefold:

1. To enhance the beauty of our synagogue

2. To remind ourselves of our past, which will give us guidance for our future

3. To educate our guests about our history and place within the larger community.

This exhibition will be done professionally and tastefully, and consist of basically three parts:

1. A display of the physical locations of the congregation through photographs

2. A display of our history, including photographs of our Sunday School and Confirmation classes (including the 1893 photograph of our very first Sunday School class), documents of relevance to our congregation (for example, the articles of incorporation of Temple Israel in 1893), and material objects (like golden shovel from the ground breaking of our current building)

3. A display of a ceremonial objects (like a shofar, Torah, and Kiddush cup) that will show our guests what we use, how we use it, and explain to them and us how this object came to be part of our congregation.

Every item will have a sign with it to explain what it is, who is in it, why it is significant, where it came from, and any other information that would inform the viewer.

The exhibition will work with the design of the synagogue to draw the viewer into the building and the exhibit. The arc will be converted into a display case, without destroying its ability to be used as an arc in the future. Through this exhibition the committee hopes to bring our congregation a greater understanding of ourselves and our place in the Springfield community.