Jewish Museum Milwaukee fights anti-Semitism
In the wake of the Charlottesville protests and tragedy, I have seen a wave of concern for marginalized communities and serious calls for reinvigorating anti-hate and anti-oppression initiatives in our region. Many of these calls have included appeals to “get to know” folks from targeted demographic groups. On a radio news show recently, an expert urged his listeners to invite a Jew, Muslim or person of color to dinner.
As someone who has been working on civil rights and anti-hate issues in Wisconsin for over a decade, these calls are encouraging. And I have, in fact, been invited to dine with strangers from other faiths. I know that our state is full of people who wish there were fewer “strangers;” they just are not sure how to make that happen. In fact, if my social media feed since the series of bomb threats directed at Milwaukee’s Jewish Community Center is any measure, many people are seeking to reassure those of us feeling hated that we do have allies and are asking our advice on how best to demonstrate that fellowship.
Luckily, in Milwaukee we have a tremendous resource in which all people can easily learn about and get to know the Jewish community: the Jewish Museum Milwaukee. Anti-Semitism is the canary in the coal mine of white nationalism. As the most socially acceptable form of hate, antiSemitism is used by nationalist and other hate groups to recruit new members. Engaging in anti-Semitic speech is the gateway to ever more threatening, and potentially violent, racism and oppression. The Milwaukee Jewish community fights anti-Semitism with education, and the most public face of those education efforts is the Jewish Museum Milwaukee.
In this moment, the JMM is playing an important role in countering hate by welcoming a diversity of visitors not only to learn about the Jewish experience but to learn about themselves as well. Our permanent exhibit tells a specific, and yet universal, story about immigration, assimilation, discrimination, tolerance and acceptance. Most of the visitors to the JMM are not Jewish, and yet the museum strives to ensure every visitor can find his or her own story reflected in the narratives told in our exhibits. These narratives focus on humanity’s resilience, generosity, ingenuity, creativity and connections to the natural world — human traits seen in cultures across the globe, as well as here at home.
If you visit the JMM today, you will learn about the many different ways in which Jews practice the observance of Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath. For our Jewish visitors, to be immersed in the plethora of expressions of observance is to be reassured and reminded that the Jewish people have always found ways to maintain their identity despite their current societal conditions. For those unfamiliar with Judaism, this traveling exhibit, “The Seventh Day: Revisiting Shabbat,” not only explains the fundamental element of Jewish life that is Shabbat, but also encourages each visitor to put the concept of a day of rest into the context of his or her own busy life.
Helping all of our visitors find a way to connect their lives to the lives of the Jews in their community is how we fulfill our mission of building steadfast bridges to soar above the deep divides dug by ignorance, intolerance and hate.
Combating anti-Semitism and racism requires a willingness to learn, to listen and to love. I believe that willingness abounds in this city. For those seeking to take the first step — to learn — the Jewish Museum Milwaukee stands ready to welcome you.