LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EXHIBITION HERE: The Geography of Summer

Currently on view through December!

The Temple Judea Museum’s 2021 fall exhibition is “The Geography of Summer”. The idea for it grew out of my visit to the home of Anne and Dick Brown, Keneseth Israel (KI) synagogue members, who invited me to see their Jewish camping collection. From 1953 through 1972, Anne and Dick were part of Camp Akiba leadership. Dick eventually became head recruiter for the very popular Jewish summer camp and he, along with Anne, accumulated wonderful documentation, primarily in the form of black and white photographs, music recordings, camp clothing with logos and much more.

I am proud to say that TJM is now the home of this unique treasure of Jewish camping.

Once the Brown Collection was in house, I reached out to see what we could find to expand the collection. It soon became clear that summer means more than traditional sleep-away camps for the Jewish community. Many responded to a community query and their gifts and loans enrich this display. In addition to historic memorabilia, photographs and objects, also on view are unique art works by guest artists and members of the TJM Artists’ Collaborative.

What is the history of the summer vacation? How does it apply to the Jewish community? Why and where and how do we travel? What is a Jewish “staycation”? Hopefully, “The Geography of Summer” answers some of those questions. Visit the gallery in person or follow the exhibition on the Temple Judea Museum Facebook page and on YouTube. We will be posting new images and stories through December.

Rita Rosen Poley

Director/Curator

For more information: TJMuseum@kenesethisrael.org,

(215) 901-2656, (215) 887-8700, ext. 416

The Temple Judea Museum        

Director/Curator: Rita Rosen Poley;

Chair: Karen Shain Schloss

Friends’ Chair: Norma Meshkov

Chair, TJM Artists’ Collaborative: Marlene D’Orazio Adler

215-887-8700, ext. 416; TJMuseum@kenesethisrael.org; www.kenesethisrael.org/museum

Hours: By appointment, Masks must be worn, An accessible facility,

Visit us on YouTube at Temple Judea Museum and on Facebook and Instagram

See portions of our collection at Temple Judea Museum online collections

A Program Stream awardee of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts