Striking Medals: 50 Years of the Jewish-American Hall of Fame on Exhibit at the Skirball Museum in Cincinnati

One of the largest exhibits of medals in recent years will be on display from March 21 through June 2, 2019 at the Skirball Museum on the historicCincinnati campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. The Skirball Museum was the first formally established Jewish museum in the UnitedStates, founded in 1913 as the Union Museum. The exhibit, titled "Striking Medals: 50 Years of the Jewish-American Hall of Fame," will mark the first time thata complete collection of this historic series has ever been on public display, according to JAHF founder Mel Wacks.

In addition to showing two sides of each medal issued annually from 1969 through 2019, The exhibition features all 50 medals, produced annually from 1969through 2019 in duplicate, so that the reverse of each can be viewed, as well as displays that chronicle the history and origin of portrait medals; the processof creating the medals from original sketches to clay and plaster models and dies; and texts and videos about the accomplishments of the inductees.

Visitors will learn about the Spanish Jews who helped finance the voyage of Christopher Columbus, and how Asser Levy fought for and won the right for Jewsto bear arms in the local militia of colonial New Amsterdam. Haym Salomon raised funds for the American Revolution but died penniless. Rebecca Gratz was apioneer in education and Ernestine Rose fought for equal rights for women and the abolition of slavery. From leaders of nations like Golda Meir to leadingentertainers like Barbra Streisand, Jews have made important contributions to the history and culture of America for hundreds of years in all fields ofendeavor, and their stories are told in this exhibition. Also featured are several special commemorative medals marking significant anniversaries in thehistory of American Jewish life.

A number of educational programs will be held at the Museum, in conjunction with the exhibit. All programs are free and open to the public and are held onthe campus of the Hebrew Union College, 3101 Clifton Avenue 45220. The exhibit is also free, and can be viewed Tuesdays and Thursdays: 11 AM - 4 PM, Sundays: 1PM - 5 PM. For further information, reservations, or registration call 513.487.3098 or email jmendelson@huc.edu.

For more information on the Skirball Museum, see:
SKIRBALL MUSEUM IN CINCINNATI(http://huc.edu/research/museums/skirball-museum-cincinnati)