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July 6, 2012
Museum’s traveling exhibit
Local Jewish history is now on display in Abbotsford.
NICOLE NOZICK
The Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia (JMABC) opened its largest traveling exhibit to date last week. Inviting people to “step into history and explore Jewish religion, immigration, landmarks and milestones,” The Ties that Bind is on display at the Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford until Sept. 9.
“The Ties that Bind weaves together stories of the Jewish community’s culture alongside tales and histories of Jewish experiences in B.C., reflecting Jewish life in this province from the mid-1800s to present day,” explained Kara Mintzberg, educational coordinator of the JMABC. “The exhibit shows the connections Jews made to each other, the spiritual and civic organizations that were fostered, and the climate and emotionality that helped develop the pioneer mindset of B.C.’s early Jewish community, including shared values with the B.C. community.”
The ties the exhibit refers to comprise physical institutions such as synagogues, community centres and schools. Just as significant are spiritual and cultural ties, including celebrating milestones and holidays as well as socio-political realities. “For example,” said Mintzberg, “during the Second World War period, the Jewish community had to rely on one another to support the development of community institutions and advocacy, as there was no government support, especially when you consider the Mackenzie King / Frederick Charles Blair administrative policy of ‘None is too many.’”
A number of panels focus on Jewish life in Victoria where, by 1862, a Jewish community of more than 100 families had inaugurated Congregation Emanu-El, building its synagogue in 1863. Today, the Congregation Emanu-el synagogue is the oldest one in continuous use in all of Canada, poised to celebrate its 150th anniversary next year.
Mintzberg described some of the exhibit’s content. “On display are over 60 panels, which use visuals and text to portray Jewish life in Victoria and Vancouver since the mid-1800s,” she said. “The panels show what Jewish people were doing during that time period – including the businesses they operated, their community life and the community organizations they were building.”
In addition to the panels are more than 20 artifacts, most of them personal possessions, loaned to the JMABC for this specific exhibit by members of the community. Many of the artifacts are used throughout the Jewish lifecycle, depicting what it means to be Jewish and reflecting the essentials of Jewish life, learning and culture. They include Shabbat candlesticks and a Havdalah candle, a Kiddush cup, tefillin, two chanukiyot and a replica of a 1911 ketubah. Also on display is an 18th-century circumcision kit of Czechoslovakian origin. The kit, which is on loan from Congregation Beth Israel, contains a manual, shield, knife and knife box.
An educational Torah, on display for the first time, is of special interest. Mintzberg elaborated, “While many non-Jews may have heard of the Torah, very few have seen one or been close to one. This is an excellent opportunity to display one of the holiest objects for the Jewish people. While there is no touching – the Torah is displayed under secured glass – it is also an opportunity for people to see, and learn more about, our holy script.”
Originally on permanent display at the JMABC site in Vancouver, the exhibit’s temporary expansion to the city of Abbotsford is regarded as a very positive step. “We are thrilled to be showing this exhibit in Abbotsford in collaboration with the Reach Gallery Museum,” said Mintzberg. “The location allows us to reach a whole new audience and an entirely new group of people. It also reveals many of the shared values between the Jewish community and other communities in B.C., and supports an important mission of the JMABC. As the preeminent and authoritative body for the collection and sharing of community memory of Jewish life in British Columbia, we are, a ‘tie that binds’ members of our community to the province of B.C.”
The Reach Gallery’s collections manager, Kris Foulds expressed enthusiasm for the project. “I had seen the exhibition when I attended a workshop at the JMABC, and found it fascinating,” she said in an e-mail interview with the Independent. “When I learned it would be traveling, I jumped at the opportunity to show it at the Reach.”
About the Reach Gallery’s mission, Foulds explained, “We are committed to preserving and sharing the stories of our rich and diverse cultural heritage and showcasing the best in the visual arts from both inside and outside our community. In reflecting the diverse heritage of Abbotsford, the Reach has shown exhibitions of Mennonite history and culture, Sikh heritage and culture and First Nations heritage and culture. Although our Jewish community is not as large, we didn’t want to miss the opportunity to present such a first-class exhibition on Jewish heritage and culture.”
Nicole Nozick is a Vancouver freelance writer and director of the Cherie Smith JCCGV Jewish Book Festival.
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