As the most vibrant Jewish cultural organization in the Midwest, we build bridges between diverse communities with shared histories; we explore contemporary issues through the lens of Jewish history, culture and values; and inspire artists, thinkers, educators, students and future leaders to engage with Jewish history, culture, and values as they pursue justice.

VALUES

  • Remembrance: We memorialize the resilience, ingenuity, persistence, and profound hope of the Jewish people and others who have suffered inhumane treatment. We celebrate the achievements, culture, traditions and religion of the Jewish people.
  • Justice: We pursue justice for all people through reflective conversation about history and current events.
  • Honor: We honor the inherent dignity of all people by amplifying lesser-heard voices and artistic expression.
  • Community: We build steadfast bridges across diverse communities and organizations by celebrating our shared humanity and histories.
  • Learning: We educate visitors of all ages, religions, races, and walks of life through engaging and meaningful programs and exhibits, while also listening to and learning from our visitors and their communities.

SPECIAL EXHIBIT:

CHAGALL’S DEAD SOULS: A SATIRICAL ACCOUNT OF IMPERIALIST RUSSIA

JUNE 7 – SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

Artist Marc Chagall’s 96 imaginatively exaggerated illustrations bring the tragic and humorous characters populating the provincial country town in writer Nikolai Gogol’s renowned satire, “Dead Souls,” to vivid life. Commenting on the political and social divides in 19th-century Imperialist Russia, the inspired pairing produced a thinly cloaked critique with contemporary parallels.

Throughout “Dead Souls,” Gogol and Chagall are equally uninterested in strict realism, but their portraits of nobles who speak French more than Russian, daydream rather than become adequate estate managers, and are so blinded by rank and status they cannot detect a con artist, make the combined works an instant classic.

Rarely seen together, all 96 black-and-white etchings are on view, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Art Collection and Emile H. Mathis Art Gallery.

EXHIBIT PROGRAMS

Opening Preview
Thursday, June 6, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Join us to celebrate the satirical world created by Gogol and Chagall with a tour from Chief Curator, Molly Dubin. Get a sneak preview of Christine Wenc’s anticipated book “Funny Because It’s True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire.” And enjoy light appetizers, dessert and wine.

Where Gogol Got Souls: Slavery and Society in 19th-Century Russia
Tuesday, June 18, 7:00 – 8:15 p.m.
Join Joe Peschio, Associate Professor of Russian at UW-Milwaukee, to learn the basics needed to understand Gogol’s masterpiece, Dead Souls, and its resonance in Russian culture.

Forged Identities, or, Where’s the Art and What’s the Deal in Nikolai Gogol’s Dead Souls?
Wednesday, July 31, 7:00 – 8:15 p.m.
Are Gogol’s characters in Dead Souls realistic portraits or false creations arising from his spiritual torments? Do this Ukrainian-born writer’s works have anything to tell us about Russia’s war against Ukraine or Russian literature’s possible complicity in current horrors? Join Andrew Reynolds, Associate Professor of Slavic Languages at UW-Madison, for an examination of the various enigmas and paradoxes of Gogol’s life and art.

Where Does Russia End? Russian Imperialism & Anti-Ukrainianism from Past to Present
Thursday, August 8, 7:00 – 8:15 p.m.
Join Christine Evans, Associate Professor of History at the UW-Milwaukee, to explore both the long history of the Russian state’s efforts to conquer its Western neighbors and decide who and where is Russian, and the imperialist narratives that have accompanied and sought to justify that effort.

The Colors of Chagall: A Family Art Day
Sunday, August 25, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Join us in celebration of Chagall’s love of color with a family-friendly day featuring all-ages art activities!

  • Make-and-take printmaking demonstrations
  • Show your colors and chalk our walk
  • A scavenger hunt to help your family navigate the Museum
  • Relax within the lines with Chagall coloring books