We Need Your Support.

Please become a member of the Iowa Jewish Historical Society!

Your annual membership with the Iowa Jewish Historical Society will help preserve the history and irreplaceable treasures of Jews in Iowa.  With your membership you will receive the CHAIowan, a bi-annual newsletter packed with information and interesting items concerning the activities of the Iowa Jewish Historical Society, the Caspe Heritage Gallery, and the history of Jews in Iowa.

Use our conveneient on-line form to get an annual membership with a credit card or bill by mail.

Torah, menorahs, and other artifacts from Beth El Synagague in Fort Dodge, which was founded in 1918 and closed in 2000.  The chairs are from The Children of Israel Synagogue, Des Moines.

 Fall Event guests enjoy the medical exhibit in the Caspe Heritage Gallery.

Join the Iowa Jewish Historical Society

for the Second Annual

Jews Love Baseball

10:30 - 4:30  Sunday, August 8, 2010

The Caspe Terrace

Iowa Premiere of the new Film

Jews and Baseball:  An American Love Story

Narrated by Dustin Hoffman

Starring Sandy Koufax, Larry King, Kevin Youkilis, Shawn Green, Yogi Berra, Bob Feller, Ron Howard, and many, many others.

See the trailer for the movie at:

http://www.youtube.comwatch?v=PD5jzfilVI

More information about the film at:

http://www.jewsandbaseball.com

Showings at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm

A ballpark style lunch with Chicago Dogs, chips, potato salad, and a soft drink

Games for youngsters, a pick-up baseball game, and a silent auction

Bring your friends and neighbors

Tickets

$18 for individuals 10 and older for the movie, lunch, and all activities

$36 for families (2 adults and their children 18 or younger living in the household)

Call 277-6321 ext 218 for reservations or purchase tickets at the door.

Additional showings of the Film

Tuesday, August 10 and Thursday, August 12   7:00 pm

$10 per person

All proceeds go to support the education and preservation activities of the Iowa Jewish Historical Society

 *******************

The Iowa Jewish Historical Society also invites you to visit

The Caspe Heritage Gallery   

to view the traveling exhibit "From Distant Places to Dubuque's Shores:  175 Years of Jewish Presence" about Alexander Levi, a French Jew of Spanish descent who became a successful businessman and philanthropist and was the first naturalized American to sign a state charter. 

The exhibit is on loan from Temple Beth El in Dubuque and includes illustrated panels and two audio-visual stations featuring a tour of Linwood Cemetery and selected Jewish music. 

 You can find out additional information about the exhibit at www.levicelebration.com

 The Caspe Heritage Gallery of the Iowa Jewish Historical Society is located at 33158 Ute Ave. in Waukee.

  For more information about the Iowa Jewish Historical Society or to visit the gallery, contact Sandi Yoder, Interim Director of the IJHS at ijhs@dmjfed.org or 515-205-0379.

Mission
The mission of the Iowa Jewish Historical Society is to collect, catalogue, house, and preserve the history of the Jewish people of the state of Iowa and to deepen community understanding of Jewish history and culture through educational programming and exhibitions.

History
The idea of an Iowa Jewish Historical Society was first discussed in 1989, at the 75th Anniversary dinner of the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines.  The Caspe Jewish Heritage Gallery was opened at Drake University in October 1996.  Drake donated an exhibition space on the 3rd floor of the Harmon Fine Arts Building, and Lewis and Neecy Caspe of Des Moines made a very generous donation to turn the space into an exhibit gallery.

In May 1998, the IJHS teamed with the State Historical Society of Iowa to develop and present a traveling exhibit created by the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest and the Minnesota Historical Society “Unpacking on the Prairie: Jewish Women in the Upper Midwest Since 1855”.  Accompanying this exhibit was a companion exhibit developed by IJHS “Unpacking: The Iowa Story” which was guest curated by founding IJHS member Dr. David Gradwohl,  Professor Emeritus Iowa State University.  Originally slated to run from May through July, “Iowa Story” continued on exhibit through December 31. The exhibit was viewed by more than 30,000 visitors to the State Historical Museum.

In 1998 the IJHS recieved a $42,555 Historic Site Preservation Grant from the State Historical Society of Iowa.  This grant enabled the IJHS to build new exhibit cases, and improve the lighting, security and fire alarm system at The Caspe Heritage Gallery.   This  grant was matched by the Iowa Foundation for Education, Environment, and the Arts and the Belin Family in memory of David and Connie Belin.

The Caspe Heritage Gallery
The Bucksbaum Fine Arts Wing was donated by Mary Bucksbaum Scanlan in memory of her father Martin Bucksbaum.  It is located  at 33158 Ute Avenue in Waukee, and is part of The Caspe Terrace.  The combined museum space, office area, and archives are at least 4 times larger than the Drake site, and the space is handicap accessible.  The Bucksbaum auditorium seats over 130 with state of the art audio, visual equipment provides a lovely space for films, speakers and live presentations.

Since opening at the Caspe Terrace in 2003, the IJHS has also sponsored a traveling exhibit, Far from Hitler: The Scattergood Hostel for European Refugees in 2004 at the Caspe Terrace.  The exhibit then traveled to two other destinations in the state.

Archives- What do we collect?

• Communal Life: Jewish organizational papers, artifacts and photographs –synagogues, sisterhoods, men’s and young peoples clubs; artifacts from synagogues no longer in existence, such as Beth El Synagogue in Fort Dodge, and Children of Israel, which was in Des Moines. 
• Personal and Family Artifacts – photographs, books, personal papers, clothing- items from their lives.
• Business Memorabilia
• Holocaust Memorabilia

Remember your dear ones...

With a tribute card

from the Iowa Jewish Historical Society.

Suggested $10 donation per card.

Contact Susie Kimelman (515) 277-3708

147 Tonawanda Drive, Des Moines, IA 50312-2905