Officials with the Augusta Jewish Museum held a ribbon cutting ceremony July 21.
The day was several years in the making. The museum concept saved two historic Augusta structures from the wrecking ball in 2015.
The Greek Revival-style Jewish synagogue was built in 1869 and is the oldest synagogue in the state. Also, the court of the ordinary, adjacent to the synagogue, was constructed in 1860. It was unique for its day with its state-of-the-art fireproof design; it housed historic documents dating back to 1777. The removal of the two building was proposed to provide extra parking at the Municipal building.
Jack Steinberg was the first to champion the idea of a museum. He had worshipped at the synagogue as a child and his bar mitzvah was held there, according to previous media report.
Not long before he died in 2019, Steinberg passed the torch to Jack Weinstein, museum board president.
Over the past three years, HW Exhibits in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina has worked with Weinstein and other museum officials to bring their vision into existence. The building has been used for educational events as work progressed.
“It is exactly what Jack wanted; first to save the building and then to educate the people,” said Weinstein in a May 3 Augusta Good News article.
Starting early August the museum will be open from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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