The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience

The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience MSJE explores how the South changed Jews and how Jews changed the South.

Sometimes, just a look at the calendar can serve as a reminder of the Southern Jewish past. This week in Southern Jewish...
06/18/2026

Sometimes, just a look at the calendar can serve as a reminder of the Southern Jewish past. This week in Southern Jewish History: three events, in three states, that shed light on the twentieth-century Jewish South in all its complexity, joy, progress, and tragedy.

Subscribe to our monthly "Southern Shmooze" newsletter to get our "This Month In Southern Jewish History" column straight to your inbox.

Spots are filling up in our 6/28 Mahjong Class! Join Mahjong teacher Sara Mayeux for a session that will leave you well-...
06/17/2026

Spots are filling up in our 6/28 Mahjong Class! Join Mahjong teacher Sara Mayeux for a session that will leave you well-versed in the rules of the game, and informed about its fascinating intersection with the Southern Jewish past. Refreshments will be served.

Register at the link to save a seat in the class. Tickets are discounted for MSJE members. https://buff.ly/6Qy4G1Z

It's getting hot and humid. We're living off ice cream and snowballs. And you know what that means: it's time for MSJE's...
06/16/2026

It's getting hot and humid. We're living off ice cream and snowballs. And you know what that means: it's time for MSJE's Sit a Spell virtual summer lecture series! We team up with expert scholars, filmmakers, and researchers to bring some learning into your summer, wherever you're spending it. This year's topics are:

1. Southern Jews and Comedy on Thursday July 23rd, 6:00 pm CT
2. "Xueta Island" Filmmaker Talk on Thursday July 30th, 12:00 pm CT
3. Southern Jewish Mayors on Thursday, August 6th, 6:00 pm CT

Learn more, and register for these virtual lectures, at the link:
https://www.msje.org/public-programs/sit-a-spell-summer-lecture-series

"Fair Labor Lawyer" tells the story of Bessie Margolin, who began life in an orphanage in New Orleans and trailblazed he...
06/15/2026

"Fair Labor Lawyer" tells the story of Bessie Margolin, who began life in an orphanage in New Orleans and trailblazed her way to America's high courts, helping to shape labor policy while redefining the role of working women. Buy Marlene Trestman's biography of Margolin, or any other book in the MSJE online store, for 10% off with the code MONDAY10 today: https://www.msjestore.org/product/fair-labor-lawyer/53

We're so proud and excited to share the first, second, and third-place winners of our middle school writing contest, mad...
06/14/2026

We're so proud and excited to share the first, second, and third-place winners of our middle school writing contest, made possible by the Bruce J. Heim foundation. This year, students in grades 5-8 were prompted to imagine how they might welcome a "New American" to their own classroom: what information would they share with their new classmate, and what questions would they ask?

Congratulations to the winners, who were selected from over 100 entries (more than double from last year)! Find their full essays, along with past winners, on our website: https://www.msje.org/post/2026-middle-school-writing-contest

This week marks the anniversary of the deaths of two celebrated Southern Jewish historical figures and remarkable immigr...
06/13/2026

This week marks the anniversary of the deaths of two celebrated Southern Jewish historical figures and remarkable immigrants to the South: one a Texas rabbi known for his humanitarian work, the other a South Carolina mayor who helped desegregate his city.

Find more Southern Jewish anniversaries in our free, monthly "Southern Shmooze" newsletter: just go to our website to sign up.

And if you want to learn more about Southern Jewish mayors, we've got just the thing for you. We'll be hosting a virtual lecture on the topic as part of our Sit-a-Spell Virtual Summer Series. Learn more here: https://www.msje.org/public-programs/sit-a-spell-summer-lecture-series

You don't need to be Jewish to have a Southern Jewish experience! The Southern Jewish story is a microcosm of the Americ...
06/12/2026

You don't need to be Jewish to have a Southern Jewish experience! The Southern Jewish story is a microcosm of the American story, and Southern Jewish communities have always been intertwined with their non-Jewish neighbors.

Shabbat Shalom to you and yours, no matter what your Southern Jewish experience looks like!

Mazel Tov to Skip Bertman on being included in the Jewish Sports Heritage Association's Class of 2027 Inductees! The ind...
06/12/2026

Mazel Tov to Skip Bertman on being included in the Jewish Sports Heritage Association's Class of 2027 Inductees! The induction ceremony will be held Sunday, April 4, 2027, at Temple Israel, Lawrence, NY, and via Zoom.

Skip is the former baseball coach and athletic director at LSU. He led the Tigers to five College World Series Championships, seven SEC Championships, and was voted Baseball Coach of the Year seven times.

We're proud to display his baseball in our Southern Jews in Popular Culture exhibit.

Mahjong is more than a fun game. When you scratch the surface of this beloved pastime, you uncover a long When you leav...
06/11/2026

Mahjong is more than a fun game. When you scratch the surface of this beloved pastime, you uncover a long When you leave this class with experienced teacher Sara Mayeux, you'll have basic knowledge of National Mah Jongg League Rules, and you'll have learned a delightful part of the Southern Jewish story. Register at the link to join at 10 am ET at MSJE on June 28th. Refreshments will be served! https://lnkd.in/gsRS5XQf

Happy National Seersucker Day!Joseph Haspel, Sr., started his clothing company in New Orleans in 1909. One hundred and s...
06/11/2026

Happy National Seersucker Day!

Joseph Haspel, Sr., started his clothing company in New Orleans in 1909. One hundred and seventeen years later, his seersucker suits remain the height of comfortable Southern fashion. Today, the company is still family-run, with fourth-generation Laurie Haspel Lipsey at the helm – truly a Southern Jewish experience!

This magazine ad from 1943 touts Haspel’s 100% cotton suits as “guaranteed not to shrink, fade, or discolor,” and cost only $14.50!

Address

818 Howard Avenue
New Orleans, LA
70113

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+15043842480

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience:

Shortcuts

Share

Category