Lifestyles
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Jewish Sites Within 200 Miles of Baltimore
With the projection of record high gas prices and consequently tighter budgets, shorter road trips might be a solution for the family vacation this summer. Fortunately, Baltimore is ideally situated with interesting travel destinations only a few hours away, including many sites with fascinating Jewish history and flavor.
Elinor Spokes
Philadelphia, Pa.
Just under two hours north, Philadelphia offers great museums, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Franklin Institute, and the city’s centerpiece, the Independence National Historical Park, which includes the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Located close by is historic Congregation Mikveh Israel and the National Museum of American Jewish History.
Dedicated to exclusively collecting, preserving and interpreting artifacts pertaining to the American Jewish experience, the National Museum of American Jewish History houses more than 10,000 items. Although undergoing a major renovation and expansion, to be completed in 2010, the Museum is open throughout the project. For information, go to http://www.nmajh.org.
Founded in 1740, Congregation Mikveh Israel, known as the synagogue of the Revolution, is one of the oldest congregations in the country. Among its most famous congregants was Haym Salomon, banker and broker, who negotiated all Revolutionary War loans from Holland and France on his own personal credit. Rebecca Gratz, founder of social and educational institutions benefiting women and children, was also a member.
Nearby is the Mikveh Israel Cemetery, which includes the gravesites of famous Revolutionary-era Jews, as well as Jewish soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War. Visit http://www.mikvehisrael.org to learn more.
Annapolis, Md.
Maryland’s own capital also has numerous historic sites to see, great shopping, eating and boat-gazing. Although the Maryland State House is currently undergoing renovation and is closed to public tours through January 2009, an exhibit tracing the State House’s four-hundred-year history can be seen in the House of Delegates at 6 Bladen St., Monday through Friday.
For a glimpse of Jewish life, visit The Uriah Levy Jewish Chapel at the United States Naval Academy, opened in 2005 and named for Jewish Naval Officer Commodore Uriah P. Levy, who served under four presidents. Walking tours of the Naval Academy campus, including the chapel, are available throughout the week. Check out http://www.usna.edu/NAFPRODV/VC .
Richmond, Va.
Rather head south? Two hours away, Richmond beckons with history, museums and sites to explore. Among this state capital’s highlights are the Museum and White House of the Confederacy, the premier civil war museum with the world’s largest collection of Confederate artifacts; the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, boasting Degas sculptures and Impressionist paintings; and Haunts of Richmond, a haunted house and ghost tour. Check out the very comprehensive website, http://www.visitrichmond.com .
Jewish Richmond is also diverse and full of history. The Beth Ahabah Museum and Archives features an extensive collection of artifacts tracing the city’s Jewish history dating back to 1789. The collection includes a copy of a letter from George Washington, dated 1791, a 1723 ketubah (marriage contract) illuminated with zodiac signs, and a cornerstone of a German synagogue burned during Kristallnach in 1939. The museum and synagogue are next to one another and both are open for tours. For more information, go to http://www.bethahabah.org .
The Virginia Holocaust Museum, founded in 1997, features 28 exhibits, including The Nuremberg Trial Courtroom Exhibit, the only existing replica of the famous courtroom. Visit http://www.va-holocaust.com.
A Local Connection
Cumberland, Md.
On the opposite side of the state, the small town of Cumberland sits along the C&O Canal path, a bikeway to Washington, D.C. According to Pikesville resident Susan Shofer Baron, Cumberland is the picture of quintessential small town America. A frequent visitor because her sister lives there and owns the Inn on Decatur, a bed and breakfast, Baron says the town is a fun family destination with many outdoor activities. Her sister, Gail Shofer Hall, has run the Inn for two years. “The first thing that greets you is a mezuzah and a doorstop that reads Shalom,” adds Baron.With Deep Creek Lake only 30 minutes away, Rocky Gap State Park 5 minutes away and the C&O tow path right there, Baron notes, “There is something for everyone.”
There is also a historic synagogue in the town, B’er Chayim, which was built in 1866 and has an active congregation of 70 families today. Go to http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/cumberland/ber.htm for information.
