The program will take place at three venues: our first day is at Chizuk Amuno Congregation; the second at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum (we provide bus transportation); and the third is at the JMM. Speakers include an educator from the Jan Karski Educational Foundation who will share educational resources with participants; a scholar from the USHMM who will talk about their newest exhibit, Some Were Neighbors: Collaboration and Complicity During the Holocaust; a Holocaust survivor and liberator who will share personal testimony about their experiences; and master teachers who will share pedagogical strategies for developing lesson plans. In addition to touring the USHMM’s permanent and new exhibits, participants will also have the chance to see the JMM’s most recent exhibit Zap! Pow! Bam! The Golden Age of Superheroes which will serve as inspiration for sessions on propaganda and teaching Maus.

Teachers at last year’s Summer Teachers Institute listening to educator Joyce Witt.

Our Summer Teachers Institute has become a cornerstone of our Holocaust education program. Comments such as “Thank you again for providing wonder-filled and inspirational information, stories, materials, educational ideas, etc., etc. We so appreciate being included in all your terrific programs” are indicative of the outstanding feedback we receive from participants year after year.

While space is quickly filling up, there are still some slots available. To register, applications are available on our website jewishmuseummd.org/summerteachersinstitute. For more information about the program, contact me at dcardin@jewishmuseummd.org.

New this year is a second summer workshop, the result of a partnership with Facing History and Ourselves, the BJC, and Baltimore City Schools. We are pleased to offer a five-day course August 5-9 taking place at the JMM focusing on Holocaust and Human Behavior. This program is open to high school teachers (who teach in any school) who plan on teaching a dedicated Holocaust course in the upcoming year.

Registration is through Facing History and Ourselves: facinghistory.org/professionaldevelopment.

The JMM is proud to serve as an educational resource for teachers on Holocaust education. If you teach or are just interested in the subject matter, please feel free to join us this summer!

Become a JMM member today!

A blog post by Assistant Director Deborah Cardin. Read other posts by Deborah here!

A blog post by Education Intern Trillion Attwood.

Last Sunday we celebrated in style with Clark Kent at his Bar Mitzvah, held here at the museum. This was inspired by one of our current exhibitions Zap! Pow! Bam! that examines the role of Jewish artists in the development of comic book heroes. This exhibition is only here until August 18^th, if you have not had a chance to visit yet I highly recommend trying to find some time. There are lots of interesting images and objects, including the first drawings of Superman and the desk on which they were drawn.

The day was pretty action packed with lots of things to do no matter your age, plenty of people found time to create there own superhero, or villain mask. There was also t-shirt decorating for everyone, lots of people went for the classic superman logo, some people had seriously impressive creative skills. Which combined with a selection of capes, led to plenty of dressing up and superhero posing for photos.

T-shirt decorating

My superhero mask

I really enjoyed our tastiest make of the day, edible torah scrolls, made with fruit roll ups, pretzels and candy, easily done at home. These combined with our kryptonite punch and huge cake made for a bit of a sugar-high, but what sort of a party is complete without sugar? I should also mention, there were plenty of healthier snacks.

One very popular part of the day was the viewing of the original Superman serials from the 1950′s. We always have them showing, but in the spirit of the day, they really drew a crowd. There was one boy, who had seen part of them on a school visit recently, and had been left on such a cliffhanger, he asked his father to bring him back so he could see the rest.

Kryptonite punch

We also had a couple of really interesting talks during the day, by our museum director Marvin Pinkert and the days MC Josh Fruhlinger. Lots of people also found the time to go on our synagogue tours and look around our Voices of Lombard street exhibition.

The highlight of the day was the candle lighting ceremony, in which Superman asked for help from all the most important people in his life. This included a short poem for each person, including this one for Siegel and Shuster the creators of Superman:

You created superman from your imagination,

And your drawings and stories swept the whole nation.

A huge success on comics, TV and the silver screen,

In memory of Siegel and Shuster, I’ll light candle thirteen.

Superman lighting his candles

There was of course also dancing, in which almost everyone participated, due to plenty of friendly encouragement. It seemed that everyone had a really good day, especially the dads, which is the most important thing.

 If you did miss out there are still plenty more events this summer around Zap! Pow! Bam! including our Super Art Fight June 30^th. Watch the website or facebook for more details.

Thank you to Elaine Hall for photographs.

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Date run in Baltimore Jewish Times:  April 5, 2013

PastPerfect Accession #:  1995.013.015

Status:  Unidentified. Do you know these attendees at a Zionist Convention in Virginia?

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Tune in tomorrow for a full report on the festivities, through the eyes of our new Education and Programs Intern cracker jack reporter at the Daily Globe, Trillion  Breman!

Guest MC Josh Fruhlinger treats us to a Superman Retrospective!

Superman asked his guests to help light the candles on his Bar Mitzvah cake!

Though he lit the first candle himself!

How cute is this?

Dancing the Hora!

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A blog post by Visitor Services Coordinator Abby Krolik.