Volunteer Spotlight on Josef Rosenblatt!

Josef Rosenblatt has been a volunteer docent at the Jewish Museum of Maryland for two years. Josef is a native Baltimorean, but his ancestors are from Russia, Eastern Europe and France. His father was the rabbi of Beth Tfiloh Congregation for 52 years and his grandfather was a cantor, who also played himself in the original 1927 film, The Jazz Singer. Josef is happily married and has three sons and seven grandchildren.

Josef has always been interested in Jewish history and enjoys sharing Baltimore’s Jewish heritage and culture with the general public. He gives regular tours of Lloyd Street Synagogue and B’nai Israel. One unique tour he gave was to a group of blind adults. He had to be creative in painting a word picture of the synagogues. He also enjoys relating Jewish culture to non–Jews, such as Catholic groups that may visit. He also expressed pride that the menu from the New York Dairy Lunchroom on High Street, once owned by his wife’s family, is in the Voices of Lombard Street exhibit.

Besides volunteering at JMM, Josef enjoys reading, carpentry and model boat making. He also volunteers at the Baltimore Visitor Center.

If you know of anyone else who would like to join Josef as a docent (or as a volunteer in any other area of the Museum), please contact Sue Foard at sfoard@jewishmuseummd.org.

Post by Visitor Services Coordinator Graham Humphrey. Every month we highlight one of our fantastic JMM volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering with the JMM, send an email to Sue Foard at sfoard@jewishmuseummd.org or call 410-732-6402 x220! You can also get more information about volunteering at the Museum here.