Rooted in the Jewish value of respect for all humanity, the Maltz Museum mission is to build bridges of tolerance and understanding by sharing Jewish heritage through the lens of the American experience. It is dedicated to exploring diverse stories of courage from history and today, with a commitment to education and learning so that there can be a more inclusive tomorrow.
The stories of individuals and families – past and present – come to life through state-of-the-art exhibitions, interactives and films, oral histories, photographs, and artifacts. The Museum includes The Temple-Tifereth Israel Gallery, featuring an internationally recognized collection of Judaica, as well as a special exhibition gallery, featuring important exhibitions of national and international acclaim.
Some of the museum’s most popular special exhibitions have been:
· A Blessing to One Another: Pope John Paul II and the Jewish People
· Cradle of Christianity: Treasures from the Holy Land
· Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music
· Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
· Operation Finale: The Capture and Trial of Adolf Eichmann
· State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda
· This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement
· Violins of Hope
In an average year, the museum welcomes approximately 30,000 visitors, of which 10,000 are students.
Many students participate in the museum’s flagship program, Stop the Hate. Middle and high school students from Northeast Ohio examine history by taking a Stop the Hate tour, then reflect on the bias, bigotry, or discrimination they may have witnessed or experienced in their own lives, and what they can do to stop the hate by writing a personal essay or classroom song. The Stop the Hate contest annually awards $100,000 in scholarships to student upstanders and anti-bias education grants to schools.
In 2022, the museum unveiled a new logo, which incorporates a dove as a symbol of peace and healing for the future of humanity, and rainbow colors to represent all humanity — all faiths, races, cultures, and identities lifting together.
In a letter to the community, Managing Director, David Schafer said, “By calling ourselves by the name the community uses in reference to us colloquially — Maltz Museum rather than Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage — we invite with open arms those who may not otherwise believe they are welcome to join us in exploring the stories told in our galleries, courageous stories from history and today that carry universal messages of hope.”
