Night at the Museum – such was the name of the mega-event that lured over four hundred of visitors and many Jewish community members to the address of 66 Nezhinskaya Street in Odesa – Museum of History of Odesa Jews operated by Migdal JCC of Odesa.
“It was not the first night at the museum we did within the world-wide project. But this time it was special for many reasons. First of all, we did it together with another JCC in Odesa – Beit Grand. Secondly, our AJT teens became one of its popularization forces – they led their own tour of Jewish Odesa (so far – in its central part) for the general audience, and it was the fruit of the regular project implemented within the AJT activities at Migdal. Thirdly, the central exhibition of the day was one entitled “Women of Odesa” and devoted to various Jewish women of Odesa; it was composed of the things that had been brought by different community members and now serves as the basis for other future exhibitions”, Kira Verkhovskaya, Chairman of Board Migdal JCC mentioned.
For over six hours that evening all those that wished to join with the gems of the Jewish history and traditions could reveal their talents in master-classes, listen to the songs or dance Jewish dances, tour the Museum and see the exhibition, take part in the quest, try on and demonstrate “Odesa style clothes”, stay on a serious note and listen to lectures, enjoy the specialties of the Jewish cuisine by the invited Kosher restaurant. Migdal’s choir and singing and dancing groups, Beit Grand’s LEV Volunteer Center with projects such as children’s drama group, dot-painting studio, etc., as well as the professional music and singing bands popular in Odesa made the holiday open, noisy and joyful, both for Jewish and wider communities of Odesa.
