The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art

The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art Preserving Jewish art, history & culture since 1966
8,000+ pieces in our collection & archives
(260)

The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art (SMMJA) expects all comments, private messages, and other interactions on SMMJA’s page to be respectful and courteous. SMMJA reserves the right to remove or hide content that includes, but is not limited to:

• Spam, advertising, or commercial solicitations or information.
• Obscene, defamatory, harassing, discriminatory, violent, vulgar, hateful, o

r sexual material.
• Advocating the commission of a criminal act.
• Off-topic or disruptive remarks. SMMJA also reserves the right to temporarily block or ban users whose posts or comments on the SMMJA page fall within the above categories. Through the lens of both fine art and artifacts, the collection provides a testament and tribute to the resiliency of the Jewish people and those who seek to learn more about them. Special exhibits and events showcase works representing Jewish artists from historic to modern times. The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art is located on the Zarrow Campus at 2021 E 71st St in Tulsa and is open to the public Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday Noon to 5 pm and closed on Wednesdays.

Today, The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art welcomed Christian community leaders from Tulsa, Georgia, and Arkansas fo...
06/19/2026

Today, The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art welcomed Christian community leaders from Tulsa, Georgia, and Arkansas for a special visit and guided tour of the Museum and the Sanditen/Kaiser Holocaust Center.

Together, we explored Jewish history, culture, and the lessons of the Holocaust while engaging in thoughtful conversations about faith, remembrance, and the importance of standing against hatred and intolerance.

Meaningful dialogue begins with listening, learning, and building relationships. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our stories, our collection, and our mission with leaders committed to strengthening understanding across communities.

Thank you for visiting and for helping foster connections that remind us of our shared humanity.

This Torah Shield (Tas), created in Russian Poland during the late 19th century, once adorned a Torah scroll as both a d...
06/18/2026

This Torah Shield (Tas), created in Russian Poland during the late 19th century, once adorned a Torah scroll as both a decorative and symbolic ornament. Crafted from silver and gold, it features the Ten Commandments at its center, flanked by lions and crowned above with a royal crown.

The Hebrew inscription reads: "Swifter than eagles and stronger than lions to do the will of G-d," a phrase drawn from Jewish tradition that encourages courage, dedication, and moral strength.

Torah shields developed in Jewish communities across Europe as a way to honor and beautify the Torah. Rich with symbolism, they often feature crowns representing the sovereignty of Torah, lions symbolizing strength, and the tablets of the Ten Commandments as a reminder of Jewish law and tradition.

Today, this remarkable piece is part of The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art's collection and is currently on display.

Accession Number: SMMJA.1974.4

A crown unlike any other.An ornate Torah Crown (Keter Torah), crafted in Warsaw, Poland, around 1900, was placed atop a ...
06/17/2026

A crown unlike any other.

An ornate Torah Crown (Keter Torah), crafted in Warsaw, Poland, around 1900, was placed atop a Torah scroll as a symbol of reverence for Judaism's most sacred text. Made of intricate silver filigree and adorned with delicate bells, it reflects both extraordinary craftsmanship and the importance of Torah within Jewish life.

Jewish tradition teaches that there are three crowns: the Crown of Kingship, the Crown of Priesthood, and the Crown of Torah. Torah crowns on scrolls are often interpreted as representing the Crown of Torah—the idea that Jewish learning and wisdom are available to everyone, unlike kingship or hereditary priesthood.

More than a decorative ornament, the piece serves as a reminder of the value Judaism places on learning, wisdom, and the lifelong study of Torah.

Part of The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art's collection, the crown is currently on display in the Museum's galleries.

Accession Number: SMMJA.88.12.2

The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art Diaspora Exhibit: EthiopiaOver the coming weeks, we will be sharing stories, art...
06/16/2026

The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art Diaspora Exhibit: Ethiopia

Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing stories, artifacts, photographs, and traditions from communities featured in our Diaspora Exhibit, which explores Jewish life around the world.

This week, we begin with Ethiopia and the Beta Israel community, whose history offers a fascinating example of how Jewish traditions have been preserved across centuries and continents.

Image 1: Ethiopian Jews (1984), photographed by Marriam Cramer Ring in Ambober, Ethiopia. This photograph documents members of the Beta Israel community gathered with sacred texts and ceremonial garments, preserving a moment of Jewish life and tradition in Ethiopia.

Image 2: An embroidered Ethiopian robe from the 20th century. Traditional garments such as this reflect the blending of Jewish identity with local Ethiopian textile traditions and craftsmanship.

Image 3: A doll dressed in Ethiopian Jewish costume from Israel, late 20th century. Objects like this help preserve cultural memory and celebrate the distinctive traditions of Ethiopian Jewish communities.

For centuries, the Beta Israel community maintained Jewish practices largely independent of the wider Jewish world. Their history remained relatively unknown outside Ethiopia until the twentieth century. In the 1980s and 1990s, thousands of Ethiopian Jews immigrated to Israel through historic rescue operations, bringing with them traditions that had been preserved for generations.

Throughout this series, we will continue exploring Jewish communities from around the world through photographs, textiles, ceremonial objects, and personal stories featured in The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art Diaspora Exhibit.

Accession Numbers:
SMMJA.1986.14
SMMJA.89.1
SMMJA.02.7

06/15/2026

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of attending the unveiling of The Tulsa Map: Route 66 Edition, a special project celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and the people, places, and organizations that make Tulsa unique.

Created by MapWorks Tulsa, this colorful and creative map highlights destinations across the city and encourages both residents and visitors to explore Tulsa's rich culture, history, and local businesses.

We were honored to see The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art included as one of the featured destinations. As Route 66 travelers prepare to visit Tulsa during the centennial celebration, we look forward to welcoming guests to discover Jewish art, history, culture, and the stories that connect our community to the broader American experience.

If you'd like to explore the map for yourself, copies are now available at the Museum's front desk, as shown in the second photograph. Be sure to pick one up during your next visit and start planning your Route 66 adventure through Tulsa.

Congratulations to MapWorks Tulsa, artist Julia Raines, Creative Director Cristina Umezawa, and everyone involved in bringing this exciting project to life. Thank you for allowing us to be part of Tulsa's story.

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of attending the unveiling of The Tulsa Map: Route 66 Edition, a special project celebrat...
06/15/2026

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of attending the unveiling of The Tulsa Map: Route 66 Edition, a special project celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and the people, places, and organizations that make Tulsa unique.

Created by MapWorks Tulsa, this colorful and creative map highlights destinations across the city and encourages both residents and visitors to explore Tulsa's rich culture, history, and local businesses.

We were honored to see The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art included as one of the featured destinations. As Route 66 travelers prepare to visit Tulsa during the centennial celebration, we look forward to welcoming guests to discover Jewish art, history, culture, and the stories that connect our community to the broader American experience.

Congratulations to MapWorks Tulsa, artist Julia Raines, Creative Director Cristina Umezawa, and everyone involved in bringing this exciting project to life. Thank you for allowing us to be part of Tulsa's story.

Today, on what would have been Anne Frank’s 97th birthday, we remember one of the most recognizable voices of the Holoca...
06/12/2026

Today, on what would have been Anne Frank’s 97th birthday, we remember one of the most recognizable voices of the Holocaust and the lasting impact of her diary.

We chose to share this particular piece from Michael Knigin’s 'Anne Frank Series', because it captures Anne’s joy, curiosity, and humanity. Friends and family described her as lively, funny, and mischievous, and her diary is filled with witty observations, dreams for the future, and reflections on the beauty she found even in difficult circumstances.

Anne loved reading, writing, spending time with friends, and imagining the life she hoped to build. Despite the challenges she faced, she maintained a remarkable sense of optimism and famously wrote, “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”

Knigin’s 'Remembrance 2000' and 'Anne Frank Series' honor the victims, survivors, and heroes of the Holocaust through the use of historical photographs, symbolic imagery, collage, and digital techniques. Together, they encourage reflection on memory, resilience, and the importance of preserving Holocaust history for future generations.

They are currently on display in the Katharine Penson Miller Fine Art Gallery at the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art.

Accession Number: 2010.55.35



This week, we're posting our Theodore Fried Friday a little early. This featured piece is 'The Love of 2 Sea Shells', a ...
06/12/2026

This week, we're posting our Theodore Fried Friday a little early. This featured piece is 'The Love of 2 Sea Shells', a delicate pen-and-ink drawing created by Theodore Fried in 1973.

Fried inscribed the drawing: "Dear Alice & Peter, for your 40th wedding anniversary, with heartfelt wishes for many happy returns. Love, R. April 6, 1980."

The inscription transforms the artwork into both a work of art and a treasured keepsake, celebrating love, friendship, and enduring relationships. Through careful crosshatching and attention to detail, Fried elevates two ordinary seashells into symbols of companionship and connection.

Born in Hungary in 1902, Theodore Fried was a Jewish artist and Holocaust survivor whose work often reflected the resilience of the human spirit. Throughout his life, he created paintings, drawings, and prints that captured both everyday beauty and profound human experiences. Today, The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art is proud to hold one of the largest repositories of his work, preserving his artistic legacy for future generations.

Accession Number: SMMJA.2026.4.35

What does a miniature Torah ark have to do with the founding of Israel's most influential art school?This remarkable min...
06/11/2026

What does a miniature Torah ark have to do with the founding of Israel's most influential art school?

This remarkable miniature Torah ark was created around 1920 by Boris Schatz, the visionary artist and educator who founded the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts in Jerusalem in 1906. Often called the "father of Israeli art," Schatz believed that Jewish artistic traditions should be preserved, celebrated, and reimagined for future generations.

More than a beautiful ceremonial object, this piece represents a pivotal moment in Jewish cultural history, when artists and craftspeople were working to establish a distinct Jewish artistic identity in the Land of Israel.

The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art is proud to care for this extraordinary work, which is one of the foundational objects that helped establish the Museum's original collection.

Visitors can see this in our lobby, and it will also be a part of our 60th Anniversary Exhibition, opening this summer and celebrating six decades of collecting, preserving, and sharing Jewish art, history, and culture.

Accession Number: SMMJA, 1965.1

What stories could this pitcher tell?This bisque ceramic pitcher, decorated with swans and dating to around 1900, was do...
06/10/2026

What stories could this pitcher tell?

This bisque ceramic pitcher, decorated with swans and dating to around 1900, was donated to The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art. According to the donor, the pitcher came from the home of a Jewish family who perished in the Holocaust and was looted during Kristallnacht.

Known as the "Night of Broken Glass," Kristallnacht took place on November 9–10, 1938. Across Germany and Austria, N**i mobs destroyed synagogues, vandalized Jewish-owned businesses, shattered thousands of windows, and ransacked Jewish homes. In addition to the violence and destruction, countless personal belongings, works of art, religious objects, and family heirlooms were stolen.

While historians estimate that hundreds of thousands of artworks were looted during the Holocaust, many survivors and their descendants spent decades searching not for famous paintings, but for family photographs, letters, books, jewelry, and everyday household objects that connected them to loved ones and a life that had been taken from them.

Today, objects like this pitcher serve as reminders that the Holocaust was not only an attack on people, but also on homes, families, culture, and memory.

Accession Number: SMMJA.1989.16

Address

2021 E 71st Street
Tulsa, OK
74136

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 12pm - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+19184921818

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