Florida University Takes Over Jewish Museum

By JTA July 1, 2012

Florida International University has approved the school’s acquisition of the Jewish Museum of Florida.

The school’s board of trustees passed the merger unanimously last Friday, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Pending approval from the state’s Board of Governors, the school would acquire the museum’s collection, library, endowment and two buildings of a former synagogue.

The museum estimates its assets to be worth $20 million to $30 million, though the Sun-Sentinel reported that the university also would take on the museum’s $706,000 mortgage.

“This step will strengthen awareness of our museum and broaden our academic offerings,” Jo Ann Arnowitz, the museum’s executive director, told the Sun-Sentinel.

The museum, which opened in 1995, will join two art museums owned by FIU.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO