The first Jews came to America in 1654. Since then, the history of American Jews is as much as story of defining identity as it is about religion. Some debate whether Jewish American is more accurate than American Jew. As one Jewish American puts it, "One is the noun, one is the adjective, and my noun changes, my noun changes based on my context." As the first installment of The Jewish Americans airs on WVIZ/PBS Wednesday night at 9, we'll take a look at the history of the Jewish Clevelanders. You're invited to join us, Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. Image: Yuri and Magda Tsimbler, Russian immigrantsLinda Bender, Director of Education and Public Programs, Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage
Sean Martin, Associate Curator of Jewish History, Western Reserve Historical Society