Temple Emanu-El’s South Boulevard location in 1917. (Photo courtesy of The Dallas Jewish Historical Society)

Temple Emanu-El’s South Boulevard location in 1917. (Photo courtesy of The Dallas Jewish Historical Society)

It’s National Jewish American Heritage Month, and what better time to celebrate Preston Hollow’s Jewish community.

One way to celebrate is by visiting the Museum of Biblical Art, which hosts the National Center for Jewish Art (NCJA), a special collection of art by Jewish and Israeli artists, historical and religious artifacts, and ceremonial items for study in its 10,000-square-foot exhibition.

“The NCJA will endeavor to teach the basics of Judaism and the Jewish Faith through art, bring contemporary Israeli and Jewish art to a broader audience – particularly art from the art colonies in Safed and EniHod in Israel – and others, and break down prejudice and misconceptions,” boasts the Museum of Biblical Art’s website.

The museum holds 10 other galleries, including the Museum of Holocaust Art, European Art Treasury, an on-site Art Conservation Lab, Via Dolorosa Sculpture Garden and other attractions.

The Museum of Biblical Art is located at 7500 Park Lane across from NorthPark Center and is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Standard admission is $15.

Another way is to learn about the contributions and history of the Jewish community in our neighborhood. Temple Emanu-El was the first Jewish congregation in North Texas and evolved from the Hebrew Benevolent Association, organized in 1872 (150 years ago) by 11 men who established a cemetery and held the first Jewish services in Dallas, according to the its website.

Later, during segregation in the 1950s, the Jewish community made their way from South Dallas to Preston Hollow. Our neighborhood also houses a few Jewish schools in the area, including Akiba Yavneh Academy and Mesorah High School for Girls.

To learn more, there are several books written about the history of the Jewish community and their contributions to Dallas, including They Came to Stay by Rose G. Biderman, Pioneer Jewish Texans by Natalie Ornish and The Levin Years: A Golden Era 1929-1951 Dallas, Texas Bet Ha-Sefer Ha-Ivre Ba-Dallas: Hebrew School of Dallas and Its Extended Activities by Ginger C. Jacobs.

No matter how you choose to learn about Jewish American history this month, the impact that the community had and continues to have on Dallas is certainly worth celebrating.