By David Markham

A display of artifacts relating to Jewish fall and winter holidays is the Johnson County Museum’s holiday exhibit this year. The temporary exhibit, which opened Sept. 29 and will run through Jan. 6, is called “Jewish Holidays in the All-Electric House.”

“Through a captivating array of artifacts and artwork, visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the rich heritage and traditions involved in Hanukkah (a wintertime “festival of lights”), and Shabbat (a weekly Sabbath celebration),” said Curator of Engagement Lindsey Arnold Seevers.

In 2023, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Thursday, Dec. 7 and lasts until sundown on Friday, Dec. 15.

This exhibit is a collaborative effort between the Johnson County Museum and the Michael Klein Collection at The Temple B’nai Jehudah.

“This is the second collaboration between the museum and the Michael Klein collection, the first being “Passover Traditions” presented in the All-Electric House in 2021,” Arnold Seevers said. “This partnership aims to provide a perspective on the significance of Jewish holiday celebrations held within the home in mid-century Johnson County. We hope visitors will walk away with a new understanding of the celebration of Jewish holidays, and an appreciation for the diversity of communities in the county’s history.”

Displays throughout the home for the holiday exhibit will include Hanukkah-related items, and a variety of Judaica, which are items relating to Judaism. Visitors will also see items related to Sukkot, a harvest holiday, which took place in late September. All items in this holiday exhibit will remain on display for the entirety of the run of the exhibit.

Arnold Seevers noted that current plans call for the museum’s familiar aluminum tree and Christmas lights to return to the All-Electric House for the 2024 holiday season.

Also currently on display at the museum is the special interactive exhibit, “TRAINS: Transportation and the Transformation of Johnson County,” which examines how everything changed after the railroad came through Johnson County for the first time in 1867. That exhibit will be on display until Jan. 13.

The Johnson County Museum is located inside the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park. Exhibit and KidScape admission is included with regular museum admission rates of $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $4 for children ages one to 17, and free for children under one.

The museum is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and is closed on Sundays and holidays. The museum’s next free admission day will take place on Nov. 22.

David Markham is communications specialist with the Johnson County Park and Recreation District.