As Congregation Agudath Achim enters its 112th year of existence, members have only to walk the halls of the synagogue to relive the past.
Now, the public is also welcome to peruse the congregation's history by visiting the newly completed Museum of Jewish Life -- Agudath Achim, inside the synagogue at 7901 W. Fifth St.
Photographs of smiling boys and girls at bar and bat mitzvahs tell of joyous times, while a room dedicated to the years of World War II offers visitors a glimpse into the heartbreak and hardships some members endured as they fled Europe before eventually settling in Little Rock.
Debi Steppach, creative director, said the museum is like a novel, an ongoing story, with members of the congregation as the characters.
"All in all, it's a tale of tradition, tragedy and triumph," she said. "It describes the sense of family and continuity. It is a never-ending testimony to God's blessing and provision in this place."
Steppach spent untold hours working to put the museum together. She gathered old photographs and documents, interviewed synagogue members and crafted exhibits. She dedicated her time to the Museum of Jewish Life even though she's not Jewish. Steppach is a Christian. Her husband, Richard, is Jewish
and a member of Congregation Agudath Achim, and she's also active in the life of the congregation. She said she knew the museum was an important project but wasn't sure how to start.
"I knew with God's help it would happen," she said.
As beloved older members of the congregation began dying, she realized she had to start or the stories would be lost.
"I began to interview the older members and that's when I saw the depth of the stories," Steppach said. "The stories were, as I expected, incredible, but I didn't realize how deep they really went. Many people came out of the war and said there is no God and yet some came out like these people with triumphs and lives well lived."
The museum isn't a separate building. The photographs and memorabilia line the walls in the administrative/education wing of the synagogue. Exhibits are also housed in two rooms -- one is also home to the congregation's Jewish veterans group; the other is the War Years room.
Some of Steppach's interviews are highlighted in the War Years room, which features the stories of six members. Some of them survived the Holocaust and others were born soon after the end of the war. In addition to the written stories, the exhibit includes documents, items they took with them when fleeing the country, menus from ocean liners carrying the escapees and immigration papers.
The museum also features family snapshots of weddings and holiday celebrations, historical photographs of early buildings used by the congregation, and exhibits explaining Jewish life -- from worship to community involvement. Newspaper clippings share the story of the theft of the congregation's Torah in 1970 and another features the names of all the rabbis who have served the congregation throughout the years. Photographs of congregation members taken by photographer Zac Lehr are also featured.
Rabbi Kalman Winnick has been serving as the spiritual leader since 2009. He shared his thoughts on the new museum in the synagogue's newsletter: "I am nearly without words with which to thank Debi Steppach and her many helpers who created a truly beautiful museum/hall of memories."
The congregation dedicated the museum Dec. 6 and it opened to the public this month.
Toni Roosth, a synagogue board member, said she was most moved by the War Years room featuring the Holocaust stories, some of which she didn't know.
"I didn't really know the stories about these people, these ladies I see every Saturday morning," she said.
She hopes visitors, children and adults alike, will also be enlightened by the stories and exhibits.
"It puts a face on it, to know there are local people in the community that have been through this," she said. "They are around to tell about it and you can see it. Their stories are right there. I think it's enlightening. I think it's fascinating and I think it's inspiring. To be able to read firsthand what these people went through, I think that's extremely important in making a difference here in Arkansas."
Roosth said she also hopes visitors will come away with a sense of hope.
"I think the most inspiring thing to me and the thing I hope people who go through it will take away is the fact that there are immigrants who got here to Arkansas despite everything and made a good life for themselves," she said.
Steppach said she feels blessed by the experience of putting the museum together.
"During the creation of the museum I just felt almost high -- on a spiritual plane I hadn't been on before," she said. "It wasn't even like work even though I was working so hard. I was blessed and honored to be able to do this. We would love to see children and adults come in here and be changed, and be challenged and learn."
Information on scheduling a tour is available by calling the synagogue at (501) 225-1683 or by calling Steppach at (501) 993-2331. Private, group and student tours are available. Information is also available online at lrsynagogue.org.
Religion on 01/23/2016