Aurora's Jewish history and culture featured at historical society

Jewish history and culture in Aurora will be the subject of an exhibit at the Aurora Historical Society at the Pierce Art and History Center from March 20-June 4. Jewish pioneers began arriving in Aurora in the 1850s and established the first synagogue in 1904, making them among the earliest founders of the city.

The exhibit, featuring artifacts, ritual items and photos, will open with a reception from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 20. There will be refreshments provided by the ladies of Temple B'nai Israel. Cindy Michelassi, a Chicago-area rabbinical assistant from Aurora and singer with a large repertoire of Jewish music, will entertain.

The exhibit will be the 10th in the "Flavors of Aurora: Stirred, Not Shaken" series of ethnic tributes created by the historical society. The series began during the 175th anniversary of the city of Aurora in 2012 and has included Luxembourger, Romanian, German, Irish, Italian, Greek, African American, Hispanic and South Asian cultures.

After the March 20 opening, the exhibit will be open noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

The Pierce Art and History Center is at 20 E. Downer Place, Aurora. Street parking is available, in zones from 90 to 180 minutes, and the first hour of parking across the street in the Stolp Parking garage is free and $1 per hour thereafter.

For information, visit www.aurorahistory.net or AuroraHistory on Facebook.