Jewish Museum of Florida

Housed in a 1936 Orthodox synagogue that served Miami’s first congregation, this small museum chronicles the rather big contribution Jews have made to the state of Florida, especially this corner. After all, while Cubans made Miami, Jews made Miami Beach, both physically (in a developer’s sense) and culturally (in an ‘anyone is welcome’ attitude). Yet there were times when Jews were barred from the American Riviera they carved out of the sand, and this museum tells that story, along with some amusing anecdotes (such as seashell purim dresses). The mainstay is Mosaic: Jewish Life in Florida, a mosaic (imagine that) of photographs and historical bric-a-brac. Also notable is the complete whitewash the museum makes of gangster Meyer Lansky, architect of the modern Mafia, who retired to Miami Beach and comes off here as a nice old guy who always donated to his synagogue.