Something beautiful is coming to Nashville this fall. On October 30, 2026, the Frist Art Museum opens Beauty and Ritual: Judaica from the Jewish Museum, New York, an exhibition that brings together more than 130 Jewish ceremonial objects from six continents and nearly four thousand years of history — from ancient works to striking contemporary pieces.
Drawn from the world-renowned collection of the Jewish Museum in New York City, the exhibition shows how Jewish communities from South Asia to North Africa, from Western Europe to Australia and the Americas have transformed everyday ritual objects into breathtaking works of art. Visitors will discover Torah crowns, ark curtains, candlesticks, goblets and embroidered textiles crafted from the finest materials across the centuries, including an elegant silver Torah crown (1969) by Israeli-American artist Moshe Zabari and a hand-embroidered hallah cover from 19th-century Persian Kurdistan.
The exhibition unfolds in three thematic sections: the synagogue, where treasures like Torah ornaments and finials take center stage; the home, where Sabbath candlesticks, spice boxes and goblets glow with warmth; and a radiant finale dedicated to the Hanukkah menorah — the Jewish Museum holds one of the largest menorah collections in the world, with more than a thousand examples spanning five centuries. The timing could not be sweeter: the Frist’s presentation coincides with Hanukkah, the eight-day Festival of Lights.
Beauty and Ritual is on view in the Frist’s Upper-Level Galleries, 919 Broadway, from October 30, 2026, through February 7, 2027. Admission is free for members, and the museum is open Monday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday 1–5:30 p.m. A celebration of faith, craftsmanship and the beauty of ritual awaits — all are warmly invited.
Photo: The Jewish Museum, New York
