Stockton in Woodbine
The Sam Azeez Museum of Woodbine Heritage was donated to then Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in December 2012 by its founder, Michael Azeez. It is housed in the historic Woodbine Brotherhood Synagogue, which Azeez restored, adding a museum named in memory of his late father, Sam.
The synagogue, which dates back to 1896, was founded by Russian Jewish settlers fleeing pogroms at the end of the nineteenth century. Settlers were supported by the Baron de Hirsch Fund in their efforts to develop an agricultural colony. Museum exhibitions chronicle their migration and establishment in the region, and support educational initiatives shaped by the museum鈥檚 mission to reduce hate and prejudice.
A $1 million addition, Anne Azeez Hall in Woodbine, opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 29, 2013. Woodbine was Stockton鈥檚 fourth instructional site.
The 2,800-square-foot facility includes two state-of-the-art classrooms, each of which holds up to 25 students. The spaces can also be joined into one larger educational space which, in addition to being used for Stockton鈥檚 courses, hosts K-12 programming and community events, particularly those focused on Holocaust education.
