Supported by Museums and Society’s Mellon grant, History major Yonah Reback is interning at the Jewish Museum of Maryland this summer. He is working with staff on “an exciting new exhibition spotlighting the life of Mendes I. Cohen, one of Baltimore’s most fascinating Jewish characters. Part ‘Forrest Gump,’ part ‘Indiana Jones,’ Mendes Cohen defended Fort McHenry in the War of 1812, helped run his family’s successful banking business, and traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Middle East. Most significantly, Mendes was the first American-Jew to experience the land of Israel in the 1830s. I look forward to bringing this wonderful project to life.” See the show when it opens in August 2014!