If the words “Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience” ring a bell, that’s because plans were made for such a museum right here in Meridian several years ago — but so far those plans haven’t come to fruition.

Macy Hart, director of the Jackson-based Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life said plans for the Meridian branch of the museum, which already has locations in Natchez and Utica, have not been scrapped.

“The plans are still out there. We still don’t have a location. We worked to find a location and we couldn’t, so it’s kind of on hold right now.”

Hart said ISJL would like to build a museum on a first floor site downtown near the MSU-Riley Center.

“We really can’t do anything until a clear site is made available to us. It needs to be downtown, and it needs to be… probably 4,000 feet.”

Hart and ISJL historian Dr. Stuart Rockoff said they want to locate downtown both because of the Jewish influence on the development of downtown Meridian and because they are excited about other downtown projects.

“If I wanted to look at the impact of the Jewish community on a city, there’s not any better example than Meridian,” said Rockoff. “Also, we’re really excited to be part of a vision for the revitalization of downtown Meridian.”

If it is ever built, Rockoff said the museum will “tell the story of the origins of Meridian through the prism of the Jewish community, because they’re really sort of hard to separate.”

The museum would feature interactive displays both on the history of Jews in Meridian and basic education on Judaism and Jewish people. Exhibits would include significant objects, oral history, video, and photographs.

Though plans have been made for the museum, whether it will ever be built in Meridian remains to be seen.

“We’re just literally on hold,” said Hart. “We have the plans, we know what we want to do with the museum, and if a site develops, we will look into it.”

Meridian Mayor Cheri Barry said she was open to the idea of the museum, which was planned with the previous administration, and to any idea that might improve downtown Meridian.

“I would love to talk to (ISJL) about it,” she said. “We are always looking for opportunities for downtown Meridian. We want to partner with anybody who wants to bring something to Meridian.”

For more information on the existing Museums of Southern Jewish Experience locations in Natchez and Utica, visit ISJL on the Web at www.isjl.org.