“Most Fortunate Unfortunates: The Jewish Orphans’ Home of New Orleans” at MSJE

New Orleans had the first purpose-built Jewish orphanage inAmerica because New Orleans had Yellow Fever, an indiscriminate orphan-maker. On view at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience through January 25, 2026,the changing exhibit “Most Fortunate Unfortunates: The Jewish Orphans’ Home of New Orleans” travels through a near-century of history.

Our guest this time is Michael Jacobs, MSJE’s collections and exhibits curator. Michael and I are joined in the gallery about halfway through by Marlene Trestman, author of “Most Fortunate Unfortunates,” a 2023 book the exhibit is based on.

Trestman was orphaned at age 11 and grew up as a foster care client of the Jewish Children’s Regional Service, successor to the Jewish Orphans’ Home.

Images accompanying the conversation are on the blog at themuseumgoer.com.