Research Your Past

Are you curious about your family’s background in New Haven CT? How about the history of New Haven’s Jewish neighborhood, synagogues and organizations?

Our archives and archivists help people learn more about Jewish New Haven history as well as general New Haven history. Common questions we regularly research include births, deaths and weddings. Our extensive collection of photographs provides views of New Haven over the past century.

Contribute to the Collection

Do you have documents, photos, videos, films or things that illustrate some aspect of Jewish life in New Haven?

Papers and objects that might not seem important to you, may help us fill in gaps in our collections and help us provide a fuller portrait of Jewish life in New Haven over the centuries. Talk with us about donating your material to our collection.

Updates

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3rd Annual Judith Ann Schiff Women’s History Month Program

Bullets, Bandages, and Making WAVES:

Jewish Women in WWII New Haven

Thank you to everyone who joined us to honor and remember 7 New Haven Jewish women and their work, both on the home front and in the Navy, during World War II. If you missed the program, you can view it here!

The JHSGNH’s exhibit featuring archival records and images will be in the New Haven Museum’s community display case until the end of March, stop by to learn more!

If you’re interested in listening to the full-length oral history interviews, you can find them on our YouTube channel.

Meeting the Moment:

What the Jewish Past Teaches About the Future

We invite you to Meeting the Moment: What the Jewish Past Teaches About the Future, a powerful three-part series exploring American Jewish history and the influences shaping our community today. In a time that challenges our identity and beliefs, this is an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and contribute to a hopeful future.

Sponsored by: Congregation Mishkan Israel, Temple Beth Sholom, B’nai Jacob, and the Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven

Made possible in part through a generous impact grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven

Jewish Voices of Grove Street Cemetery: Guided Walking Tour

Join us on Wednesday, May 21 for this roughly 90-minute tour of the Grove Street Cemetery. This guided walking tour will uncover the stories of the remarkable Jewish figures buried in these historic grounds — pioneers, scholars, philanthropists, and community leaders who shaped the city and beyond. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a member of the local Jewish community, or curious about New Haven’s diverse heritage, this tour offers a unique and meaningful way to connect with the past. The total walking distance for the cemetery tour will be approximately a mile, so please wear comfortable shoes! Register and learn more here!

Jews In New Haven

Walk New Haven

JHS Newsletter

We are a member agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven

and a historical society of the Ethnic Heritage Center

We thank The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and Andrew Eder for their financial contributions towards the construction of this website.