The Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven

2025 Annual Awards Celebration: Honoring Chapel Haven Schleifer Center
2025-10-19 11:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | JCC of Greater New Haven, 360 Amity Rd, Woodbridge, CT, 06525, United States
The Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven invites you to our Annual Awards Celebration, where we recognize members of the local Jewish community who are shaping history through their work, volunteerism, and philanthropy.
This year, we are proud to honor not an individual, but an organization: the Chapel Haven Schleifer Center. An award-winning, nationally accredited school and transition program serving adults of all abilities, Chapel Haven was co-founded by Jerry Rossman and Sydney Krass as “a place where our kids could live and learn their independence.” Since then, it has grown into a vibrant community that continues to enrich lives every single day.
Join us on Sunday, October 19, from 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM at the JCC of Greater New Haven to celebrate Chapel Haven, its residents, and its devoted staff. The program includes a catered brunch, musical performance, material from our archives, and tributes from a few of the many people this organization has affected.

Jewish Voices of Grove Street: A Guided Cemetery Tour
2025-05-21 16:00 - 17:30 | Grove Street Cemetery, 227 Grove St, New Haven, CT, 06511, United States
Join us on Wednesday, May 21 at 4:00 pm for this roughly 90-minute tour of the Grove Street Cemetery, America’s first chartered cemetery. We will cover the history of the cemetery itself, including its architecture and innovative layout, as well as the history of some of the known and lesser-known Jewish residents, including remarkable 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! Light refreshments will be provided.

Register and learn more here!

Bullets, Bandages, and Making WAVES: Jewish Women in WWII New Haven
2025-03-02 14:00 - 16:00 | New Haven Museum, 114 Whitney Ave, New Haven, CT
The New Haven Museum (NHM) will highlight the resilience, courage, and ingenuity of local Jewish women during World War II in the Third Annual Judith Ann Schiff Women’s History Program, “Bullets, Bandages, and Making WAVES: Jewish Women in WWII New Haven,” on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 2 p.m. The program will also stream on Facebook Live. In the case of inclement weather, the event will be recorded and aired on YouTube and social media.
Register here: http://www.simpletix.com/…/bullets-bandages-and-making…
Presented by the Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven (JHSGNH), the program will share clips of recorded oral histories and historical documents capturing the challenges and triumphs of life in WWII, which ended 80 years ago, in 1945. From running a family business to managing home-front challenges, to serving in the Navy’s WAVES or making bullet shells reminiscent of “Rosie the Riveter,” their stories illustrate the ways American women in the Elm City contributed to the war effort.
JHSGNH volunteers, writer Carole Bass and oral-history interviewer Rhoda Zahler Samuel, will present segments of the video memories of Rita Small Melman (1928-2013), Mitzi Fenster Bargar (born 1927), Lucille Wolfe Alderman (1924-2024), Rose Rosenberg Dubin (born 1924), Ruth Grannick (1921-2022), Edith Londer Gillman (1924-2018), and Laura Small Levine (1919-2016). Jennifer Klein, Bradford Durfee Professor of History at Yale University, will give a brief presentation about the ways WWII influenced women’s roles.
The program will honor the legacy of these remarkable women and invite attendees to reflect and consider how history shapes our current values and societal norms. Visitors will discover the new roles women accepted during the war: enlisting in the armed forces, working in munitions factories, running family businesses at home. “These roles challenged traditional gender norms and forever changed public perception of women in the workforce,” says Samuel. “With this event, we hope to inspire ongoing conversations about gender equality.” She adds, “World War II was a turning point for women, yet there is still much work to be done to promote equal participation in the work force and armed services.”
Michael Dimenstein, President of the JHSGNH, notes how fitting the topic is for the Schiff Women’s History Program. “In the third year of this program, the ingenuity and drive of these women during WWII aptly reflects Judy Schiff’s resourcefulness, determination, and belief in the importance of preserving and sharing our collective history.”
Selected photographs, publications, and objects related to the presentation were curated by Nicole Zador, managing archivist at the JHSGNH, and will be on view in the Community Case in the Museum’s rotunda throughout March 2025.

L'dor V'dor Judaica with Emily Scheinfeld
2024-04-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
L’dor V’dor Judaica rehomes Judaica, giving it another life and bringing joy and light into the lives of those who receive it. They source Judaica from thrift shops, estate and tag sales, and the trash so that these found items continue to be used and appreciated in Jewish homes. Through a focus on the use of Judaica in celebration and storytelling, L’dor V’dor Judaica seeks to build community among all Jews in Atlanta. Learn more on their website.

Emily Scheinfeld is an assistant professor of Communication at Kennesaw State University, she has a Ph.D. in Interpersonal Communication from the University of Texas at Austin. Her research focuses on improving internal family health communication around issues like death, genetic testing, drugs, and the choice to be a donor. Emily founded L’dor V’dor Judaica after realizing how expensive new Judaica can be and exploring secondhand Judaica as a more affordable option. After fulfilling her own needs for ritual practice, she continued to purchase what she found, knowing that there must be Jews who want to use Judaica and have Jewish art but cannot afford or seek it out themselves.
This is the eleventh program in our Judaica Project lecture series. In these monthly Zoom sessions on Judaica, Jewish art, and what these mean to you, speakers present a different type of topic related to Judaica or Jewish art to prompt discussion with and among the audience. Attendees are invited to ask questions and share their own experiences at the end of this session. This series is a collaboration with the Peter C. Hereld House for Jewish Life at Quinnipiac University and is made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven.

Meeting the Moment: The Israelization of American Judaism
2024-04-07 09:30 - 11:45 | Congregation Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Rd, Hamden, CT, 06517, United States
Session 4 – The Israelization of American Judaism with Dr. Joshua Shanes, Director of the Arnold Center for Israel Studies and Associate Director of the Jewish Studies Program at the College of Charleston.

Meeting the Moment: What the Jewish Past Teaches About the Future

Explore the depths of American Jewish history and connect with the stories that shape our times. In a period that has tested our community’s resilience, it’s important to come together to understand the influences that impact our lives.

Our community stands at a crucial point, considering our identity, beliefs, and sense of security. “Meeting the Moment” is a thoughtful space for engaging conversations, expert perspectives, and finding a way forward. This is an opportunity to address our challenges with insight and collective effort, building bridges of understanding and unity.

Join us for a meaningful exploration of these topics. By participating, you contribute to a dialogue that can lead to positive change. Reserve your place and be part of crafting a hopeful future for our community.

Sponsored by Congregation Mishkan Israel, Temple Beth Sholom, Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven, and the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven. This series is generously supported in part by a Community Impact Grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven.

Judaic Art & Graphic Design with Jeanette Kuvin Oren
2024-03-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us on Thursday, March 14, at 7 PM to speak with Jeanette Kuvin Oren! A graduate of Princeton and Yale Universities, Jeanette completed a Master’s degree in public health and most of her Ph.D. in epidemiology before devoting herself full-time to Judaic-commissioned art and graphic design. Since 1984, Jeanette has created installation pieces for more than 400 houses of worship, schools, community centers, and camps around the world. She specializes in glass, mosaic, metal, fiber art, calligraphy, paper cutting, and painting. Jeanette makes Torah covers, ark curtains, donor recognition art, huppot, ketubot, wall hangings, and many other items for homes and institutions. Jeanette works with architects, professional and volunteer committees, fabricators, families, and institutions who commission her art. Jeanette designed the United States Postal Service 2022-2024 Hanukkah stamp. See more on her website.

This is the tenth program in our Judaica Project lecture series. In these monthly Zoom sessions on Judaica, Jewish art, and what these mean to you, speakers present a different type of topic related to Judaica or Jewish art in order to prompt discussion with and among the audience. Attendees are invited to ask questions and share their own experiences at the end of this session. This series is a collaboration with the Peter C. Hereld House for Jewish Life at Quinnipiac University and is made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven

Meeting the Moment: Modern Antisemitism: Where Ancient Hatreds Meet Today's Narratives
2024-03-10 09:30 - 11:45 | Temple Beth Sholom, 1809 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT, 06517, United States
Session 3 – Modern Antisemitism: Where Ancient Hatreds Meet Today’s Narratives with Dr. Liram Koblentz-Stenzler, Senior Researcher and Head of the Global Far-Right Extremism Desk at the Institute for Counter-Terrorism at Reichmann University and Visiting Lecturer at Yale University.

Meeting the Moment: What the Jewish Past Teaches About the Future

Explore the depths of American Jewish history and connect with the stories that shape our times. In a period that has tested our community’s resilience, it’s important to come together to understand the influences that impact our lives.

Our community stands at a crucial point, considering our identity, beliefs, and sense of security. “Meeting the Moment” is a thoughtful space for engaging conversations, expert perspectives, and finding a way forward. This is an opportunity to address our challenges with insight and collective effort, building bridges of understanding and unity.

Join us for a meaningful exploration of these topics. By participating, you contribute to a dialogue that can lead to positive change. Reserve your place and be part of crafting a hopeful future for our community.

Sponsored by Congregation Mishkan Israel, Temple Beth Sholom, Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven and the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven. This series is generously supported in part by a Community Impact Grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven.

Everyone Has a Story: Finding Your Own Jewish Genealogy with Dan Oren
2024-02-11 09:30 - 12:00 | JCC of Greater New Haven, 360 Amity Rd, Woodbridge, CT, 06525, United States
Join us on Sunday, February 11, at 9:30 AM to learn about Jewish genealogy from local author Dan Oren! This talk is in-person at the JCC of Greater New Haven, a light breakfast will be served.
The late New Haven psychiatrist Dr. Donald Cohen taught that “everyone has a story.” Oren will share how you begin to explore your own story, free resources available on the Internet, specific New Haven resources, and who you can contact for help. Dan Oren, M.D., is author of “The Wedding Photo,” a family genealogical history, and “Joining The Club: A History of Jews and Yale.” He is a former program chair of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies annual conference and the president of Friends of Jewish Heritage in Poland. He is co-leader of the annual JewishGen Future Scholars Fellows and JewishGen Neshama trips to Poland. He is a founder and life member of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026.
The Judaica Project series is a collaboration with the Peter C. Hereld House for Jewish Life at Quinnipiac University and is made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven.

Meeting the Moment: Beyond the December Dilemma: Intermarried Families in the Contemporary Jewish Community
2024-01-28 09:30 - 11:45 | Temple Beth Sholom, 1809 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT, 06517, United States
Beyond the December Dilemma: Intermarried Families in the Contemporary Jewish Community with Dr. Samira Mehta, Director of Jewish Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder and Visiting Faculty at Harvard Divinity School.

Meeting the Moment: What the Jewish Past Teaches About the Future

Explore the depths of American Jewish history and connect with the stories that shape our times. In a period that has tested our community’s resilience, it’s important to come together to understand the influences that impact our lives.

Our community stands at a crucial point, considering our identity, beliefs, and sense of security. “Meeting the Moment” is a thoughtful space for engaging conversations, expert perspectives, and finding a way forward. This is an opportunity to address our challenges with insight and collective effort, building bridges of understanding and unity.

Join us for a meaningful exploration of these topics. By participating, you contribute to a dialogue that can lead to positive change. Reserve your place and be part of crafting a hopeful future for our community.

Sponsored by Congregation Mishkan Israel, Temple Beth Sholom, Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven and the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven. This series is generously supported in part by a Community Impact Grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven.

Cynthia Beth Rubin on Digital Art with Hebrew Manuscripts
2024-01-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us on Thursday, January 18, at 7 PM to speak with digital artist Cynthia Beth Rubin! Rubin’s workflows across many forms of new media, including prints, videos, and interactive works. Based in New Haven, her studio practice extends from New York City to Rhode Island and beyond. As an early adopter of digital imaging, Rubin transitioned away from drawing and painting in the early 1980’s. Recently, Rubin has been experimenting with combining plankton with medieval Hebrew Manuscripts. This work is inspired both by a residency in the Menden-Deuer lab at the University of Rhode Island, School of Oceanography, and research she undertook in the late 1980s exploring the motifs of cultural distinction in a tradition of ongoing commentary, reinterpretation, and embellishment. Rubin considers how the unknown meanings implied in the layered text interrelate with the unknown in science, as well as the similarities in pattern and form between microscopic life and decorative patterns developed hundreds of years ago. See more on her website.

This is the eighth program in our Judaica Project lecture series. In these monthly Zoom sessions on Judaica, Jewish art, and what these mean to you, speakers present a different type of or topic related to Judaica or Jewish art in order to prompt discussion with and among the audience. Attendees are invited to ask questions and share their own experiences at the end of this session. This series is a collaboration with the Peter C. Hereld House for Jewish Life at Quinnipiac University and is made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven.

Family Fun Day at the Barker Character Musume
2022-06-26 11:00 - 14:00 | CT

Membership Meeting 2022
2022-06-08 19:00 - 19:30 | CT
The annual membership meeting was held June 8 remotely on Zoom. Co-Presidents Marjorie Drucker and Burton Levine updated the membership on the state of the organization.

Grand Avenue "Grand" Opening
2022-05-09 17:00 - 18:00 | CT
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Monday May 9 to celebrate the release of Walk New Haven’s latest walking tour booklet focusing on the history of Grand Avenue. Below is a video from NBC CT about the event, which features interviews with JHSGNH Treasurer Harold Miller and Rhoda Zahler Samuel of the Ethnic Heritage Center.
Watch the video HERE!
See additional coverage from the New Haven Independent, WTNH, and Fox 61.

Harold Miller, Marjorie Drucker, Michael Dimenstein, Rabbi Brockman attending the event.

Legend of the Deli
2022-03-20 04:00 - 18:00 | CT
View a recording of this event here.

NYC Jewish Museum Event
2022-02-10 19:00 - 20:00 | CT
Virtual Program at the Jewish Museum New York City Thursday, February 10, 2022 7:00 pm
Free and Open to JHSGNH Members Only
“Afterlives: Recovering The Lost Stories of Looted Art”
This exhibition traces the fascinating timelines of individual objects as they passed through hands and sites before, during and after World War II, bringing forward their myriad stories. (as noted on thejewishmuseum.org)

Jewish Family Names
2022-01-12 19:00 - 20:00 | CT

Hanukkah Celebration
2021-12-06 16:00 - 17:00 | CT
Hanukkah goodie bags were prepared by the Program Committee and given to Towers residents during Hanukkah 2021.

Annual Meeting 2021
2021-06-06 19:00 - 20:00 | CT
The 45th Annual Meeting was a great success. Congratulations to our Hall of Fame Honorees Miriam (Mimi) Glenn and Harold Miller.

You can access a recording of the event here and
an article that appeared in the New Haven Independent.

The Sweet History of Rugelach
2021-04-25 16:00 - 17:00 | CT
Click here for more information!
Free Admission

LENDER’S BAGELS HISTORY
2021-03-07 16:00 - 17:00 | CT
Presented by Taste of New Haven
With Professor & Food Guru, Historian, Author
Colin M. Caplan
Click for more information.
Letter from the Lenders
