Telling Our Stories – Then and Now
The Enduring Story of Jewish Hartford
Explore the rich history of the Jewish community and its values, from early immigrants to local heroes. We use primary sources to bring the stories of how Jewish leaders and everyday people built a vibrant community and worked for a more just society to life.
“When I was a child of immigrant parents, you taught me English. You helped me overcome fears.”
Mrs. Max Zietz
Events
JHSGH and Voices of Hope Present:
Avinoam Patt in Conversation with Alexander Phibbs
Under Nazi occupation, Jewish leaders and their communities were put into an impossible situation and forced to make unimaginable decisions. Can we sit in judgment of their choices? Is resistance acceptable if it endangers the whole community? Is it capitulation if you think you might save lives?
Maurice and Corinne Greenberg Professor of Holocaust Studies at New York University Avinoam Patt will interview Alex Phibbs, great-grandson of Vilna Ghetto Judenrat Chief Jacob Gens. Alex has dedicated his life to researching his great-grandfather's role, his execution by the Gestapo and his legacy then and now.
Sign Up - $18
Advance registration is required. Shoah survivors and students attend free of charge. Please email jhsgh@jewishhartford.org with your name, email address and phone number.
The Jewish Historical Society & the CT Museum of Culture and History Present:
The Wandering Plaque of 1911
Join JHSGH Executive Director, Jennifer Klau, as she tells the story of becoming responsible for the fate of 500 lbs of Yiddish-engraved marble stranded in a Hartford school basement. There's no instruction manual for getting access to and re-housing a massive slab of 115-year-old stone.
The history of Greater Hartford's Jewish immigrants, their migrations into the North End and beyond is encapsulated by the stone and the tale it tells.
The event is free, but advanced sign up is required.
The Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
Tapestry of Memories: Oral and Written Narratives of Jewish Hartford
Oral History Collection
This collection at comprises interviews conducted by staff and volunteers of the historical society from 1968 to the present. The collection documents the Jewish community in Greater Hartford and the central Connecticut region.
Exhibitions
Explore our rotating exhibitions that bring Connecticut Jewish history to life. From archival displays at our West Hartford offices to traveling exhibits shared throughout the region, JHSGH creates engaging experiences that preserve and celebrate the stories, culture, and contributions of Jewish communities in Greater Hartford. Visit our exhibitions page to see what's currently on display and learn about upcoming shows. READ MORE
