The Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford (JHSGH) collects and protects materials and information that document the Greater Hartford Jewish community. Through publications, exhibitions and partnerships, we tell the stories of Jewish life, culture and contributions to our part of Connecticut.
Founded in 1971, JHSGH has grown from an attic closet to a respected community archival center. JHSGH is a member-supported organization and a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford.
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Staff
Executive Director
Jennifer Klau, Ph.D.
Jennifer began at JHSGH in 2021 as our Communications & Administrative Manager and was concurrently director of Mikveh Bess Israel from February 2023 to March 2025. She has been active in the Greater Hartford Jewish community for many years, serving in leadership roles and on the Board at Beth David Synagogue. She looks forward to helping JHS reach and engage new constituents while maintaining its core mission of preserving the stories of our Jewish past. Jennifer is proud to be the third generation of the Klau family to be active at JHSGH. She holds a B. S. in Communications from Boston University's College of Communication. She completed her Ph.D. in Kinesiology and her M.A. in Education at UCONN
P: (860) 727-6171
Email
Administrative and Communications Manager
Patricia Olesh
Patricia Olesh brings many years of public relations, marketing and communications experience in corporate and nonprofit sectors to the communications and administrative role. Beginning her career in West Hartford with the United Way of Greater Hartford, she moved on to New York City and held senior level positions with national healthcare peer review and economic education organizations, international banking and financial services corporations and Burson-Marsteller, the world-renown public relations agency, where she managed major pharmaceutical company accounts. Later she was the marketing director for the historic Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in Northeast Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Simmons College, Boston, MA.
Archivist
Stay tuned!
P: (860) 727-6173
Email
Officers & Board
Co- Presidents: Rebecca Selig & Michael Fishman
- Ron Apter
- Jeff Azia
- Alan Berkowitz
- Michael Cohen
- David Diamond
- Hollis Dorman
- Sharon Kowal Freilich
- Lance Goldberg
- Rona Gollob
- David Harris
- Steve Kleinman
- Abbey Kreinik
- Robin Landau
- Madison Leighty
- Ellen Lescher
- Evan Levy
- Michalee Merritt
- Lisa Plavin
- Rick Robinson
- Susan Schenker
- David Silver
Honorary Directors:
- Leon Chameides
- Barbara Gordon
- Arthur Nassau
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