Saint John Jewish Historical Museum facts for kids
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| Established | July 1986 |
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| Location | Saint John, New Brunswick |
Imagine a place where stories from the past come alive! The Saint John Jewish Historical Museum in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, is just that. It's a special museum that keeps and shows the history of the Jewish community in Saint John. A person named Marcia Koven started the museum in 1986. Before that, a group called the Jewish Historical Society was already working to save these stories.
Contents
Discovering the Museum
This museum is unique because it's built on 'community history.' This means local Jewish people help by giving old items, photos, and stories. These donations make the museum's collections special.
The Jewish Community's Journey
The Jewish community in Saint John has a long history. It goes all the way back to the mid-1800s. Solomon Hart, a businessman from England, moved to Saint John in 1858. He is known as the founder of the Jewish community there.
Solomon and Sarah Hart opened the first synagogue in the city in 1889. A synagogue is a special place for Jewish worship and community gatherings.
More Jewish people moved to Saint John from northern and eastern Europe. By the 1920s, the community grew to about 1,400 members. After this, fewer people moved to Saint John. Many also moved away to bigger cities. This caused the Jewish population to shrink. By the 1960s, there were about 300 members. Today, about two dozen Jewish families live in the area.
What You Can See and Do
The museum has many permanent exhibits. These exhibits are always there for visitors to see. They also create new exhibits every year. Sometimes, special exhibits travel to the museum from other places.
The museum also has cool programs for visitors. They host tours for local schools. This helps students learn about history. They also give out educational kits. These kits help people learn more at home. Cruise ships visiting Saint John also bring tourists to the museum for tours.
The museum also has a library and an archive. An archive is a place that keeps old documents and records. You can visit these by making an appointment.
Awards and Recognition
The museum has received several awards. These awards show how important and good their work is. Some of the awards include:
- American Association for State and Local History (1987)
- The Church and Synagogue Library Association (1996)
- Province of New Brunswick (2000)
See also
