The Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey is grateful to the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission* for funding the creation of a traveling exhibit on recent Jewish immigrants to New Jersey from the Former Soviet Union. The exhibit is based on the personal experiences of Middlesex County residents who shared stories of their background in the FSU as well as their immigration experiences and subsequent lives in the United States. 

CURRENT SCHEDULE:

October, 2012
Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple
222 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick

November, 2012
South Brunswick Public Library
110 Kingston Lane, Monmouth Junction

February, 2013
Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County
1775 Oak Tree Road, Edison

Five panels, 24" x 36", have been designed for display in libraries, synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, and other places where the public can visit them. They include images of personal documents, photos, and other objects relating to life in the Former Soviet Union and to the immigration experience, many of which were shared by our interviewees. A historical overview of the Soviet Union takes the visitor from Tsarist Russia through today, presenting a visual context and background for Jewish life in the FSU and familiarizing the viewer with the immigrant experience.

The Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey has been in existence for about 35 years. We are an independent organization, one of the local agencies that receive support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County. Our purpose is to promote, research, and publish on all facets of Central New Jersey’s Jewish life. We maintain an archival collection that is available to researchers, and we create educational programs and exhibits. More information about our activities and our collections can be found elsewhere on this Web site.

In the past, our organization has documented the experiences of other Jewish groups, including Holocaust survivors and the Jews of Newark and Perth Amboy. Our new exhibit highlighting the Jews of the Former Soviet Union is the latest in a line of presentations which have been met with enthusiasm by the groups that were highlighted. We believe they have contributed to understanding and acceptance among the varied traditions and backgrounds that make up Central New Jersey’s Jewish population. The recordings and documents that we obtained have become a very important and inspiring part of our collection.

If you are interested in displaying this exhibit for your congregation or community, please contact the Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey at 732-249-4894, or email us at info.jhscj@gmail.com