The Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey is pleased to have received a grant from the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission* to record oral histories and to develop a traveling exhibit on recent Jewish immigrants from the Former Soviet Union. We are looking for people who would like to participate in this important undertaking by sharing their own experiences for the purposes of this exhibit. We would also welcome input from participants regarding the content of the exhibit.

We are particularly interested in documents, photos, or other objects relating to life in the Former Soviet Union, or related to the immigration experience. With permission of the participant, we may wish to make copies of some of the materials for use in our exhibit. As part of our project, we also plan to provide free assistance in preserving these materials so that they can be shared with future generations.

We are also searching for participants who would be willing to record an interview about their experiences before, during, and/or after their immigration. The interviews generally last for about one hour. The participant would have the choice of being interviewed at home, at our facility in New Brunswick, or at any other location that is convenient. After all the interviews are completed, we hope to collect them in a bound volume.

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 past exhibits have always been met with enthusiasm by the groups that were highlighted, and 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 particpating in this project, please contact the Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey at 732-249-4894, or email us at info.jhscj@gmail.com