Center for Jewish History

Why We Do This.

There is nothing more fulfilling than sharing the remarkable survival stories of our ancestors and survivors. Yet witnessing these stories come to life at exhibitions in person, that's truly extraordinary.

When Ernie Brod came to us with his story, we were captivated. Watching his journey transform into an exhibit and then seeing him share that experience with a fellow survivor at the opening, was unforgettable.

His heart and soul, like that of all our participants, shines through in every photograph and word. We hope you'll join us in honoring him and all our storytellers by visiting the exhibition.

Plan your visit today at the link or link in bio: https://www.cjh.org/visit/plan-your-visit

We are profoundly grateful to Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal for recognizing the essential role cultural institutions play in our city's vitality and soul through generous investment.

As the Center for Jewish History, we're honored to be among the organizations receiving support through the "Manhattan Multiplier" initiative. This meaningful investment will enable us to improve our facilities, ensuring our home remains a welcoming and accessible space for the diverse communities we serve.

The Center serves thousands of visitors, researchers, and students each year. With this support advancing our infrastructure, we can continue to preserve centuries of art and history, foster meaningful dialogue, and ensure that the rich contributions of the Jewish community remain woven into New York's cultural conversation.

Thank you, Borough President Hoylman-Sigal, for investing in the institutions that make Manhattan a beacon of cultural excellence and unity. Your vision strengthens us all.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/23/arts/design/nyc-arts-funding-manhattan-borough-president.html

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Center for Jewish History last night for Comics and Cocktails with the Curators, celebrating the opening of The Jack Kirby Way: How a Boy from the Lower East Side Became the King of Comics.

Presented by the American Jewish Historical Society in partnership with the Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center, the exhibition explores the life and legacy of Jack Kirby, from his roots on New York’s Lower East Side to his transformation of popular culture through the creation of iconic superheroes and stories.

Guests enjoyed a fascinating conversation with curators Roy Schwartz, AJHS Trustee and Pop Culture Historian, and Randolph Hoppe, Founding Trustee and Director of the Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center, moderated by Karen L. Green, Curator for Comics and Cartoons at Columbia University, and were among the first to experience more than 70 pieces of original art, rare comics, and historic artifacts on display.

Thank you for making it such a memorable evening. To view highlights from Comics and Cocktails with the Curators, visit https://cjh.org/programs/highlights-jack-kirby

We look forward to welcoming you back to the Center!

It was a privilege to welcome Ancestry President & CEO Howard Hochhauser to the Center for Jewish History today for a private tour of From Rubble to Roots: Six Stories of Survival & Resilience.

Joined by CEO Rio Daniel, President Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, Assistant Vice President of Development Eugenia Spektor, and Exhibit Curator Miriam Malka Frankel, Howard experienced firsthand the stories and personal family artifacts at the heart of this exhibition, made possible with Ancestry's generous support.

We are deeply grateful for Ancestry's commitment to preserving history and amplifying the voices of those who lived it.

This partnership reflects everything we believe in, that history is both personal and a public responsibility.

Last week, at the opening of our exhibit Rubble to Roots: Six Stories of Survival and Resilience, we had the profound honor of welcoming Paul Goldstein, a member of our podcast community and the son of Samuel Goldstein, whose story of survival is now preserved on our exhibit wall.

Paul did not come to the opening alone. He brought his own nephew, Samuel, who stood in that very room, before his grandfather's portrait, carrying forward the name that was passed down to him in tribute.

Witnessing a son honor his father by sharing his story with the world was deeply moving. Seeing another son honor his father again by giving his name to the next generation was something we will not soon forget. And watching Samuel stand in a space dedicated to his grandfather's survival, left us without words.

This Father's Day, we find ourselves still thinking about that moment and all the beautiful tributes the exhibit participants did for their own parents.

Today we mark Juneteenth, commemorating June 19, 1865, the day enslaved African Americans in Texas finally received word of their freedom.

The history of slavery in America, and the long fight for freedom and dignity that followed, belongs to all of us to know, to teach, and to carry forward.

Wishing everyone a meaningful Juneteenth.

Last night, we celebrated the opening of From Rubble to Roots: Six Stories of Survival and Resilience, an exhibition inspired by the Center for Jewish History's podcast of the same name.

It was an evening filled with remembrance, reflection, and connection as families, members, podcast participants, and supporters gathered to honor six remarkable stories of survival, resilience, and rebuilding. Seeing multiple generations together—children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—was a powerful reminder that these stories live on.

A special thank you to the families who entrusted us with their stories, and to Ancestry, whose generous support helped make both the podcast and exhibition possible.

The exhibition is now open. We invite you to visit and experience these extraordinary journeys of courage, loss, survival, and renewal. See more highlights from the evening cjh.org/programs/highlights-rubble-to-roots

NOW ON VIEW ✦

From Rubble to Roots: Six Stories of Survival and Resilience is open at the Center for Jewish History.

Photographs, documents, and personal objects from six families, many shared publicly for the first time. Each story spans life before the war, the Holocaust, and the long work of rebuilding that followed.

"We are more than what was taken from us."

Originally a podcast series produced with , the exhibition brings audio testimony into a visual and material record. QR codes throughout the gallery connect each story to its episode.

Come and bear witness.