Author Archive
Conjuring old Sukkot traditions in a changed world
The Museum at Eldridge street has been closed, due to the coronavirus pandemic, for over six months. Our staff and docents miss so much about being at the Museum every day – meeting new visitors from around the world, sharing a transportive experience together, relishing the calm and beauty of the historic sanctuary. And we […]
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Sister Shuls: The Blue Synagogue in Mumbai
In “Sister Shuls,” we travel virtually to other synagogues whose exuberant architecture has a kinship with our landmark home, the Eldridge Street Synagogue. So far, we’ve traveled to Prague and Budapest looking at beautiful synagogues that remind us, in some ways, of Eldridge Street. Today’s virtual journey was inspired by an Instagram follower, and it […]
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The Cantor Who Found America Lacking
Today is the 133rd anniversary of the famed cantor Pinhas Minkowsky arriving in America at the commission of the Eldridge Street Synagogue. In honor of the anniversary, we’re reposting this blog originally written by Museum intern Luc Moison. Minkowsky stepped foot on American soil for the first time on September 16th, 1887. By then, he […]
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The Jewish Roots of Labor Day
In honor of Labor Day and the recent anniversary of the sweatshop workers strike, we are reposting this article originally written by Eva Brune. On September 4 in 1894, more than 12,000 New York State tailors – 4,000 from New York City alone — went on strike to protest the sweatshop conditions in which they […]
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Happy 133rd anniversary!
This Friday, September 4th, is perhaps the biggest day of the year at 12 Eldridge Street. On that day in 1887, the Eldridge Street Synagogue officially opened to the public. That makes us 133 years young this week! And with our temporary closure still in effect, this might be the first September in 133 years […]
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A Window to the Soul: Architect Deborah Gans on her Enduring Contribution to Eldridge Street
This piece was adapted from a post originally written in July 2018. Upon entering the beautifully restored sanctuary at the Museum at Eldridge Street, visitors are transported back to the height of the synagogue’s glory. Built in 1887 during the massive wave of Jewish immigration to the Lower East Side, it was restored in the […]
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Rebuild or reimagine? Preservation questions plague Notre Dame.
This post was written by Nancy Johnson, Curator and Archivist and Chelsea Dowell, Director of Public Engagement. Decisions, decisions…. Recent news reports have revealed the next chapter in the ongoing story of Notre Dame de Paris, the massive 12th-century cathedral at the very heart of the French capital. In April 2019, the landmark suffered a […]
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1924: a stroke of Coolidge’s pen changes the face of America
On May 26, 1924 the United States enacted a strict immigration policy that forever altered the demographics, and the identity, of the country. To mark the anniversary, we are reposting this blog originally posted in 2019. Though immigration is a currently contested topic in the United States and around the world, it also has a […]
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Things we miss: stories in gold silk
This post was written by curator and archivist Nancy Johnson. It’s been many weeks now since we’ve been at the Museum, and I find myself wanting to enjoy some of my favorite artifacts there – not just the items on display in our permanent exhibition, but also some of the treasures that are tucked away […]
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Fruitful fire escapes & bountiful backyards: city victory gardens make a comeback
This post was written by Museum intern Lila Norris. It seems like everyone knows someone who is using their isolation to become a master bread baker or a vegetable gardener. It’s been harder to procure many of the foods we’re used to picking up easily at the grocery store and canned beans and frozen broccoli […]
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