Past Events

Tenements are commonplace in many New York neighborhoods, but they’re poorly understood. But through new research and fieldwork, Zachary Violette’s has uncovered surprising facts and narratives about the city’s tenement builders. In his recent book The Decorated Tenement: How Immigrant Builders and Architects Transformed the Slum in the Gilded Age, Violette uses decorative ornamentation as a way to reconsider the role of tenement architects (many of whom had deep roots in immigrant communities) in improving housing for the poor. In this talk,…

School’s out for Election Day, and we’ve got your day-off plan: a Lower East Side walking tour for families inspired by the children’s classic All-of- a-Kind Family. Join us as we follow in the footsteps of Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte and Gertie, the beloved sisters depicted in Sydney Taylor’s book. We’ll stroll through the streets and into the story to visit the spots where the children played, prayed and purchased pickles. Recommended for children five and up and their adult…

Now celebrating their 25th year together, Metropolitan Klezmer brings eclectic exuberance to Yiddish musical genres from all over the map. Performing vibrant versions of gems from wedding dance, trance, folk, swing and tango styles, as well as soundtrack material from vintage Yiddish films, this octet re-invents tradition with irreverence, respect, and joy. This special performance will also feature a rarely heard repertoire including balladry of the Triangle Fire, a Yiddish-rooted Soviet animation score, and a gorgeous range of imaginative original…

Learn what life was like for young garment workers on the Lower East Side in 1909 through the eyes of Clara Lemlich, who worked 11-hour days making dresses. A costumed actor portraying Clara will provide a first-person perspective about working in sweatshops and why, in November 1909, she gave a fiery speech at a union meeting, sparking a strike of young garment workers that newspapers called the “Revolt of the Girls.” Clara couldn’t have known that she would inspire more…

Genealogy Workshop Join us – off site – at the Center for Jewish History’s Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute. The CJH team is opening the doors to its research library after-hours, just for us! It’s a special opportunity to have some of the world’s most experienced family history researchers and genealogists introduce you to the best ways to trace your roots. Add the Center for Jewish History’s world-renowned partner collections, containing a wealth of historical records and newspapers from…