Museum at Eldridge Street
January 2019
New Volunteer Orientation
Volunteers at the Museum at Eldridge Street are part of something bigger than just one building. Some of our volunteer opportunities are in the docent cohort! Docents are our ambassadors, our guides, and our family. By joining our docent cohort, you will learn about the history and culture at the Museum at Eldridge Street, engage with a dynamic population of visitors and guests, and meet individuals who share your love of volunteering and history. We warmly invite you to join the…
February 2019
Ambition, Activism and Adaptation: Jewish Women of the Lower East Side
Young women at the turn of the 20th century were pulled between old and new worlds, gender expectations and needs of survival. How were young, single women able to navigate their new world as immigrants? The four-session course will examine the lives of the many Jewish women who arrived on the Lower East Side between 1870-1914. Through memoirs, letters and other historical material, the course will explore the nature of life for Jewish women in Eastern Europe, the changes they…
Ambition, Activism and Adaptation: Jewish Women of the Lower East Side
Young women at the turn of the 20th century were pulled between old and new worlds, gender expectations and needs of survival. How were young, single women able to navigate their new world as immigrants? The four-session course will examine the lives of the many Jewish women who arrived on the Lower East Side between 1870-1914. Through memoirs, letters and other historical material, the course will explore the nature of life for Jewish women in Eastern Europe, the changes they…
March 2019
Jews and Muslims: Beyond the Early Years II
From the 8th to the 12th centuries, the vast majority of world Jewry lived under Muslim rule. How did that influence their lives and their culture? The relationship changed Judaism forever – giving rise to new forms of Jewish practice, new genres of Jewish literature, and revolutionary ways of considering age-old philosophical and theological questions. In these ten sessions, explore the religious and cultural connections between Jews and Muslims of that period. This course is a continuation of our exploration…
Joseph: From Spoiled Brat to Savior II
The story of Joseph is the longest and most sophisticated in the Book of Genesis. It’s also been interpreted in myriad ways. But by reading it closely and examining Joseph’s interactions with others, we can come to understand him more fully. We will also explore the range of interpretations of the Joseph story – by the rabbis and the Apocrypha, as well as by Christians and Muslims. This course is a continuation of our exploration of the Joseph story, but…
Lower East Side Walk & Find
On this neighborhood walking tour and scavenger hunt for families, step back in time and visit the Lower East Side spots that kids in the early 1900s knew and loved. From the country’s very first municipal playground to the beloved pickle shop, each place on this tour will bring a distant world into focus. Recommended for children five and up and their adult companions. Space is limited and reservations are required.
New Volunteer Information Meeting
Volunteers at the Museum at Eldridge Street are part of something bigger than just one building. Some of our volunteer opportunities are in the docent cohort! Docents are our ambassadors, our guides, and our family. By joining our docent cohort, you will learn about the history and culture at the Museum at Eldridge Street, engage with a dynamic population of visitors and guests, and meet individuals who share your love of volunteering and history. We warmly invite you to join the…
Jews and Muslims: Beyond the Early Years II
From the 8th to the 12th centuries, the vast majority of world Jewry lived under Muslim rule. How did that influence their lives and their culture? The relationship changed Judaism forever – giving rise to new forms of Jewish practice, new genres of Jewish literature, and revolutionary ways of considering age-old philosophical and theological questions. In these ten sessions, explore the religious and cultural connections between Jews and Muslims of that period. This course is a continuation of our exploration…
Paper Cutting Workshop
We’re turning the Museum into an art studio for this special four-evening workshop! Deborah Ugoretz, whose work is currently on exhibition at the Museum, will lead this four-session exploration of the art form she has mastered: papercutting. Participants will learn the origins and history of this centuries-old art form, and will learn the techniques needed to produce a work of their own. The act of creating is energizing and confidence building. Papercut art is a time-honored form that allows rituals to…
Joseph: From Spoiled Brat to Savior II
The story of Joseph is the longest and most sophisticated in the Book of Genesis. It’s also been interpreted in myriad ways. But by reading it closely and examining Joseph’s interactions with others, we can come to understand him more fully. We will also explore the range of interpretations of the Joseph story – by the rabbis and the Apocrypha, as well as by Christians and Muslims. This course is a continuation of our exploration of the Joseph story, but…
Egg Cream Day Lab & Contest
March 15th is National Egg Cream Day and we’re getting a head start with this workshop and contest celebrating the quintessential Lower East Side drink! Experts will explain the history of the classic drink and show participants how to make their own. Then it’s competition time! Everyone will be invited to concoct their own drinks using both traditional and more daring ingredients – everything from chocolate and vanilla to lavender and lychee. The brave can submit their innovative egg creams…
Jews and Muslims: Beyond the Early Years II
From the 8th to the 12th centuries, the vast majority of world Jewry lived under Muslim rule. How did that influence their lives and their culture? The relationship changed Judaism forever – giving rise to new forms of Jewish practice, new genres of Jewish literature, and revolutionary ways of considering age-old philosophical and theological questions. In these ten sessions, explore the religious and cultural connections between Jews and Muslims of that period. This course is a continuation of our exploration…
Joseph: From Spoiled Brat to Savior II
The story of Joseph is the longest and most sophisticated in the Book of Genesis. It’s also been interpreted in myriad ways. But by reading it closely and examining Joseph’s interactions with others, we can come to understand him more fully. We will also explore the range of interpretations of the Joseph story – by the rabbis and the Apocrypha, as well as by Christians and Muslims. This course is a continuation of our exploration of the Joseph story, but…
Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi: “And the Angels Sing”
The diversity and density of New York City has inspired countless cultural fusions, as communities living side-by-side borrow from, innovate, and are inspired by each other’s cultures. From the 1920s to the 1950s, Jewish composers and musicians were inspired by their fellow New Yorkers’ jazz, swing and blues traditions. In turn, African American musicians were getting inspired by Yiddish culture. The music created from this collaboration is energetic, soulful, complex and entirely unique. Yale Strom & his band Hot Pstromi celebrate…
Jews and Muslims: Beyond the Early Years II
From the 8th to the 12th centuries, the vast majority of world Jewry lived under Muslim rule. How did that influence their lives and their culture? The relationship changed Judaism forever – giving rise to new forms of Jewish practice, new genres of Jewish literature, and revolutionary ways of considering age-old philosophical and theological questions. In these ten sessions, explore the religious and cultural connections between Jews and Muslims of that period. This course is a continuation of our exploration…
Joseph: From Spoiled Brat to Savior II
The story of Joseph is the longest and most sophisticated in the Book of Genesis. It’s also been interpreted in myriad ways. But by reading it closely and examining Joseph’s interactions with others, we can come to understand him more fully. We will also explore the range of interpretations of the Joseph story – by the rabbis and the Apocrypha, as well as by Christians and Muslims. This course is a continuation of our exploration of the Joseph story, but…
April 2019
Jews and Muslims: Beyond the Early Years II
From the 8th to the 12th centuries, the vast majority of world Jewry lived under Muslim rule. How did that influence their lives and their culture? The relationship changed Judaism forever – giving rise to new forms of Jewish practice, new genres of Jewish literature, and revolutionary ways of considering age-old philosophical and theological questions. In these ten sessions, explore the religious and cultural connections between Jews and Muslims of that period. This course is a continuation of our exploration…
Joseph: From Spoiled Brat to Savior II
The story of Joseph is the longest and most sophisticated in the Book of Genesis. It’s also been interpreted in myriad ways. But by reading it closely and examining Joseph’s interactions with others, we can come to understand him more fully. We will also explore the range of interpretations of the Joseph story – by the rabbis and the Apocrypha, as well as by Christians and Muslims. This course is a continuation of our exploration of the Joseph story, but…
History Hunters: A Kid’s Life at Work
The past comes alive in this brand-new family program that takes children back in time to discover what childhood was like 100 years ago on the Lower East Side. Today’s children may feel overwhelmed by schoolwork and chores, but kids in the early 1900s had real jobs to juggle! In this session, we will explore the world of working kids, from newsies to garment workers. Recommended for children ages five to 11 and their adult companions. Tickets required. Presented in partnership…
Jews and Muslims: Beyond the Early Years II
From the 8th to the 12th centuries, the vast majority of world Jewry lived under Muslim rule. How did that influence their lives and their culture? The relationship changed Judaism forever – giving rise to new forms of Jewish practice, new genres of Jewish literature, and revolutionary ways of considering age-old philosophical and theological questions. In these ten sessions, explore the religious and cultural connections between Jews and Muslims of that period. This course is a continuation of our exploration…
Joseph: From Spoiled Brat to Savior II
The story of Joseph is the longest and most sophisticated in the Book of Genesis. It’s also been interpreted in myriad ways. But by reading it closely and examining Joseph’s interactions with others, we can come to understand him more fully. We will also explore the range of interpretations of the Joseph story – by the rabbis and the Apocrypha, as well as by Christians and Muslims. This course is a continuation of our exploration of the Joseph story, but…
New Volunteer Information Meeting
Volunteers at the Museum at Eldridge Street are part of something bigger than just one building. Some of our volunteer opportunities are in the docent cohort! Docents are our ambassadors, our guides, and our family. By joining our docent cohort, you will learn about the history and culture at the Museum at Eldridge Street, engage with a dynamic population of visitors and guests, and meet individuals who share your love of volunteering and history. We warmly invite you to join the…
Eyal Vilner Big Band
The Eyal Vilner Big Band is true to its name—it is BIG. Seventeen musicians big! Led by Tel Aviv-born and New York-educated musician/composer/conductor Eyal Vilner, this concert features Vilner’s inventive arrangements of jazz classics as well as his original compositions. Melding traditional Jewish melodies and Middle Eastern sounds with jazz and blues, the band celebrates America’s rich cultural tapestry and the intersection of the swing era with early 20th-century Jewish life in New York. This concert is sponsored in part…
All-of-a-Kind Family Walking Tour
What was it like to be a kid on the Lower East Side in the early 20th century? Find out as we follow in the footsteps of Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie, the beloved sisters depicted in Sydney Taylor’s children’s classic All-of-a-Kind Family. We’ll stroll through the story and into the streets to visit the spots where the children played, prayed, and purchased their pickles and candy. This tour is presented in partnership with PJ Library.
The Second Migration: From Lower East Side to Greater New York
At the turn of the 20th century, more than half a million Jewish immigrants, from countries in Eastern Europe, lived on the Lower East Side. But just 20 years later, less than half that number still called the neighborhood home. What came after the Lower East Side for America’s Jewish immigrants? This five-part class begins with a focus on the iconic Jewish Lower East Side before following the migration of New York’s Jews – uptown and across the rivers. Most…
Jews and Muslims: Beyond the Early Years II
From the 8th to the 12th centuries, the vast majority of world Jewry lived under Muslim rule. How did that influence their lives and their culture? The relationship changed Judaism forever – giving rise to new forms of Jewish practice, new genres of Jewish literature, and revolutionary ways of considering age-old philosophical and theological questions. In these ten sessions, explore the religious and cultural connections between Jews and Muslims of that period. This course is a continuation of our exploration…
Exhibition Opening for Harbin, China|PAST/PRESENT
Like the Eldridge Street Synagogue, a grand synagogue stands in Harbin, China that serves as a museum and a relic of a time when it was the center of a flourishing Jewish community. And much like the Lower East Side, many of Harbin’s Jews eventually left the home they had created there. In this exhibition, Harbin’s Jewish past is presented in historic photographs and personal stories. In the 1890s, emerging industries turned the small fishing village in northeastern China into…
May 2019
Joseph: From Spoiled Brat to Savior II
The story of Joseph is the longest and most sophisticated in the Book of Genesis. It’s also been interpreted in myriad ways. But by reading it closely and examining Joseph’s interactions with others, we can come to understand him more fully. We will also explore the range of interpretations of the Joseph story – by the rabbis and the Apocrypha, as well as by Christians and Muslims. This course is a continuation of our exploration of the Joseph story, but…
The Second Migration: From Lower East Side to Greater New York
At the turn of the 20th century, more than half a million Jewish immigrants, from countries in Eastern Europe, lived on the Lower East Side. But just 20 years later, less than half that number still called the neighborhood home. What came after the Lower East Side for America’s Jewish immigrants? This five-part class begins with a focus on the iconic Jewish Lower East Side before following the migration of New York’s Jews – uptown and across the rivers. Most…
Jews and Muslims: Beyond the Early Years II
From the 8th to the 12th centuries, the vast majority of world Jewry lived under Muslim rule. How did that influence their lives and their culture? The relationship changed Judaism forever – giving rise to new forms of Jewish practice, new genres of Jewish literature, and revolutionary ways of considering age-old philosophical and theological questions. In these ten sessions, explore the religious and cultural connections between Jews and Muslims of that period. This course is a continuation of our exploration…
Tough Guys
Take a walk on the wild side with this two-part course! Classic Hollywood films were full of fictional “tough guys” – brooding, tough-as-nails, and just a little bit dangerous. But art imitated life, and those movies sparked public interest in stories of organized crime, mobsters and other dabblers of dark deeds. Expert teacher Maxine Simson will lead these fun and informative sessions on some of our most famous tough guys and the characters that they inspired. Maxine Simson is a lecturer…
Joseph: From Spoiled Brat to Savior II
The story of Joseph is the longest and most sophisticated in the Book of Genesis. It’s also been interpreted in myriad ways. But by reading it closely and examining Joseph’s interactions with others, we can come to understand him more fully. We will also explore the range of interpretations of the Joseph story – by the rabbis and the Apocrypha, as well as by Christians and Muslims. This course is a continuation of our exploration of the Joseph story, but…
Yiddishe Mamas
Celebrate the women who made the world go ‘round on this special brunch and tour! The morning starts with a nosh and mimosa spread in the women’s balcony of our historic sanctuary – the perfect vantage point to marvel at the 2010 stained glass window designed by artist Kiki Smith and architect Deborah Gans. Then, we’ll hit the streets of the Lower East Side to follow in the footsteps of pious women and prostitutes, activists and artists, freethinking feminists and…
Jews and Muslims: Beyond the Early Years II
From the 8th to the 12th centuries, the vast majority of world Jewry lived under Muslim rule. How did that influence their lives and their culture? The relationship changed Judaism forever – giving rise to new forms of Jewish practice, new genres of Jewish literature, and revolutionary ways of considering age-old philosophical and theological questions. In these ten sessions, explore the religious and cultural connections between Jews and Muslims of that period. This course is a continuation of our exploration…
Tough Guys
Take a walk on the wild side with this two-part course! Classic Hollywood films were full of fictional “tough guys” – brooding, tough-as-nails, and just a little bit dangerous. But art imitated life, and those movies sparked public interest in stories of organized crime, mobsters and other dabblers of dark deeds. Expert teacher Maxine Simson will lead these fun and informative sessions on some of our most famous tough guys and the characters that they inspired. Maxine Simson is a lecturer…
Harbin, China and its Jewish Community
Explore the development of the city of Harbin, China, once home to a flourishing Jewish community. With special focus on the period 1891 – 1950, historian Marleen Kassel will use pictures, family memories and historical documents to bring to life this unique chapter of history shaped by the interaction of Jews, Russians, Chinese and Japanese in this developing city in northeastern China. Her talk is presented in conjunction with the Museum’s new exhibition Harbin, China|Past/Present. Marleen Kassel is an Asian historian…
Joseph: From Spoiled Brat to Savior II
The story of Joseph is the longest and most sophisticated in the Book of Genesis. It’s also been interpreted in myriad ways. But by reading it closely and examining Joseph’s interactions with others, we can come to understand him more fully. We will also explore the range of interpretations of the Joseph story – by the rabbis and the Apocrypha, as well as by Christians and Muslims. This course is a continuation of our exploration of the Joseph story, but…
New Volunteer Information Meeting
Volunteers at the Museum at Eldridge Street are part of something bigger than just one building. Some of our volunteer opportunities are in the docent cohort! Docents are our ambassadors, our guides, and our family. By joining our docent cohort, you will learn about the history and culture at the Museum at Eldridge Street, engage with a dynamic population of visitors and guests, and meet individuals who share your love of volunteering and history. We warmly invite you to join the…
The Second Migration: From Lower East Side to Greater New York
At the turn of the 20th century, more than half a million Jewish immigrants, from countries in Eastern Europe, lived on the Lower East Side. But just 20 years later, less than half that number still called the neighborhood home. What came after the Lower East Side for America’s Jewish immigrants? This five-part class begins with a focus on the iconic Jewish Lower East Side before following the migration of New York’s Jews – uptown and across the rivers. Most…
Jews and Muslims: Beyond the Early Years II
From the 8th to the 12th centuries, the vast majority of world Jewry lived under Muslim rule. How did that influence their lives and their culture? The relationship changed Judaism forever – giving rise to new forms of Jewish practice, new genres of Jewish literature, and revolutionary ways of considering age-old philosophical and theological questions. In these ten sessions, explore the religious and cultural connections between Jews and Muslims of that period. This course is a continuation of our exploration…
Joseph: From Spoiled Brat to Savior II
The story of Joseph is the longest and most sophisticated in the Book of Genesis. It’s also been interpreted in myriad ways. But by reading it closely and examining Joseph’s interactions with others, we can come to understand him more fully. We will also explore the range of interpretations of the Joseph story – by the rabbis and the Apocrypha, as well as by Christians and Muslims. This course is a continuation of our exploration of the Joseph story, but…
June 2019
The Second Migration: From Lower East Side to Greater New York
At the turn of the 20th century, more than half a million Jewish immigrants, from countries in Eastern Europe, lived on the Lower East Side. But just 20 years later, less than half that number still called the neighborhood home. What came after the Lower East Side for America’s Jewish immigrants? This five-part class begins with a focus on the iconic Jewish Lower East Side before following the migration of New York’s Jews – uptown and across the rivers. Most…
Eggrolls, Egg Creams and Empanadas
The Museum’s signature, fan-favorite festival is back for another year! This multicultural block party unites the vibrant cultures of our neighborhood, pairing Chinese Opera and acrobatics with klezmer music and mambo. Enjoy al fresco Mah jongg games, Jewish scribal arts, Puerto Rican lace making, tea ceremonies, and much more. Plus, enjoy iconic foods of all three cultures! Free
The Second Migration: From Lower East Side to Greater New York
At the turn of the 20th century, more than half a million Jewish immigrants, from countries in Eastern Europe, lived on the Lower East Side. But just 20 years later, less than half that number still called the neighborhood home. What came after the Lower East Side for America’s Jewish immigrants? This five-part class begins with a focus on the iconic Jewish Lower East Side before following the migration of New York’s Jews – uptown and across the rivers. Most…
