We’re delighted to kick off a series close to our hearts: the story of Molly Picon, for decades a household name in Yiddish theater and vaudeville, then a Broadway star, performer with the USO and radio personality–not to mention Yente the Matchmaker in Fiddler in the Roof. Some called her "the Jewish Charlie Chaplin"; others, “the Jewish Helen Hayes.” We think she stands grandly on her own. Former…
A human-family tree stands by the renovated genealogy institute at the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan. Photographs of couples, children, families, molecular matter, and, atop the trunk, Rosalind Franklin—the British Jewish scientist whose work helped Watson and Crick imagine the double helix—adorn the branches. (Description via the New York Press.) We’re thrilled to see today’s New York Press story about “the intensity of personal…
Have you heard StoryCorps’s riveting recordings of people with fascinating tales to tell? On June 11th and 12th at the Center for Jewish History, we’ll give you a chance to preserve your family history on professionally produced audio. Don’t miss the rare opportunity to work with this revolutionary oral-history project! There are just a few recordings each day. To request a spot, please email gievents@cjh.org…
From June 8 to June 18, the Center for Jewish History is hosting a myriad of workshops and events for everyone interested in tracing their roots and capturing family memories. All programs are free of charge and open to the public. We also invite visitors to help us celebrate the newly renovated Ackman & Ziff Genealogy Institute, which provides limitless access to cutting-edge research…