New Exhibits
Under the Chuppah
Jewish Wedding Traditions in Saint John
The Museum has a wonderful collection of wedding dresses, photographs, artifacts, documents and memorabilia to recall decades of wedding celebrations in Saint John. Join us under the chuppah in the Marcia Koven Gallery to share in the excitement.
Political Aspirations
Elections and Appointments
Some of the most notable individuals to come from the Saint John Jewish community made their mark in politics – as elected officials, as candidates, as appointees, and as workers behind the scenes. Learn about their stories through photographs, newspaper accounts, personal and official papers and a few artifacts.
Curator’s Choice
Every museum collection has unique items that can tell a story all of their own. Look for unique treasures and interesting personal stories – opening May 2025.
In Their Own Words
PART TWO
The recording of oral interviews with community members in the 1980s was an important means of learning and preserving stories about families, organizations and community life. Their words are a reminder of the lessons taught in Jewish homes and the spirit that filled the Jewish community in former days. This year’s stories will be revealed when the exhibit opens in May 2025.
Current Exhibitions
Immigration to Saint John
the evolving Jewish community
Discover the rich tapestry of Jewish immigration to Saint John, a story that begins with Loyalist settlers like David Gabel in 1783 and spans centuries of resilience, growth, and community building.
From the Cradle to the Grave
A Glimpse into Jewish Life and Tradition
From the warmth of the kitchen preparing for the Sabbath to the meaning behind Passover traditions, this display showcases cherished objects donated by the Saint John Jewish Community.
Past Exhibitions
Coming of Age (2023-2024)
Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Celebrations
Explore the vibrant history of Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations in Saint John, showcasing their evolution as a cornerstone of Jewish life.
In Their Own Words (2023-2024)
part one
This exhibit celebrates the lives, struggles, and triumphs of Saint John’s Jewish community as told by its members. Through personal stories, historical photographs, and poignant reflections, discover the rich tapestry of experiences that have shaped this community.
HEROISM AND RESISTANCE (2023-2024)
RESCUE BY JEWish people DURING THE HOLOCAUST
The Jews in the Holocaust found themselves facing unprecedented situations. In view of the violence, terror and systematic destruction perpetrated by the German Nazis, many Jews felt they had been abandoned to their fate by the people among whom they had lived for hundreds of years.
Digital Museums Canada
The Changing Role of Jewish Women in Saint John
This exhibit illustrates the role and impact of Jewish women within the Saint John Jewish community and their involvement with Saint John society from 1858 to the present day.
The women of the Saint John Jewish community have
always been involved as volunteers and as workers in all facets of life, in both the Jewish and the greater community. Through words and images, this exhibit celebrates, documents, and illustrates their involvement.
Celebrating 150 Years of Jewish History in Saint John
The year 2008 marked the 150th anniversary of a Jewish presence in Saint John. Beginning with the arrival of Solomon and Alice Hart and their children in 1858, the city has seen the arrival of hundreds of Jews from all parts of Europe. Many were merely passing through on their way to other centres, some stayed only a few years, some stayed for a lifetime and others for generations. Although never large by the standards of many Jewish communities, those men and women who chose to live here made an impact in the city – as individuals, as merchants and as leaders within and outside the Jewish community.
Past to Present: Generations of Jewish Life in Saint John
The first Jewish family came to Saint John after the American Revolution. The establishment of a viable Jewish community in the city began with the arrival of a small group of cigar makers from England in the 1850s and 1860s. They were followed by hundreds of Jews from Eastern Europe between 1892 and 1930. There were close to 300 Jewish families in Saint John from the 1920s and the 1960s.
Jewish life flourished and was centred around the synagogue with religious services and many social and fraternal organizations. Thriving family businesses lined many of the city’s streets. Many Saint John Jews made exceptional contributions to the Jewish and non-Jewish community.
Strong ties to family and the community remained even as the grandchildren of the immigrants left the city for opportunities elsewhere.
Step through the door into the past, explore the Jewish history of a small Canadian city and see how this history is being preserved for future generations.
Open for Business
The Saint John Jewish community is remembered for its businesses. A survey of the Saint John City Directories between the 1870s and the 1990s shows that there were over 200 different Jewish-owned and operated stores in the city. Husbands and wives worked together to ensure their success and introduced their children to work from an early age. In this way, some family-run stores in the city served several generations of customers.