What We Do
What We Do
For five decades, the Chicago Jewish Historical Society has been the primary resource and organization for those interested in all aspects of Chicago’s rich and fascinating Jewish history.
Since the middle of the 1970s, we have been illuminating the vast contributions that Jews have made to the City of Big Shoulders since they first arrived in the early 1840s.
Our important endeavors include:
- Chicago Jewish History, an award-winning quarterly publication of the Chicago Jewish Historical Society, that has covered countless topics pertaining to people, places, and events that have shaped Chicago Jewish history (Members receive a printed copy in the mail. All issues are digitally archived and available on our website).
- Programs, both live and virtual, that feature writers, historians, leaders, and other experts who provide dynamic presentations that excite and elucidate.
- Tours, which take participants to landmarks and other sites of interest to Chicago Jewish history lovers.
- Rose L. and Sidney N. Shure Chicago Jewish Oral History Library. Audio recordings of prominent local Jews, who have recounted their experiences growing up and living in Chicago. We are in the process of digitizing and making the collection available to the public.
- Outreach to younger generations.
- The Dr. Irving Cutler Chicago Jewish History Fellowship for college and postgraduate scholars who want to do in-depth study of a topic of interest
- Metro History Day annual program. Sponsorship of Chicago Jewish History award to high school students.
- Chicago Jewish History curriculum for middle and high school students, commissioned by CJHS .
- Advocacy on issues that pertain to Chicago’s Jewish history, including the preservation of the Three Patriots Statue (Robert Morris-George Washington-Haym Salomon) in Heald Square.
- Serving as an expert resource to all in the Chicago community and beyond who query us regularly about Chicago’s Jewish history.
Throughout the year, we also feature dynamic programming on a broad range of subjects of interest to Chicago Jewish history buffs.