Museum at Eldridge Street

05/11/2021

We have exciting news! The Museum at Eldridge Street is reopening for public visits on Tuesday, June 1!

Starting now, you can book a timed visit for 'pay what you wish' admission through the month of June. Just click the "schedule a visit" button at eldridgestreet.org.

Come bask in the vast serenity of our historic sanctuary. We can't wait to welcome you back.

We have exciting news! The Museum at Eldridge Street is reopening for public visits on Tuesday, June 1!

Starting now, you can book a timed visit for 'pay what you wish' admission through the month of June. Just click the "schedule a visit" button at eldridgestreet.org.

Come bask in the vast serenity of our historic sanctuary. We can't wait to welcome you back.

05/06/2021

Today's Look Closely is a real feast for old storefront and typography lovers! What can we learn about life 100 years ago from examining this old-time, downtown photo? What kind of shop do you think this is? Who are they catering to?

Do some browsing inside this scene - this head to eldridgestreet.org/look-closely to learn all about it.

Today's Look Closely is a real feast for old storefront and typography lovers! What can we learn about life 100 years ago from examining this old-time, downtown photo? What kind of shop do you think this is? Who are they catering to?

Do some browsing inside this scene - this head to eldridgestreet.org/look-closely to learn all about it.

05/04/2021

May is Lower East Side History Month! These upcoming programs celebrate the diverse histories of community strength and resilience of our neighborhood. Join us!
#LEShistorymonth #PeoplesLES

▶️ Wednesday, May 5 at 5PM
Mamas with Chutzpah virtual walking tour - https://www.facebook.com/events/786404648974440

▶️ Thursday, May 20 at 6PM
Immigrant Newspapers in NYC virtual talk - https://www.facebook.com/events/1931624353681338

▶️ Sunday, May 23 at 11AM
Secrets of All-of-a-Kind Family virtual walking tour -
https://www.facebook.com/events/172366768088636

[Image design by Jaclyn Reyes]

May is Lower East Side History Month! These upcoming programs celebrate the diverse histories of community strength and resilience of our neighborhood. Join us!
#LEShistorymonth #PeoplesLES

▶️ Wednesday, May 5 at 5PM
Mamas with Chutzpah virtual walking tour - https://www.facebook.com/events/786404648974440

▶️ Thursday, May 20 at 6PM
Immigrant Newspapers in NYC virtual talk - https://www.facebook.com/events/1931624353681338

▶️ Sunday, May 23 at 11AM
Secrets of All-of-a-Kind Family virtual walking tour -
https://www.facebook.com/events/172366768088636

[Image design by Jaclyn Reyes]

05/03/2021

Pre 2010 ➡️ Post 2010⁠
⁠
Which window is your favorite?

04/30/2021

What do you know about Lillian Wald? As a nurse in 1895, she moved to 265 Henry Street with a visionary mindset that would revolutionize the field of public health nursing and improve the lives of thousands of immigrant families. A true mother of her Lower East Side community, Wald provided services ranging from healthcare, social services, to the arts--a legacy that still endures today.

She's just one of the women we're celebrating this Wednesday on our Mamas with Chutzpah virtual walking tour! Whether you're celebrating a mama in your life, or just looking to honor the many women who have shaped our culture for centuries, this is the program for you.

Sign up for a suggested donation here! https://www.eldridgestreet.org/event/mamas-with-chutzpah-virtual-walking-tour/

What do you know about Lillian Wald? As a nurse in 1895, she moved to 265 Henry Street with a visionary mindset that would revolutionize the field of public health nursing and improve the lives of thousands of immigrant families. A true mother of her Lower East Side community, Wald provided services ranging from healthcare, social services, to the arts--a legacy that still endures today.

She's just one of the women we're celebrating this Wednesday on our Mamas with Chutzpah virtual walking tour! Whether you're celebrating a mama in your life, or just looking to honor the many women who have shaped our culture for centuries, this is the program for you.

Sign up for a suggested donation here! https://www.eldridgestreet.org/event/mamas-with-chutzpah-virtual-walking-tour/

04/29/2021

🗣️ Calling all amateur historians! Can you use what you know about life 100 years ago, and the clues in this photo, to figure out what's happening here? Take a look at the setting, too - do you know where in this city this scene takes place?

Make a few guesses, then head to eldridgestreet.org/look-closely to find out the full story.

🗣️ Calling all amateur historians! Can you use what you know about life 100 years ago, and the clues in this photo, to figure out what's happening here? Take a look at the setting, too - do you know where in this city this scene takes place?

Make a few guesses, then head to eldridgestreet.org/look-closely to find out the full story.

04/23/2021

Cinema Chats: Jewish Women on TV - Museum at Eldridge Street

Next Wednesday, join the inimitable Emily Nussbaum (Pulitzer Prize-winner cultural critic and staff writer at The New Yorker) to talk about Jewish women on TV today. You'll dive into the ways that TV has changed in the past decades, in both dramas and comedies. With episodes of Unorthodox and Broad City as your focus, it's sure to be a very dynamic discussion.

Get your tickets at the link below!

Multidimensional Portrayals or the Same Old Stereotypes? Find out with us in a discussion with The New Yorker’s Emily Nussbaum. In this month’s Cinema Chats, the Museum at Eldridge Street will be joined by Emily Nussbaum, a staff writer for The New Yorker. She is the author of I Like to Watch: A...

04/22/2021

What have we here?? Another Look Closely for all you amateur historians!

And what IS going on in this picture? Can we use any clues from the photo - the setting, the clothing, the time period - to make a good guess? Or maybe you can draw from what you already know about early-20th century life?

See what you can put together, then visit eldridgestreet.org/look-closely for the real scoop!

What have we here?? Another Look Closely for all you amateur historians!

And what IS going on in this picture? Can we use any clues from the photo - the setting, the clothing, the time period - to make a good guess? Or maybe you can draw from what you already know about early-20th century life?

See what you can put together, then visit eldridgestreet.org/look-closely for the real scoop!

04/20/2021

What are those little holes in the corners of the sanctuary's barrel vaults? It's a question we get often during tours!
⁠
Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and plumbing are not glamorous, and don't always make an appearance in our tours. And yet they are essential to the operation of any building today.
⁠
Without proper heat and cooling even the most beautifully restored building would be limited in use. During restoration, we knew we needed a solution for adding these essential modern services. So we dug underneath our historic building to create a cellar that could house modern heating and cooling without disturbing our historic spaces. And upstairs in the sanctuary, the evidence is nearly invisible (we hope!) - those small round air-conditioning vents were installed in the balcony domes and in the corners of barrel vaults. Some eagle-eyed visitors will notice them! But we hope they mostly blend in to the background while they work their heating and cooling magic.

What are those little holes in the corners of the sanctuary's barrel vaults? It's a question we get often during tours!
⁠
Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and plumbing are not glamorous, and don't always make an appearance in our tours. And yet they are essential to the operation of any building today.
⁠
Without proper heat and cooling even the most beautifully restored building would be limited in use. During restoration, we knew we needed a solution for adding these essential modern services. So we dug underneath our historic building to create a cellar that could house modern heating and cooling without disturbing our historic spaces. And upstairs in the sanctuary, the evidence is nearly invisible (we hope!) - those small round air-conditioning vents were installed in the balcony domes and in the corners of barrel vaults. Some eagle-eyed visitors will notice them! But we hope they mostly blend in to the background while they work their heating and cooling magic.

04/16/2021

April is National Poetry Month! We just love the way Victor Hernández Cruz writes about the city:

Horse-driven carts
arrive with the morning
Slicing through the venetian
blinds
Along with a Polish English
Barking peaches and melons
Later the ice man a-cometh
Selling his hard water
cut into blocks
The afternoon a metallic
slide intercourses buildings
which start to swallow
coals down their basement
Mouths.

Read the full poem, The Lower East Side of Manhattan, here: https://poets.org/poem/lower-east-side-manhattan. (Photo by Ed Gonzalez)

April is National Poetry Month! We just love the way Victor Hernández Cruz writes about the city:

Horse-driven carts
arrive with the morning
Slicing through the venetian
blinds
Along with a Polish English
Barking peaches and melons
Later the ice man a-cometh
Selling his hard water
cut into blocks
The afternoon a metallic
slide intercourses buildings
which start to swallow
coals down their basement
Mouths.

Read the full poem, The Lower East Side of Manhattan, here: https://poets.org/poem/lower-east-side-manhattan. (Photo by Ed Gonzalez)

04/15/2021

It's time for another Look Closely! Put on those amateur historian thinking caps and examine this historic photo. What do you think these women are doing? Where are they? Why?

Make some guesses based on what you already know about history - then visit eldridgestreet.org/look-closely to get the full scoop!

It's time for another Look Closely! Put on those amateur historian thinking caps and examine this historic photo. What do you think these women are doing? Where are they? Why?

Make some guesses based on what you already know about history - then visit eldridgestreet.org/look-closely to get the full scoop!

04/14/2021

We declare this the perfect day to get outside and go for a stroll! Bring our Building Bingo card with you and make a game out of it. How many architectural features can you can spot while walking? Mark down a full row and you've won!

You'll find your board, and a glossary of terms to get you up to speed, at https://www.eldridgestreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/buildingbingo.pdf.

Happy hunting!

We declare this the perfect day to get outside and go for a stroll! Bring our Building Bingo card with you and make a game out of it. How many architectural features can you can spot while walking? Mark down a full row and you've won!

You'll find your board, and a glossary of terms to get you up to speed, at https://www.eldridgestreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/buildingbingo.pdf.

Happy hunting!

04/12/2021

Planning an immigration unit for this spring? Millions of Americans started their journeys on the Lower East Side! And we’re joining with four local historic institutions (Tenement Museum, Museum of Chinese in America, Henry Street Settlement & Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty National Monument) for an Educator Open House geared towards K-12 social studies teachers prepping immigration lessons!

On April 21 at 5:30, you’ll get to network with colleagues and get the low-down directly from museum education staff on virtual programming, activities, and resources that can supplement your immigration units.

It's free! Register here: bit.ly/38YvjWm.

Planning an immigration unit for this spring? Millions of Americans started their journeys on the Lower East Side! And we’re joining with four local historic institutions (Tenement Museum, Museum of Chinese in America, Henry Street Settlement & Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty National Monument) for an Educator Open House geared towards K-12 social studies teachers prepping immigration lessons!

On April 21 at 5:30, you’ll get to network with colleagues and get the low-down directly from museum education staff on virtual programming, activities, and resources that can supplement your immigration units.

It's free! Register here: bit.ly/38YvjWm.

04/08/2021

Industrial meets pastoral! Do you know where this historic photo was taken? Any guesses? We can use context clues like location, clothing, businesses and other details from historic photos to make some pretty educated guesses about what's happening in the scene - and what life was like when the photo was taken.

Look closely at this photo and make some guesses about who, what, where, when and why! Then head to eldridgestreet.org/look-closely to get the full scoop.

Industrial meets pastoral! Do you know where this historic photo was taken? Any guesses? We can use context clues like location, clothing, businesses and other details from historic photos to make some pretty educated guesses about what's happening in the scene - and what life was like when the photo was taken.

Look closely at this photo and make some guesses about who, what, where, when and why! Then head to eldridgestreet.org/look-closely to get the full scoop.

04/06/2021

Our historic congregants made a lot of design choices based on proudly proclaiming themselves as Jewish immigrants. They wanted their building to look different than an American sacred space. But they weren't immune to the popular trends of the day either!

Every surface of the sanctuary is covered with design. That technique, to cover everything in ornamentation, comes from the Victorian aesthetic of "horror vacui", or fear of the vacuum. This term is associated with 20th-century Italian scholar Mario Praz, who originally used it to describe the stuffy and almost overwhelmingly ornate interiors of the Victorian Era (think about those old photos you've seen of parlors dripping with hanging portraits, heavy drapes and marble statuary). The idea was that ornamentation gave the impression of abundance and success - certainly something that our congregants were looking to telegraph with their grand new synagogue. So they adopted the Victorian trend in their own sacred space - and lavished every piece of wall and ceiling with painted decoration and faux finishes. ⁠Lucky us! It creates a stunning impression

04/02/2021

Tax photo flashback! Don't you just love all those old-fashioned cars on the street in that 1940s photo? The street is so empty in the other photo, which is a photo from the 1970s. There are some other major differences between the two shots, too - somewhere in between the two photos being taken, the towering finials on our rooftop disappeared. The roof is empty right along with the streets!

During restoration, we fabricated new finials by studying the 1940s photo - but the fate of the originals is still a mystery!

04/01/2021

🗣️ Hey amateur historians!

It's time for another round of Look Closely - where we examine historic photos to see if we can figure out something about life 100 years ago.

What clues can we use to guess what's happening here? Gather some theories, then head to eldridgestreet.org/look-closely to see if you guessed right!

🗣️ Hey amateur historians!

It's time for another round of Look Closely - where we examine historic photos to see if we can figure out something about life 100 years ago.

What clues can we use to guess what's happening here? Gather some theories, then head to eldridgestreet.org/look-closely to see if you guessed right!

03/30/2021

If you've ever felt like you needed to brush up on exactly how to make an egg cream, this short film is for you. The father-daughter filmmaking duo crisscross the five boroughs, searching for the frothy drink's secrets at the bottom of a glass. Along the way they hear a lot of lore, a lot of legend, and get some expert tips on crafting the perfect egg cream.

In only 15 minutes, Peter & Nora Claire MIller's short film Egg Cream gets at some touching truths about Jewish history and identity while also managing to stay very charming and lighthearted. You can hear exactly how they managed that on April 8th at 6PM, when they join us for a virtual discussion! You'll get a chance to watch their short film first, so you can prepare your burning egg cream questions in advance.

Sign up here! https://www.eldridgestreet.org/event/egg-cream-film-screening-talk-about-the-iconic-soda-drink/

03/26/2021

NEA Big Read: Yu Hua’s “To Live” Bilingual Book Discussion

Although the book was originally banned in China when first published in 1992, To Live is now considered one of the country’s most influential books, with millions of copies in print. Reading excerpts in both its original Chinese text and translated English text are Professors Mingwei Song (Wellesley College) and Michael Berry (UCLA). Professor Michael Berry was 22 and a senior at Rutgers University when he sent a fax to Yu Hua requesting permission to translate To Live into English in 2003. To this day he feels a great sense of gratitude to Yu Hua for entrusting his masterpiece to a young aspiring literary translator.

NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to broaden our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book.