Compiled by Ilene Rubenstein and David Zinner (2005)
New York City may have more places to visit and things to do of Jewish interest than any other place outside of Israel. Below is a selected list of just a few of these great places. Shows rotate and special exhibits may require reservations or have limited viewing hours, so you may want to call ahead for schedules. Many offer discounts for AAA members and for students, so be sure to ask about that as well.
Discover New York City! Enjoy what it has to offer! Have fun!
Ground Zero
The Southern (downtown) Liberty Street side of the World Trade Center is a viewing platform. The area begins at Liberty and Church streets. No tickets are required. An observation wall along the perimeter of the site on Church Street contains a memorial list of the names of the missing and information about the World Trade Center site before and after the attack. It is possible to walk the entire perimeter and view the site from other vantage points (with some minor detours because of construction).
Note: All locations in the borough of Manhattan
Place/Event | Address | Phone & Web | Comments | |||||||
Center for Jewish History including: |
15 W. 16th St (near Union Square) |
212-294-8301 |
Umbrella Organization | |||||||
American Jewish Historical Society | 212-294-6160 www.ajhs.org |
New exhibit: 350 Years of American Jewish Life | ||||||||
American Sephardi Federation | 212-294-8350 www.asfonline.org | |||||||||
Leo Baeck Institute |
212-294-8340 |
Society for German speaking Jews | ||||||||
Yeshiva University Museum | 212-294-8330 www.yumuseum.org | |||||||||
YIVO Institute for Jewish Research | 212-246-6080 www.yivo.org |
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Children’s Learning Lab and Children’s Galleries for Jewish Culture |
515 W. 20th St, #4E |
212-924-4500 www.jcllcm.com | Ages 7-12 | |||||||
Eldridge Street Project & Synagogue |
12 Eldridge St |
212-219-0888 |
Tours, public programs and events. Landmark synagogue built in 1887 to serve the Lower East Side. |
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Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty – Liberty Island |
New York Harbor – Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Ferry from Battery Park in lower Manhattan |
212-363-3206 xt.134 www.nps.gov.stli |
Very moving.
Statue newly reopened -advance reservations required for Statue tours |
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Hebrew Union College Museum |
1 W. 4th St |
212-824-2205 |
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The JCC in Manhattan |
334 Amsterdam |
646-505-4444 |
Exhibits and Jewish learning to match every interest. |
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The Jewish Museum |
1109 5th Ave. |
212-423-3200 |
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Jewish Theological Seminary Library |
3080 Broadway |
212-678-8975 |
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Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum |
280 Broome St |
212-421-1619 |
History of Romaniote Greek Jews |
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Lower East Side Tenement Museum |
90 Orchard St. |
212-431- 0233 |
Excellent hands on interactive tours. Multicultural but definitely of Jewish interest. |
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Makor |
35 W. 67th St. (bet Central Park W. & Columbus) |
212-601-1000 |
Arts, entertainment, and spirituality for Jewish 20- & 30-somethings. |
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Museum of the City of New York |
1220 5th Ave. |
212-534-1672 |
New Exhibit: Tolerance & Identity: Jews in Early NY |
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Museum of Jewish Heritage |
18 1st Place Battery Park City |
212-968-1800 |
Moving and powerful exhibits. Check listings for special events, concerts, etc. |
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West Side Judaica |
2402 Broadway |
212-362-7846 |
Books and so much more Careful: you could go broke! |
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Zabar’s |
2245 Broadway |
212-787-2000 |
A culinary cornucopia. Small kosher section – mainly non-kosher |
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92nd Street Y Bronfman Center for Jewish Learning |
1395 Lexington |
212-415-5500 |
Jewish learning for every interest. Check schedule |
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