The mission of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater MetroWest NJ, founded in 1990 by Saul Schwarz and Ruth and Jerome Fien (pictured at left), is to serve as the archival repository of the Jewish community of Greater MetroWest, encompassing Essex, Morris, Sussex, Union, and portions of Somerset counties of New Jersey. We adhere to our mission by collecting, preserving, maintaining, and making available to the public the records of administrative, legal, fiscal or historical value, historical artifacts, books, oral history and manuscript collections. The Society serves the Jewish and general communities as a research center, exhibit center, producer of public forums, and publisher of books and papers on topics of historical Jewish interest.
The JHSGMW welcomes visitors of all ages! Whether you are a historian, a researcher, a writer, working on a school project or just looking to learn more about the community, we can help you find the materials you need.
Hours: Mondays-Thursdays: 9 am to 5 pm, and Fridays: 9 am to 4 pm (closed on national and Jewish holidays)
Location: Alex Aidekman Jewish Community Campus, 901 Route 10 East, Whippany, N.J 07981
Support JHS
Help us fulfill our mission of preserving the "best" of Greater MetroWest and NJ history.
Donate / Become a MemberVideos from Our Library
History repeats itself: Videos of presentations and traveling exhibits sponsored by the Jewish Historical Society of Greater MetroWest NJ.
See PlaylistNew Jersey Jewish News / Jewish Horizon
Explore 70 years of digitized newspapers that covered the Jewish community of Greater MetroWest and Central NJ.
See CollectionHoward Kiesel Memorial Archives
The Archives of the JHSGMW contain many of the treasures of the Jewish community of Greater MetroWest.
Search Collections and ObituariesTraveling Exhibitions
Traveling exhibitions that recreate Greater MetroWest's and New Jersey's greatest memories of the 20th century.
See the ExhibitionsResearch Agreement Form
The Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest request that all researchers wishing to use material in our archive must sign a Research Agreement. Completion of this agreement is a condition of permission to access materials within the archive at the Jewish Historical Society of MetroWest.
See FormImage Use Fee Schedule
The Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest charges licensing fees for use of high resolution images, which help fund ongoing efforts to care for our collections. We are committed to keeping images affordable and the fees match those of similar institutions.
See Fee ScheduleStore Publications
Please stop by our office, call or order online to make your purchase.
Shop our PublicationsLifeCycle Project
Celebrate and remember the lives we have lost. In our catalogue, you can browse the most recent obituaries and condolences. Need to submit an obituary for publication?
Submit ObituaryPhoto captions (left to right): UJA mission to Europe and Israel boarding Pan Am plane in 1957; Jewish Community Council of Essex County President Herbert Abeles (holding the camera) with his family in 1953; Israel Mission in 1966; and groundbreaking for Federation Plaza in 1978
A Legacy of Respect, Integrity, and Compassion
Contact Us
Karen Auerbach Bocaletti
Program Manager
(973) 929-2954
kbocaletti@jfedgmw.org
Jill Hershorin
Archivist
(973) 929-2995
jhershorin@jfedgmw.org
To submit a membership application, update membership information, make a donation or other administrative business, contact:
Irene Segal, Administrator at (973) 929-2703 or isegal@jfedgmw.org