B.C.'s Jewish Historical Society Celebrates 40 Years

Back in 1970, historian Cyril Leonoff met with a small group to discuss a potential Jewish historical society in British Columbia. Just a few months later, the group had founded the Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia (JHSBC) on November of that same year, with assistance from the Canadian Jewish Congress and the National Council of Jewish Women.

Throughout the years, the Society has worked on a number of accomplishments, including starting a journal (The Scribe), recording oral histories of British Columbia community members, authoring books and preserving photographs and records of the Jewish community through both educational programs and exhibits.

The Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia has created an accesible, online archive of community history featuring videos, virtual exhibits, photographs, artifacts and more.

The Society is also responsible for operating the Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia, a gallery space located in the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver.

The permanent gallery in Vancouver’s Jewish Community Centre will be closing soon, but the Jewish Historical Society will provide it’s programs in a new location, which will be announced some time next year.

In the meantime, visitors can still check out the Society’s exhibitions in the Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia until Thursday, Dec. 2. The museum is open Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is by donation.

For more information about the Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia, visit www.jewishmuseum.ca.