The Louis I. Michelson Memorial Archives

The archives collects, preserves and shares material on the history of all aspects of Jewish life in Saint John from 1858 to the present day. The broad subject areas are: Synagogue, Organizations, Community, Personal History, Photographs, Holocaust, and Jewish Museum. The archival holdings were transferred to the New Brunswick Museum Archives and Library in October 2014 and arehoused in  their Collections and Research Centre at 277 Douglas Avenue in Saint John.


Some genealogical material – the database for the Shaarei Zedek Cemetery and data collected from the Saint John City Directory for individuals and businesses can be found online through the Canadian Jewish Information Network – External link opens in new tab or windowhttp://www.cjhn.ca/en


Dr. Moses I. Polowin Memorial Library

The collection includes books published in English, Hebrew and Yiddish and covers a wide range of subject matter. The Library is open year round by appointment. In 1996, the Library was recognized by the Church and Synagogue Library Association of Portland, Oregon as an Outstanding Congregational Library.


The Library is open on Thursday afternoons from 1:00 to 4:00 and welcomes browsers, readers and borrowers. An informatl book club discussion will take place at 2:00 - share your favourite Jewish author or book.


Private Group Tours

Group tours of the Museum can be arranged by appointment for public and private schools, church groups, youth and adult organizations, and families. Your visit will include an overview of the Synagogue, an exploration of Jewish holidays, customs and traditions in our permanent exhibit “From the Cradle to the Grave” and stories about the Jewish history and personalities of Saint John.

Please allow a minimum of one hour for the experience.

Admission fee / donation ; $50.00 for groups of 10 people or more.

No cost to public schools.


Jewish Education Outreach Kits

These kits are a great resource for a hands-on exploration of Jewish traditions and history. The kits are available for a loan period of up to two weeks to any school, church or organization in the province of New Brunswick. Each kit includes a teacher’s manual (available in English and French, picture books, reference books, activity books, music, video and artifacts.  The contents have been prepared by experienced educators with the needs of non-Jewish teachers and students in mind.

There are eight different kits available:

1.      Sabbath (the observance of the Jewish Sabbath day)

2.      Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur (the Jewish new year and day of atonement)

3.      Sukkot (Jewish thanksgiving for harvest)

4.      Chanukah (Festival of lights)

5.      Purim (celebration of Queen Esther and victory over persecution)

6.      Passover (the exodus of Jews from Egypt)

7.      Lifecycles (birth, education, marriage, death)

8.      Holocaust (written to follow the New Brunswick curriculum)


Holocaust Study Group

The Holocaust Study Group is open to high school students in grades 11 and 12 from the Saint John area. Over seven days, students learn about Judaism and the Holocaust from guest speakers, films, and reading, writing and art activities.  Registration information is available from the Anglophone South School District and the Saint John Jewish Historical Museum.