Free Gallery Spaces

The exhibitions of four of the Center's partner organizations are open to the public free of charge.  In addition to several permanent installations, the American Jewish Historical Society, the American Sephardi Federation, the Leo Baeck Institute and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research have galleries with rotating exhibitions.

These exhibitions are open to the public as follows:

Sunday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Monday, 9:30 am to 7:30 pm
Tuesday to Thursday, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Friday, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm

Free public tours, exclusive of the YU Museum galleries, are held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. Tours last approximately 1 1/2 hours and include an orientation film, the free gallery spaces, the Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute and other public spaces. 

Click here for a list of Current Exhibitions.

Joint Tours
Offered by the Center for Jewish History and the Yeshiva University Museum

Learn About the Richness of Jewish Heritage and Culture

The Center for Jewish History is comprised of five leading educational, cultural and historical institutions that share a common vision to both preserve and present the richness of Jewish heritage:  American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum, and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.

The Center offers specially designed tours that will allow the visitor to view the exhibitions of these distinguished partners as well as enjoy the exhibitions of one of the leading Jewish museums in New York City.

Tours

There are two parts to the Center’s tour, each led by a different docent. The length of the tour is approximately 2 and a half hours.

• A short orientation film about the Center; followed by a tour of the facilities and exhibitions, the Reading Room, and the Genealogy Institute.
• A highlight tour of the Yeshiva University Museum’s art exhibitions.

Group tours are led by trained, experienced docents from the Center and the Yeshiva University Museum.

Optional Offerings

Meet the archivist or librarian*

• A free 30-minute session on how to conduct research on family history.
• A free 20- to 30-minute talk with an archivist or librarian from one of the partner organizations.

* Please inform us in advance if you would like to schedule a session with the Center Genealogy Institute or a tour with an archivist or librarian.

How to Schedule a Visit and Fee Structure

Julie Kaplan, the Center’s tour coordinator, can be reached at (917) 606-8226, or by e-mail at jkaplan@cjh.org, from Monday through Thursday.

• A group is defined as a minimum of 10 people.  Smaller groups may take the Center’s regularly scheduled public tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 p.m.  (The public tour does not include the Yeshiva University Museum; tickets to the Museum may be purchased separately.)
• Groups of 10 people or more: $12 per person.
• Groups of 25 or more will be divided into two separate groups with two tour guides.
• A non-refundable $25 deposit is required to reserve your tour. The balance can be paid on the day of your visit at the Fanya Gottesfeld Heller Book Store at the 16th Street lobby.  For the balance, we accept cash or a check made out to the Center for Jewish History.

Please Note: You may schedule a tour of the Yeshiva University Museum or the Center for Jewish History only.  For a tour of the Center only, at a cost of $6 per person, please call (917) 606-8226.  For a tour of the Yeshiva University Museum only, please call the Museum directly at (212) 294-8330.

Refreshments

The Date Palm Café, located at the Center, contains vending machines for beverages and snacks.  A group lunch menu is available for groups of 15 or more.  When you book your tour, please mention that you would like to eat lunch at the Center and request a menu.

Location

The entrance to the Center for Jewish History is 15 West 16th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.