Beginning in the 1600s when the first permanent Jewish settlers came to the New World from Brazil, our core exhibition flows chronologically as it highlights the diverse backgrounds, expectations, and experiences of Jews who first came to these shores and the generations that followed. The exhibition illustrates the choices they faced, the challenges they confronted, and the ways in which they shaped, and were shaped by, their American home.

The Museum’s second floor begins in the immediate postwar period with stories of migration, from war-torn Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and the Soviet Union. Likewise, between 1945 and 1965, about a third of all American Jews left large urban centers and established themselves in new suburban communities. For Jews and non-Jews alike, a suburban home became a sign of success, prestige, and security—a “Shangri-La” for the middle class. Artifacts and films illustrate what the creation of the State of Israel meant to American Jews, why they moved to the suburbs and new urban frontiers, and their role in the fight for civil rights. Choices and Challenges also highlights leisure activities like vacationing and summer camping. The floor ends in the present day, offering you a chance to share your personal views in two high-tech, interactive experiences: Contemporary Issues Forum and It’s Your Story.