About Us

CJHS is the only archive and exhibit space in the central Ohio region dedicated solely to the Jewish community. Since our establishment in 1981, we have collected and preserved the stories, documents, artifacts, images and heritage of the Jewish communities of central Ohio. Our holdings encompass the people, organizations, synagogues and businesses from the mid 1800’s when the first permanent Jewish settlement in the area occurred.

CJHS continues to collect from the past but we also preserve the history which we are making today. We provide educational programming throughout the year on central Ohio history and general genealogy. We regularly partner with area synagogues and organizations. We maintain an active Oral History initiative.

In 2015 CJHS opened a permanent exhibit space known as “The Historical Collection” to the public. This marked the first time that a permanent exhibit space dedicated to the Jewish history of central Ohio would become available. Exhibits are changed periodically allowing visitors to understand the long and important history of the area.