Mishpakha: Jewish History of Woonsocket

Mishpakha: Jewish History of Woonsocket,
Museum of Work & Culture, Woonsocket, RI, May 16-August 26, 2023.

Extended through September 30 by popular demand!

The Museum of Work & Culture, a division of the Rhode Island Historical Society, is proud to present Mishpakha: Jewish History of Woonsocket, an original exhibition celebrating local narratives of worship, entrepreneurship, and social life in Woonsocket’s Jewish community. The exhibit opens Tuesday, May 16 and will remain in the museum’s changing gallery until Saturday, August 26.

Beginning in the 1860s with the arrival of Woonsocket’s first recorded Jewish resident, the city became a hub for Jewish immigrants in Northern Rhode Island. At its peak, Woonsocket boasted a thriving Jewish population of over 200 families–a tight-knit group that was a crucial thread in the fabric of the bustling textile city.

Mishpakha: Jewish History of Woonsocket provides visitors of all ages opportunities to learn about Jewish culture and traditions. Guests will be invited to ask questions, enjoy a diverse range of Jewish children’s books, participate in Jewish arts and crafts, and respond via words and images to thought-provoking prompts, all while discovering the rich history of this vital community.

You can view the text panels for this exhibition here.

Press:

Bella Pelletiere, "Jewish exhibit highlights growing up Jewish in Woonsocket," Valley Breeze, July 7, 2023.

"A Taste of History in Woonsocket," Edible Rhody, Summer 2023. Recipe for Mrs. Harold Golden's apple kuchen here. Recipe for Mrs. Abraham Brown's strawberry chiffon pie here.

Joe Nadeau, "Museum exhibit gets high marks from Jewish community," Woonsocket Call, June 12, 2023.

Radio interview with Roger Bouchard on WNRI, May 30, 2023.

Robert Isenberg, "Jews of Woonsocket exhibit opens at Museum of Work & Culture," Jewish Rhode Island, May 18, 2023.

Joe Nadeau, "Museum to open new exhibit on local Jewish community," Woonsocket Call, May 14, 2023.

Video Tour