Rose & Phil Rosenshein Museum

At the Rosenshein Museum we preserve and document the history of the Hamilton Jewish community  with special attention to the members of Beth Jacob Synagogue. 

We have an amazing collection of artifacts, a growing archive, and collection of oral histories that tell the stories of the community that shaped the way we live in Hamilton Ontario today!  

Since Biblical times, Jews have migrated to better their lives.

We interviewed eight families for Welcome To Canada: Jewish Immigrant Stories of Hamilton, who immigrated to Canada between 1981 and 1998 in search of greater opportunity, freedom, and a better life for themselves and for their children. 

Anti-Semitism in their home countries played a role in their desire to leave. Many had kept their Jewish identity secret in order to have full access to education, professional advancement and freedom to travel. Cautious of their neighbours and acquaintances, they hid their Jewish practices behind closed doors. In Hamilton they found freedom of religion, gainful employment and the better future they were seeking.

To see each family's full story, click here.

Thanks to: the City of Hamilton Canada 150 Grants Program, Sol and Louise Algranti, Alma Arguello, Piotr Gawek, Leon and Diana Karan, David and Nadine Koff, Gabriel Ronen, Vivyan Salih, Mac Swackhammer, Workers Arts and Heritage Centre.

                                  September 2015-October 2016

The Jewish Voice of Hamilton exhibit featured a snapshot into the dynamic life of the city in the 1930s and 1940s through the lens of its one-time Yiddish language newspaper and its iconoclastic publisher, Henry Balinson.

Thanks to: An anonymous donor, Morley and Joan Balinson,  Gord Garshowitz, Libby and David Garshowitz, Ronnie Garshowitz, Mark Gould, Rhoda and Bernie Katz, David and Goldie Leibman, Dan Levy, Milt and Terri Lewis , Wendy and Lorry Schneider, Eric Slavens

October 2014 

Bubbie's candlesticks; Great Grandfather's Kiddish cup; My mother in laws wedding dress: Our family heirlooms evoke memories of our loved ones and carry with them the stories of our ancestors. They are our tangible connections to the past. Join us as we celebrate the History of Hamilton's Jewish community through the objects we treasure. 

Featuring some famous congregants, past and present: Ken Soble, Molly Beube, Paul Hanover, Caissie Levy and others! 

Curated by Melinda Richter. 

Exhibit design by Ingrid Mayrhofer. 

Video by Khalm H'erbin and Wendy Schneider.

Beth Jacob celebrated its 125th anniversary with a weekend long multimedia celebration and as part of the festivities we turned the former small chapel into our new museum space! 

Curated by Melinda Richter and Wendy Schneider. 

Exhibit design by Jeremy Kemeny.