May is Jewish Heritage Month! Check out these great events at East Brunswick Public Library!
WARSAW GHETTO RESISTANCE (ONLINE) -- Monday, May 11, 7:30 pm
In an era of rising antisemitism, Holocaust educator Deborah Rosenberg—a doctoral candidate at Touro University with a Master’s in Holocaust and Genocide Studies—honors the history of the Warsaw Ghetto by highlighting its diverse forms of resistance. Her presentation explores how the community persevered through soup kitchens, secret schools, cultural events, and couriers before ultimately turning to armed struggle. This insightful program is open to the public and highly recommended for students in middle school and above. Click here for more information.
THE OTHER JEWISH SONGWRITERS: A LECTURE IN SONG -- Sunday, May 31, 2:00 pm
Fred Miller explores the profound impact of Jewish immigrants on American entertainment, focusing specifically on the lives and legacies of Arthur Schwartz, Burton Lane and Sammy Fain. While legends like Gershwin and Berlin dominated the era, Miller highlights these three prolific figures as essential contributors to the Golden Age of Broadway and Hollywood. Through his signature "Lecture-in-Song" format, the multifaceted performer narrates their histories and performs their enduring hits, concluding with a tribute to the iconic Al Jolson to celebrate the cultural ascendancy of Jewish artists in America. Click here for additional information.
JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION -- Sunday, May 31, 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Everyone is welcome as East Brunswick celebrates Jewish culture and heritage with a special event at East Brunswick Public Library (2 Jean Walling Civic Center Drive). This Sunday afternoon event features several displays, exhibits and children’s activities sharing the impact and traditions of the Jewish community.
A PROMISED LAND: JEWISH PATRIOTS, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND THE BIRTH OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM -- Wednesday, June 17, 7:00 pm
In this presentation, Adam Jortner explores the pivotal role Jewish patriots played in both the American Revolution and the foundational debate over religious liberty. By examining the wartime migration of Jewish citizens to Philadelphia and their subsequent push for full citizenship, Jortner demonstrates that the separation of church and state was a deliberate choice made by the founding generation rather than a modern development. A specialist in early American religious history, he highlights how these early Jewish pioneers helped ensure the new republic would be defined by broad religious freedom rather than an exclusive religious identity. Click here for additional information.