Inside the Bikur Cholim synagogue, when empty.

Inside the Bikur Cholim synagogue, when empty


Digital Exhibits

A digital museum celebrating the stories that shape Jewish life in Washington State.

The Washington Jewish Museum is an online museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of Jewish life in Washington State. It serves as a platform to explore the Jewish community’s past and present through oral histories, photographs, and other archival materials. As the first Jewish museum of its kind in Washington state, it is dedicated to honoring the stories, lives, memories, and events that continue to shape Jewish identity and experience in the state.


Sephardic Tour

Map of Washington for the Sephardic Tour

Sephardic Tour

Learn about Historic Sephardic Jewish Seattle through the words of community members who lived, learned, worked, prayed, and played in the Central District.


Haggadah: Telling Your Story In The Time of Coronavirus

Haggadah: Telling Your Story In The Time of Coronavirus

Haggadah: Telling Your Story In The Time of Coronavirus

Haggadah: Telling Your Story In The Time of Coronavirus" is a project by the Washington State Jewish Historical Society (WSJHS) aimed at documenting the experiences of individuals, families, and organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. 


Rabbi Simon Benzaquen at a rally in support of Soviet Jewry, Seattle, probably between 1986 and 1987.

Rabbi Simon Benzaquen at a rally in support of Soviet Jewry, Seattle, probably between 1986 and 1987

Courtesy of UW Special Collections

Soviet Jewish Experience: Washington State Stories

The Soviet Jewish Experience: Washington State Stories" looks at four Seattleites whose lives were impacted by the Kremlin's restrictive emigration policies prior to the fall of the Iron Curtain. 


Agents of Change group photo, 2018.

Agents of Change group photo, 2018

Agents of Change (2018)

This exhibit features women who have made their mark in a wide array of fields including arts, activism, athletics, education, business, diplomacy, law, politics, religion, and philanthropy, Agents of Change shows the breadth and depth of the contributions Jewish women are making every day in our state and our world.


Sam Israel atop a wall overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem, built during the 16th century by the Ottomans, October 1973.

Sam Israel atop a wall overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem, built during the 16th century by the Ottomans, October 1973

Samis Foundation: Life and Legacy

Explore the legacy and impact of Samuel Israel and the Samis Foundation, which was established to carry out his philanthropic vision. The exhibit highlights the foundation's support for Jewish education in Washington State and initiatives in Israel, focusing on its funding of Jewish schools, summer camps, teen Israel experiences, and other programs. 


Groundbreaking for the Esfeld addition to the Caroline Kline Galland Home, 1975.

Groundbreaking for the Esfeld addition to the Caroline Kline Galland Home, 1975

Courtesy of UW Special Collections

Kline Galland

Exhibits in the Washington Jewish Museum will be an extension of the existing Kline Galland Collection page at the Jewish Archives. This exhibit will be able to live on in the WJM and have room to grow. Current exhibits will showcase Faces of the Summit, Kline Galland Living History, Kline Galland Past Presidents, and special pages from the scrapbooks of Josh Gortler. 


Architectural rendering of the new Caroline Kline Galland Home building, approximately 1965-1966.

Architectural rendering of the new Caroline Kline Galland Home building, approximately 1965-1966

Courtesy of UW Special Collections

Kline Galland Collection

The Kline Galland Center is a nonprofit organization that provides nursing services, assisted living, and retirement residences in Seattle. This collection offers a look into the growth of Kline Galland, the people involved, and its successes as a major installation of Jewish Seattle.


Samuel Nahmias, right, and daughter Margie (late 1930s).

Samuel Nahmias, right, and daughter Margie (late 1930s)

Shalom! Sefarad

Shalom! Sefarad is a collaborative project of WSJHS and the University of Washington León Center. This exhibit was created to introduce Seattle's Sephardic life continues to flourish in the diaspora more than 500 years after Jews were expelled from Spain.


Joe, Yetta, Charlie, and Itsey Brenner

Joe, Yetta, Charlie, and Itsey Brenner

Brenner Brothers

Brenner Brothers Bakery is featured in the WSJHS exhibit Shalom! Open For Business. It was a landmark business in the Jewish community located on Yesler Way and Cherry Street, nicknamed Kosher Canyon.


The front of the Bikur Cholim building.

The front of the Bikur Cholim building

Bikur Cholim

Established more than 100 years ago, Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath Congregation is Seattle’s oldest congregation.


CHT Logo

Confronting Hate Together

Confronting Hate Together is produced in partnership between The Black Heritage Society of Washington State, The Wing Luke Museum, and WSJHS as a unified response and community call to action against the bias and bigotry that sow seeds of division and hate across our communities.

Please Note: Our team is actively working to digitize our exhibits. Check back soon to explore the full collection, and stay updated by joining our mailing list or following us on Facebook and Instagram.