The Jewish American Military Historical Society Prepares for Autumn Exhibit at Alpert JCC in Long Beach
American military history is not a single uniformed narrative. It is a rich tapestry woven from diverse voices, backgrounds, and sacrifices. Standing at the forefront of preserving an essential thread of that story is the Jewish American Military Historical Society (JAMHS), a Long Beach-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to documenting, interpreting, and sharing the deep history of Jewish American military and civil service.
From the colonial era to modern conflicts, Jewish Americans have stepped up to defend the nation. JAMHS works to ensure these contributions are neither forgotten nor overlooked, demonstrating how minority communities have played a pivotal role in shaping American military strength and freedom.
A New Exhibit Coming to the Alpert JCC
This fall, we are excited to share our work directly with the local community. We will be hosting an upcoming exhibit at the Alpert JCC in Long Beach titled Valor & Virtue: Jewish American Military History.
The exhibit will feature pop-up informational banners centered around a large digital touch screen display and an artifact case. This interactive setup will walk visitors chronologically through all 370 plus years of Jewish American military service. The exhibit will bringing historical records to life through personal stories, dynamic visual media, and rare historical items.
JAMHS Collections and Impact
Though rooted in Southern California, the impact of JAMHS extends across the country through extensive research, public educational talks, and permanent artifact collections.
The Society holds several unique historical archives, including:
• The Tibor Rubin Collection: Documenting the incredible life of the Holocaust survivor and Korean War Medal of Honor recipient. (A significant portion of this collection is currently on loan to the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, through 2030.)
• The Mendelsohn Letter Collection, Richard Stern Collection, Louis Peskin Collection, and Bonnie (Meyer) Chaban Collection: Personal archives that offer an intimate look into the wartime experiences of Jewish service members.
• The Jewish American Medal of Honor Recipient Exhibit: A traveling exhibition that has previously been displayed at venues such as the Mirage JCC, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, San Jose State University, and Heroes Hall Museum at the OC Fairgrounds.
Our Jewish American Medal of Honor Recipient Exhibit has traveled extensively to venues like the Mirage JCC, Wilshire Temple, San Jose State, and the Heroes Hall Museum at the O.C. Fairgrounds. We also regularly deliver lectures and talks at locations including UCLA Hillel, the Aleph Institute, the Alpert JCC, the Charleston Library Society, and on various podcasts.
We are proud to have worked with Civil War Trails to establish the very first historical marker dedicated to Jewish Civil War Soldiers. Behind the scenes, we collaborate with large institutions, small historical societies, and individual researchers to consolidate research and contribute to important projects, such as updates to the Shapell Foundation roster.
Locally, we will have a display opening in a few weeks at Chapman University’s Frank Mt. Pleasant Library Special Collections and Archives, which will run through the upcoming academic semester.
We are currently assembling a large Jewish American military history book collection and producing new research. To make this history accessible and engaging, we are actively publishing our findings in the Valor & Virtue comic book series.
In the next few years, we hope to find a dedicated space to open a physical museum. A permanent home will allow us to showcase our exhibits and artifacts while bringing in collections on loan. Potential rotating exhibits would cover topics like the Jewish Rough Riders, Jewish Soldiers on the Queen Mary, the Colonel Gerald Fink Collection, and exhibits on loan from the National Museum of American Jewish Military History.
Get Involved
Whether you are a veteran, family of a veteran, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about the rich history of Jewish American military service, JAMHS invites you to explore its work.
You can visit the virtual museum at jewishmilitary.org to view digital collections, read research articles, or order copies of the Valor & Virtue comic series. Mark your calendars for the upcoming Valor & Virtue exhibit at the Alpert JCC this fall, and join in honoring 370 years of Jewish American service, courage, and sacrifice.