Based on Saint John’s history, it is not surprising to learn over 90% of today’s citizens have British, French or Irish ancestors. The city’s much smaller Jewish community is equally proud of their heritage. Their roots began with the arrival of Solomon and Alice Hart from England in 1858. The first synagogue was erected in 1899. The growth and decline of their population is a classic bell curve. At the peak in the 1920s, the Jewish population was about 1,400. At the low point in 2000, only 300 remained. The Saint John Jewish Historical Museum was opened in 1986 by Marcia Koven to tell their fascinating stories and describe their contributions.
