Jewish Museum
1109 5th Avenue (at 92nd Street)
Manhattan
(212) 423-3200

Summary: Believed to be the world's largest Jewish Museum outside of Israel. The museum's collection includes Jewish ceremonial pieces, art, photographs and cultural artifacts, as well as works by Jewish artists like Marc Chagall and Frank Stella (and most recently, Modigliani).

The first thing to realize about the Jewish Museum is that it is not a Holocaust museum. There is only one small section of the permanent exhibition devoted to the Holocaust. According to a museum tour guide, the size of the exhibit, "The Shoah," reflects the small proportion of this period of time to the entire history of Judaism.

The museum itself is quite large, covering four stories, but is manageable in an afternoon. The first two floors house the special exhibitions while the top two have the permanent exhibition and the Children's Gallery, which houses an exhibit for children and families on Jewish holidays.

The permanent exhibition entitled "Culture and Continuity: The Jewish Journey" makes up the heart of the museum, taking up the top two floors. It explores how Jews have been able to sustain their culture despite geographic dispersion and periodic catastrophes (World War II was far from the first).

Forging an Identity
The first section of the exhibition focuses on the formation of "modern" Judaism, generally from the 10th to the 2nd centuries B.C.E. (note: "B.C.E." stands for "Before the Common Era," and "C.E." which stands for "Common Era" is used rather than A.D.). If you like ancient history (which we do), you will like this section. In addition to photographs and text, there is a sizable collection of artifacts. The highlight is a series of well-preserved frescoes from the Dura Europas Synagogue (in present day Syria) from the 3rd century B.C.E. Along with the discussion of the festival of Hanukkah, there is an interesting display of menorahs, although most of them were from the 18th to 20th century, making them seem a bit out of place with the older objects throughout the rest of the floor.

If you're in the mood for a debate, you can engage the "Interactive Talmud". There are two terminals with touch screens that let you participate in a traditional Talmudic exercise where scholars explore a philosophical question by reaching back to historic texts. These are not lightweight questions. For example, we explored the issues raised by the question"When is a fetus a baby?" The computer prompts you with a series of related questions such as "When is a fetus protected by the law?" You then see several video clips where scholars interpret different texts which may conflict with one another. The idea behind this exercise is that the Talmud is relevant today.

Interpreting a Tradition Continued: The Torah, The Jewish New Year
This part of the exhibit looks at different rituals in Jewish tradition, from circumcision to bar and bat mitzvahs, and even divorce. The displays consist primarily of artifacts -- menorahs, torah ornaments, wedding cups, prayer shawls, and pieces used in the observance of the Sabbath. There is also a short film.

We appreciated the craftsmanship of some of the pieces, particularly the silver, but found that this section is not especially educational for someone who is not familiar with the origin and the traditions of these rituals.

Confronting Modernity
The next section leaps forward to the period from 1770-1948 to look at Jewish concerns and identity in a modern context. The exhibits examine the rise of anti-Semitism starting in the 18th century and coinciding with the increasing pace of change and uncertainty generated by the Industrial Revolution. There are quite a few works by Jewish artists, such as Robert Motherwell, Peter Blume, Theresa Bernstein, and William Meyerowitz, plus examples of anti-Semitic literature. This section also includes the exhibit on the Holocaust.

Unless you would like to sit and rest for awhile, we do not recommend the audio exhibit which allows you to listen to "conversations" in cafes in various late 19th century European cities.

Realizing a Future: The Contemporary World
The last part of "Culture and Continuity" starts with a short film that looks at contemporary issues confronting Jews and Jewish identity, which is followed by several works of art. All of these have been recently changed except for "The Holocaust" by George Segal. It is fortunate that this work of art remains in the exhibit because it is probably the most powerful piece in the entire museum and it alone is worth the trip.

Special Programs
The museum offers a variety of programs for both members and the general public. There is a weekly lecture series, plus film screenings and discussions, and readings and booksignings.

The museum also offers interpreted tours of its exhibitions for the hearing impaired several times a month. For further information about services for visitors with special needs, you can visit the museum's web site or call (212) 423-3225.

When to Go
There was a good crowd on a cloudy Thursday, although the admissions staff said that it was less crowded than usual. The busiest times are Thursday evenings (admission is "pay what you wish" from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and Sundays. There are usually events on Sundays at the Family Activity Center, including storytime at 1 p.m. The museum is closed Saturdays and major Jewish holidays.

How to Get There
The museum is easily accessible by subway via the Lexington Avenue 4, 5, or 6 lines to 96th Street. For those who prefer to drive, there are two parking garages on 87th Street between Park and Lexington.

by Kathleen Beckmann

Site Directory: