The new Museum is open!

The story begins in the present. The incredible diversity of the expressions of Jewish identity and culture enables each and every one of us to find something of ourselves here. The folklore and the arts, the language and the literature, the different denominations in Judaism, and the Jewish contribution to humanity – all these are manifestations of multifaceted Jewish identity and culture, whether individual or collective.

This is the unique and ongoing story of the Jewish people, from ancient times and up to the present. In it, you can find chapters of growth, prosperity and cultural dialog, alongside periods of pogroms and persecutions. The journey, which extends over thousands of years, begins with the story of the Jewish migrations, examines the large centers of Jewish life as well as Jewish culture and scholarship, and ends with the rebirth of the Jewish people after the Holocaust, the establishment of the State of Israel, and a depiction of various Jewish communities in our times.

The ideological foundations on which Jewish existence has been built over the years – are foundations which have both a particular-Jewish dimension as well as a general-universal dimension that has bearing on human civilization as a whole. The unique foundations include the Sabbath (Shabbat), the covenant, the cycle of the year and milestones in human life. The universal foundations are exemplified by the Bible and its impact on cultures around the world.

This stunning exhibition portrays the world of synagogues in the past and present. It features 21 models of synagogues that depict different facets of Jewish life – social events, study, creative endeavors and worship, in addition to various activities that are associated with synagogues, such as weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, community gatherings, fundraising events for charity, and more. An original ceremonial object is displayed next to each model, which comes from the synagogue or community that is connected with it. These objects enrich the exhibition and enhance our understanding of the cultural and artistic identity of that particular community.