The core exhibition at the Jewish Museum Berlin
Newly opened in 2021, the exhibition, spread over more than 3,500 square metres, offers insights into Jewish history and contemporary life in Germany.
Image gallery
Bereich „Schabbat“ im Themenraum „Gebot und Gebet“
Blick in den Epochenraum „Katastrophe“
Blick in die Rafael Roth Galerie mit der Installation „DRUMMERRSSS“ von Gilad Ratman, 2020
Blick in den Themenraum „Klang“
Blick auf die Prismenvitirine mit Zeremonialobjekten im Raum „Das Jüdische Objekt“
Blick in dem Themenraum „Hall of Fame“
Das interaktive „Familienalbum“ präsentiert zehn Sammlungen aus dem Bestand des Museums
Blick auf die Installation „Mesubin“ von Yael Reuveny und Clemens Walter am Schluss der Dauerausstellung
Blick auf den Willkommenspunkt und den Themenraum „Tora“
Blick in den Themenraum „Kunst und Künstler“
A historical tour – fascinating insights
A video installation in the Libeskind building marks the start of the tour, before visitors proceed through the central axes and up the striking staircase into the exhibition spaces. There, a sculpturally designed welcome area invites visitors to settle in and get involved. In the subsequent tour of the exhibition, historical narratives alternate with insights into Jewish culture and religion:
- What is sacred in Judaism?
- What happens on Shabbat?
- What does Judaism sound like?
In addition to traditional displays of artefacts, visitors can also expect art installations, hands-on stations and virtual reality experiences across two floors. The exhibition showcases the richness of the museum’s own collection more prominently than ever before: of the more than 1,000 objects on display, over 70 per cent come from the museum’s own storerooms.
More space for contemporary Jewish life
The exhibition is divided into five historical chapters, ranging from the beginnings of Jewish life in Ashkenaz, through the Enlightenment emancipation movement and its failure, right up to the present day. Nazism and the chapter ‘After 1945’ feature prominently. Here, the focus is on topics such as restitution and reparations, relations with Israel, and Russian-speaking immigration from 1990 onwards. The ‘Final Chorus’ brings to life the diversity of contemporary Jewish life in a video installation.
Fancy finding out more?
- The JMB app guides you through the exhibition; it’s an audio guide in German and English that you can easily use on your own smartphone. Don’t forget your headphones!
Guided tours are, of course, also available for different age groups and areas of interest.
Tactile models and plans, wheelchair-accessible display cases and clear signage also ensure a barrier-free visit.
Additional information
Accessibility
Touch models and plans, display cases designed to allow close viewing by wheelchair users, and clearly designated routes make the museum accessible for people with impairments.
