Jewish Museum Berlin

Aerial view of the Jewish Museum of Berlin

Aerial view of the striking architecture of the Jewish Museum.

Jewish Museum, Berlin

General view of the museum from west.

Museum Architecture

Closer look at the museum's fascinating architecture.

Strange angles abound in the hallways.

Photo Anthony J. Hicks.

The "Fallen Leaves" installation.

Closer look at the "Fallen Leaves" installation.

Location map and aerial view of Jewish Museum Berlin. For a larger interactive view, see our Berlin Map.

Berlin's Judisches Museum (Jewish Museum), housed in a remarkable modern building designed by Daniel Libeskind, opened in September 2001. Shaped a bit like the Star of David and containing bizarre angles to symbolize the Holocaust, the Judisches Museum is the largest and most unique Jewish museum in Europe.

History

The Jewish Museum in Berlin was originally founded in Oranienburger Strasse in 1933. It was closed in 1938 by the state police. The idea to revive the museum was first voiced in 1971, and an "Association for a Jewish Museum" was founded in 1975.

A Jewish department of the Berlin Museum was founded after the Berlin Museum displayed an exhibition on Jewish history in Berlin in 1978; the foundation stone for an extension to the Berlin Museum was laid in November 1992.

In 1999, the Jewish Museum Berlin was granted status as an independent institution. The new building by Daniel Libeskind was finished in 1998 and officially opened in 2001.

What to See

The Jewish Museum's exhibits chronicle the history of the Jewish community in Germany from the Middle Ages to today, particularly during the reign of the Third Reich. A general overview of Judaism is provided on the third floor.

Complimenting Libeskind's striking architecture are some works of contemporary art, most notably the Shalechet ("Fallen Leaves") installation by Menashe Kadishman of Tel Aviv. Occupying a corner space called the "Memory Void", it consists of 10,000 iron faces strewn thickly across the floor. The faces are coarsely stamped but full of expression, with mouths open in suffering. Visitors are permitted to walk on the work. Doing so creates a loud, "industrial" noise and is quite a unique and moving experience.

The director of the museum is Professor W. Michael Blumenthal, who is originally from Berlin and was US Secretary of the Treasury under President Jimmy Carter.

Quick Facts

Site Information

Names:	Jewish Museum Berlin; Jüdisches Museum
Location:	Berlin, Germany
Category:	Museums
Faith:	Judaism
Date:	2001
Architecture:	Modern

Visitor Information

Coordinates:	52.501775° N, 13.395708° E (view on Google Maps)
Address:	Lindenstrasse 9-14, Berlin, Germany
Phone:	030/25993300
Website:	www.juedisches-museum-berlin.de
Hours:	Daily 10am-8pm (Mon until 10pm)
Cost:	€5; free for children 6 and under
Photography:	Permitted
Public transport:	U-Bahn: Hallesches Tor or Kochstrasse Bus: M29, M41, or 265

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Travel Resources for Berlin

Berlin Map - our detailed interactive map of Berlin, plus hand-picked links to more
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Berlin Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Berlin tourism

Article Sources

Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:

Personal visit (March 5, 2008).
Jewish Museum Berlin – official site
Jüdisches Museum - Fodor's Online Travel Guide
Jewish Museum – Economist.com Cities Guide
Jewish Museum, Berlin Opening Ceremony – The Guardian Galleries (photo gallery with captions)
Light in the dark: A visit to the Jewish Museum – Minneapolis Star-Tribune, March 16, 2003
The Jewish Museum in Berlin – "Not a Guilt Trip" – APF Reporter, 2001
Jewish Museum Berlin – Galinsky (about the architecture)
Jewish Museum – Archiseek (about the architecture)
Jewish Berlin – Berlin Tourist Information

Article last updated: 10/25/2009.