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The Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
honors those who died by celebrating their lives - cherishing the civilization
that they built, their achievements and faith, their joys and hopes, and
the vibrant Jewish community that is their legacy today.
In the Museum's core exhibition, personal objects, photographs, and
original films illustrate the story of Jewish heritage in the twentieth
century. The Museum's collection forms the solid foundation of
this important archive, a significant educational resource for students and teachers. In addition, the collection provides source materials
for permanent and temporary exhibitions, and for traveling exhibitions.
The 2,000 photographs, 800 historical and cultural artifacts, and 24
original documentary films on rotating display in the Museum's core exhibition
represent just a small portion of the 15,000 objects in the Museum's collection.
In 1986, the Museum began amassing documents, photographs, artifacts,
home movies, and documentary film footage along with audio and video testimony.
These collections continue to expand today. Holocaust survivors and their
families, as well as liberators, immigrants and their families, donate
these materials so that the Museum can fulfill its mission of educating
future generations about Jewish life and the Holocaust.
The Museum's core exhibition is organized around three chronological
themes, each told on a separate floor. Every year the Museum sponsors
special exhibitions within the Museum, and traveling exhibitions throughout
the U.S. and beyond.
Jewish Life A Century Ago
Family. Home. Tradition.
A visit to the Museum's core exhibition begins with an exploration of
the history and customs of Jewish communities around the world at the
dawn of the twentieth century. The
distinct threads of Jewish life around the world as they depict the vibrant
communities of that time are intertwined with artifacts and photographs. Learn about how and where Jews lived, their
rich and diverse traditions, their value systems, and how the forces of social change shaped
their lives.
The War Against the Jews
Identity. Resistance. Survival.
The Museum's second floor tells the story of Europe's Jews confronting
hatred and violence, of communities coping with persecution and isolation,
and of the struggle to endure the unimaginable. Above all, it is a
story of men and women who resolutely fought to preserve their humanity
and their heritage. In these galleries, short films present the testimonies
of those who lived through the Holocaust. The memory of the war's devastation
is also preserved in the silent eloquence of artifacts and photographs.
Jewish Renewal
Resilience. Renewal. Hope.
Following the Holocaust, the Jewish people emerged to renew and repair
their lives. While mourning characterized the years that follow the war,
there is the triumph of the founding of the State of Israel, and the optimism
of flourishing Jewish communities in the United States, and throughout
the world. The continuity of Jewish heritage is distinguished by the same
principles that existed before the war - tradition, community, and justice.
The Robert M. Morgenthau Wing
Reflection. Education. Action.
The Morgenthau wing is the venue for performances, education and instruction,
special exhibitions, remembrance, and special events. Special exhibitions
afford the Museum the opportunity to complement the themes expressed in
the core exhibition in greater detail.
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