Anu – Museum of the Jewish People Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Anu – Museum of the Jewish People
אנו – מוזיאון העם היהודי
Anu – Museum of the Jewish People building exterior
Established	May 15, 1978
Location	Tel Aviv University campus, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel
Type	Jewish museum

The Foundations Wing at Anu – Museum of the Jewish People

The Synagogue Wing at Anu – Museum of the Jewish People

The logo for Anu – Museum of the Jewish People

Anu – Museum of the Jewish People is a special museum in Tel Aviv, Israel. It is located right on the Tel Aviv University campus. The name 'Anu' comes from Hebrew and means 'we' or 'us'.

This museum tells the amazing story of the Jewish people. It reopened on March 10, 2021, after a big update. The museum celebrates and explores the history, achievements, and spirit of Jewish communities. It covers everything from ancient times to today.

The museum helps Jewish people connect with their past and understand their identity. It shares a wide range of Jewish culture, faith, and history. It shows how Jewish life has changed and grown over many years.

The museum's big update cost $100 million and took 10 years to complete. It replaced an older museum called Beit Hatfutsot. The new museum was funded by the State of Israel, the Nadav Foundation, and other generous donors. In 2016, a new part was added. This included areas for temporary exhibits, a hall with models of synagogues, and an interactive children's exhibit called Heroes – Trailblazers of the Jewish People.

The new name, 'Anu', was chosen to show that the museum includes everyone. It reflects the many different Jewish communities around the world. The museum is now the largest and most complete Jewish museum in the world. It aims to be a guiding light for Jewish identity and culture.

Discovering the Museum's Past
What You Can Explore at the Museum
Special Items at the Museum
Models in the Synagogue Hall
Awards and Recognition
See also

Discovering the Museum's Past

In 1959, a group called the World Jewish Congress decided to build a museum. They wanted it to be a place for education and culture for Jewish people everywhere. The museum in Israel was named after Nahum Goldmann, who helped start the World Jewish Congress.

Abba Kovner, one of the museum's founders, came up with the main idea for the exhibits. He wanted to show Jewish history and how it continued through six main themes. These themes, or "gates," showed important parts of Jewish life: family, community, faith, culture, existence, and return. Jeshajahu Weinberg was the first director, and Meyer Weisgal was the first president.

Anu – Museum of the Jewish People first opened on May 15, 1978. It was known for being very modern for its time. The exhibits used new technology like audiovisual displays and computers. This helped the museum tell stories in a new and exciting way. It showed that museums could be more than just places to display old objects.

Over time, the museum faced money problems. Many people worked to save it, including Shlomo Lahat, a former mayor of Tel Aviv, and Ariel Sharon, a former prime minister. In 2005, the Israeli Knesset (Israel's parliament) passed a law about the museum. This law said that Beit Hatfutsot (the museum's old name) was "the National Center for Jewish Communities in Israel and around the world." A plan was put in place to help the museum, with support from the Israeli Government and a donor named Leonid Nevzlin.

What You Can Explore at the Museum

Anu – Museum of the Jewish People offers many ways to learn about Jewish experiences. Inside the museum, there are four main areas of exhibits. Three floors have brand new galleries that opened in March 2021. There is also a special gallery just for children. The museum often has new temporary exhibits, along with talks and workshops.

The museum also has huge digital archives. You can search through photos, films, music, and information about genealogy (family history) and family names. All of this is about Jewish people and their history. These archives have been collected for almost 40 years and are now available online and at the museum. The museum also provides educational activities for teachers and students, both at the museum and for classrooms around the world.

Special Items at the Museum

In May 2023, a very old and important book called the Codex Sassoon 1053 was bought for a lot of money. It was purchased by Alfred H. Moses for the American Friends of Anu. This made it one of the most expensive books ever sold at auction. The codex was shown at Anu in March 2023 as part of a world tour before it was sold.

Models in the Synagogue Hall

A model of the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue
A model of The Great Sephardi Synagogue in Florence, Italy
A model of Beth Sholom Synagogue in Pennsylvania, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
A model of the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam, Holland
A model of the Central Synagogue of Aleppo in Aleppo, Syria
A model of the Paradesi Synagogue in Cochin, India