Jewish Museum (Manhattan) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Jewish Museum

The Jewish Museum is housed in the Felix M. Warburg House.
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Established	1904
Location	1109 Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street, Manhattan, New York
Type	Art Museum
Architect	C. P. H. Gilbert
Public transit access	Subway:   at 86th Street Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4, M86

The Jewish Museum is a special place in New York City where you can explore art and learn about Jewish culture. It's located on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, a famous street known as "Museum Mile." This museum was the very first Jewish museum in the United States. It's also the oldest Jewish museum still open anywhere in the world!

Inside, you'll find a huge collection of over 30,000 objects. These items show Jewish history and modern art. The museum started collecting things in 1904. But it didn't open to the public until 1947. It's a great place to see how Jewish culture has changed over time.

History of the Museum

The museum's collection began with a gift in 1904. Judge Mayer Sulzberger gave many beautiful Jewish ceremonial art objects to the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. These items were kept in the seminary's library. Over time, more important gifts were added to the collection.

In 1939, during World War II, about 350 objects were sent to New York City from Poland. This was done to keep them safe from the war.

The museum found its permanent home in 1944. Frieda Schiff Warburg, whose husband Felix Warburg had passed away, donated their family mansion to the seminary. This beautiful building became 'The Jewish Museum'. It officially opened to the public in May 1947. Frieda Warburg wanted the museum to be a happy place. She said it should celebrate Jewish faith and traditions, not be a sad memorial.

The museum has grown over the years. A sculpture garden was added in 1959. The building was made bigger in 1963 and again in 1993. Architect Kevin Roche designed the later expansions.

The Jewish Museum in 2004

In the 1960s, the museum started showing more contemporary art. It even helped launch the Minimalist art movement with an exhibition called Primary Structures. Later, the museum focused more on Jewish culture and artists. From 1990 to 1993, the museum went through a big renovation. This project doubled its size, adding a new seven-story section.

Since 1992, the Jewish Museum has worked with the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Together, they create The New York Jewish Film Festival. This festival shows many different kinds of films.

Today, the museum offers many fun and educational programs. You can attend concerts, watch films, and listen to talks. They also have special activities for families and kids. In 2006, the museum started offering free admission on Saturdays.

The Museum Building

The museum is housed in the Felix M. Warburg House. This building was built between 1906 and 1908. It was designed by C. P. H. Gilbert for Felix and Frieda Warburg. The house has a special style called François I (or châteauesque). This style was popular in France and looked very grand.

Felix M. Warburg House, 1908

The house is made of limestone. It has unique roofs and decorative carvings. This style showed off the family's wealth. There used to be a green yard in front, which is now the museum's entrance.

Building Renovations

When the house became a museum, architect Kevin Roche was chosen to design new parts. He also designed additions for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. After two and a half years, Roche finished his work in 1993. He wanted the new parts to match the old building's style.

Inside an exhibit at the Jewish Museum

For example, the Fifth Avenue side of the building is made of Indiana limestone. It has carvings that look like the old Gothic style. The auditorium is in a former ballroom. It uses the mansion's original stained-glass dome. Even the cafe in the basement has stained-glass windows!

While keeping the old look, Roche also added modern features. He made sure the education center and auditorium had the latest technology. This includes interactive displays for learning.

Museum Collections

Gallery talk about the exhibition "Reclaimed: Paintings from the Collection of Jacques Goudstikker"

The Jewish Museum has almost 30,000 objects. This includes paintings, sculptures, and ancient items. There's also a lot of Jewish ceremonial art. These pieces are important for understanding Jewish history and culture.

Some famous artists whose work you can see here include Marc Chagall and Andy Warhol. This collection is the largest of Jewish art and cultural items outside of museums in Israel. The museum has a special ongoing exhibition called Scenes from the Collection. It shows art from ancient times to today. The objects come from all over the world, wherever Jewish people have lived.

Collection Highlights

• Man Ray, Self-Portrait with Camera, 1930
• Andy Warhol, Ten Portraits of Jews of the 20th Century, 1980
• Eva Hesse, Untitled, 1963–64
• Richard Avedon, Jacob Israel Avedon portraits, 1969–73
• Marc Chagall, Old Man with Beard, c. 1931
• Jan Pogorzelski, Hanukkah menorah, 1893
• James Tissot, Adam and Eve Driven From Paradise, c. 1896–1902
• Alfred Stieglitz, The Steerage, 1907
• Johann Adam Boller Hanukkah menorah, Frankfurt am Main (Germany), 1706–32
• Torah Ark from Adath Yeshurun Synagogue, Abraham Shulkin, 1899

Selected Art Exhibitions

The museum has shown many interesting exhibitions over the years. Here are a few examples:

• Primary Structures (1966)
• The Circle of Montparnasse: Jewish Artists in Paris, 1905–1945 (1985)
• The Dreyfus Affair: Art, Truth, and Justice (1987)
• Painting a Place in America: Jewish Artists in New York, 1900–1945 (1991)
• Too Jewish?: Challenging Traditional Identities (1996)
• Eva Hesse: Sculpture (2006)
• Action/Abstraction: Pollock, de Kooning, and American Art, 1940-1976 (2008)
• Harry Houdini: Art and Magic (2010–2011)
• Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World) (2011)
• The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats (2012)
• Kehinde Wiley / The World Stage: Israel (2012)
• Édouard Vuillard: A Painter and His Muses, 1890-1940 (2012)
• "Crossing Borders: Manuscripts from the Bodleian Library" (2012–2013)
• "Sharon Lockhart Noa Eshkol" (2012–2013)
• Revolution of the Eye: Modern Art and the Birth of American Television (2015)
• "Pierre Chareau: Modern Architecture and Design" (2016–2017)
• "Chagall, Lissitzky, Malevich: The Russian Avant-Garde in Vitebsk, 1918-1922" (2018–2019)
• "The Sassoons" Exhibit (2023)

Gallery

Educational Programs

The Jewish Museum offers many public educational programs. These include talks, lectures, and performances. You can also try hands-on art making activities. They have special group visits and programs for visitors with disabilities. There are also resources for teachers.

One unique program for visitors with disabilities is the Verbal Description Tour. Once a month, the museum is open just for this program. An art educator guides participants through the empty museum. They give detailed descriptions of the artwork. Visitors can even touch some objects! This creates a special connection to the art.

The museum has programs for all ages. There are live musical performances and events just for children and families. Sundays are often "family day" with many activities. These include gallery tours, free art workshops, and storybook readings. Activities are designed to appeal to everyone, no matter their background. They explore topics like archaeology or art techniques.

Museum Management

The Jewish Museum has grown a lot over the years. Its collection has expanded to 26,000 objects. The museum's budget has also increased. Directors like Joan Rosenbaum helped the museum grow and focus on its Jewish identity. They also brought in exhibitions of modern and contemporary artists. In 2013, Claudia Gould became the new director.

See also

In Spanish: Museo Judío de Nueva York para niños

• Jews in New York City
• List of museums and cultural institutions in New York City