Jewish Museum of Australia facts for kids
Jewish Museum of Australia
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| Established | 1977 |
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| Public transit access | Tram: 3, 67 Alma Rd/St Kilda Rd |
The Jewish Museum of Australia is a special place in St Kilda, a suburb of Melbourne. It's a museum that helps people learn about and share the Jewish experience in Australia. It's different from the Sydney Jewish Museum, which is in another city.
Contents
How the Museum Started
The Jewish Museum of Australia began in 1977. A group of volunteers, led by Rabbi Ronald Lubofski, worked together to create it. At first, the museum didn't have its own building. So, they held exhibitions in places like the Myer Gallery. During this time, they also started collecting items for the museum.
In 1982, the museum opened a temporary spot. It was in old classrooms of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation in South Yarra. Sir Zelman Cowen supported the museum during this time. The museum stayed at this location for 13 years. They held over forty exhibitions there, and some even traveled to other parts of Australia. The museum gained more support and won awards.
In 1992, the museum bought its own building. It's on Alma Road in St Kilda, close to the St Kilda Hebrew Congregation synagogue. The museum officially opened its new home on August 20, 1995. The Governor-General, Bill Hayden, was there for the opening. The building was named the Gandel Centre of Judaica. This was to honor John and Pauline Gandel, who were big supporters of the museum.
What You Can See: The Museum's Collection
The museum has a huge collection of more than 20,000 objects. About 9,000 of these items came from Rabbi Lubofski's original collection. These objects show different parts of Jewish life and history. They include items used in religious ceremonies, historical pieces, cultural objects, and artworks.
The museum has some exhibits that are always on display. They also have special exhibitions that change over time. There are several galleries, like the Zelman Cowen Gallery of Australian Jewish History and the Gross Gallery.
Special Collections and Archives
The museum also keeps special collections and archives. These are like detailed records and groups of related items. Some of these include:
- Items from the HMT Dunera and stories about people who were held there.
- The Kalman Katz Coin collection.
- The Schmatte Business Collection, which shows how Jewish people were involved in the clothing trade.
- Personal family archives that tell stories about life in Europe and how people moved to Australia.
- A collection about Jewish people in Shanghai before and during World War II.
- The records of Rabbi J. L. Gurewicz.
- The Charles Aisen Sculpture Collection.
- Photographs and records from the 1800s. These show Jewish lives in different parts of Victoria.
Explore the Permanent Exhibitions
The main parts of the Jewish Museum of Australia's collection are shown in four permanent exhibitions.
Calling Australia Home: Jewish History in Australia
This exhibition is in the Zelman Cowen Gallery. It shares stories about generations of Australian Jews. You can learn why Jewish people moved to Australia. It also shows the lives they built here. The exhibition explores what it means to be Jewish in Australia today.
A Journey Through Jewish History
This exhibit is a timeline that explores 4,000 years of important events in Jewish history. It uses pictures, text, films, and old objects. It also features artwork by Heather Ellyard.
The Jewish Year: Festivals and Traditions
This exhibition celebrates the yearly cycle of Jewish festivals and holy days. These events create the rhythm of Jewish life. As the year moves through the exhibition, you'll see objects, text, and images. They help you understand the Jewish calendar. You can also see how Jewish festivals connect to farming cycles in the Land of Israel.
Beliefs and Rituals of Judaism
This exhibition looks at the basic ideas of Judaism. It explores the traditions and beliefs that have lasted for 4,000 years. These traditions continue to connect Jewish people around the world.
See also
- Jewish Holocaust Museum and Research Centre
- Sydney Jewish Museum
- Australian Association for Jewish Studies
