Museum of Jewish Heritage facts for kids
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Aerial view of the Museum of Jewish Heritage
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| Established | 1997 |
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| Location | 36 Battery Place, New York, NY, 10280 |
| Type | Holocaust/Jewish museum |
| Architect | Roche-Dinkeloo |
| Public transit access | Bus: M15, M15 SBS, M20, M55 to South Ferry, M9 to Battery Park City Subway:   train at Bowling Green    train at South Ferry/Whitehall Street |
The Museum of Jewish Heritage is located in Battery Park City in Manhattan, New York City. It is a special place that remembers the millions of people who were killed during the Holocaust. Since it opened in 1997, more than 2 million people have visited. The museum's main goal is to teach everyone about Jewish life in the 20th and 21st centuries. It shows what life was like before, during, and after the Holocaust.
The museum building has two main parts. One part is a six-sided building with a pyramid-shaped roof. This design reminds us of the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust. This part opened in 1997 and holds the museum's main exhibits. The other part is the Robert M. Morgenthau Wing. It opened in 2003 and has offices, a theater, and classrooms. Both parts of the museum were designed by Roche-Dinkeloo.
History of the Museum
The idea for the Museum of Jewish Heritage started in 1984. It was officially dedicated in 1986. The museum was built between 1994 and 1997 in New York City's Battery Park City. The building cost $21.5 million and was designed by architect Kevin Roche. It opened to the public on September 15, 1997. David Altshuler was the first director, serving from 1984 to 1999.
For a long time, government officials were not interested in building this museum. But the American Jewish Community pushed for it, especially after the Six-Day War in 1967. This interest helped make the museum happen, even though it caused some delays.
U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Mayor Ed Koch wanted to put a national memorial in New York City. However, this idea was not chosen. In 1981, Mayor Koch created a special group called the Task Force on the Holocaust. This group later became the New York Holocaust Commission in 1982. They suggested creating a museum. President Carter had also started a commission in 1978, which put the issue on the U.S. government's agenda. The idea finally became real during President Bill Clinton's time in office in 1993.
Before the museum was built, there were many challenges. There were debates about how the building should look and where it should be located. There was also a funding problem in 1987. This was during "Black Monday" when the stock market crashed. This made it harder to get money from people who wanted to donate.
The museum's location was first planned for the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House. But in 1986, it was moved to Battery Park City. In 1990, the museum joined with the Center for Holocaust Studies in Brooklyn. Architect Kevin Roche started designing the museum in 1993.
The museum's plans were not fully completed at first because there wasn't enough money. In the early 2000s, with the help of David Marwell, the plans became a reality. In 2003, the Robert M. Morgenthau wing was opened. This wing has auditoriums, classrooms, a conference center, and space for temporary exhibits.
In January 2021, a Confederate flag was found tied to the museum's front door. This happened shortly after an event at the U.S. Capitol where some people carried similar flags. The museum reported this incident.
In August 2022, a donation to the museum was withdrawn. This happened because of a misunderstanding about whether a Florida governor was allowed at museum events. The museum stated that they had not banned anyone.
From 1997 to 2019, the museum had a main exhibit called the Core Exhibition. It told the story of Jewish life in the 20th and 21st centuries through objects, photos, and films. This exhibit showed the Holocaust within the larger story of modern Jewish history. It was set up on three floors: Jewish Life A Century Ago, The War Against the Jews, and Jewish Renewal. This exhibit was in the museum's six-sided building, which represents the six points of the Star of David and the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust.
Exhibits and Artworks
The museum has over 30,000 items related to Jewish history and the Holocaust. These items are used in many different exhibits and displays.
Special Exhibitions
The museum often hosts special exhibits. One important exhibit was Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. It ran from May 2019 to August 2020. Another exhibit, Ordinary Treasures: Highlights From The Museum Of Jewish Heritage Collection, shows drawings and everyday items. Many of these were given by families of the original owners. This exhibit helps show what daily life was like for European Jews under Nazi rule.
Andy Goldsworthy's Garden of Stones
Andy Goldsworthy created a special outdoor memorial garden called Garden of Stones. It opened in September 2003. This garden has trees growing out of large stones. The artist, along with Holocaust survivors and their families, planted the trees. This quiet space is meant for reflection. It changes over time as the garden grows and can be seen from almost every floor of the museum.
Gerda III Rescue Boat
The Gerda III is a Danish rescue boat. In 1943, it was used to save Jewish refugees by taking them from Denmark to Sweden. The Danish Parliament gave the boat to the museum in 1997. It is now on loan to Mystic Seaport. The story of this boat is told in the book Henny and Her Boat.
Edmond J. Safra Hall Theater
The Edmond J. Safra Hall is a theater with 375 seats. The museum uses it for films, concerts, and discussions throughout the year. They have hosted talks about the Holocaust, discussions between different faiths, and concerts with various artists.
Rendering Witness: Holocaust-Era Art as Testimony
This exhibit shows art made during and right after the Holocaust. The art was created by people who lived through it, including prisoners in concentration camps and American soldiers who helped free them. The exhibit helps visitors see the Holocaust as people experienced it at the time.
Museum Affiliates
The Museum of Jewish Heritage works with other organizations to share knowledge and history.
JewishGen Genealogy Site
JewishGen is a leading website for Jewish family history. It offers free access to many Jewish family records online. JewishGen and the museum became partners in 2003. JewishGen has over 22 million records, including family trees, burial records, and Holocaust records. It also has translated Yizkor Books and tools for research.
Auschwitz Jewish Center
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Besides its New York location, the museum also runs the Auschwitz Jewish Center in Oświęcim, Poland. It has been doing so since 2006.
Before World War II, Oświęcim (which the Nazis renamed Auschwitz) was a regular Polish town. Most of its citizens were Jewish. After the war, Auschwitz became a powerful symbol of the Holocaust. In September 2000, the Auschwitz Jewish Center opened. It honors the town's former residents and teaches future generations about what was lost. It is less than 2 miles (3 km) from Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is the only Jewish presence left in the town.
The Center's goal is to help visitors remember the victims of the Holocaust. It does this by studying the life and culture of this once-Jewish town. It also offers educational programs for new generations to understand the Holocaust's meaning today. The Center has regular exhibits and programs. For example, the United States Service Academy Program brings cadets and midshipmen to Poland. They learn from survivors, scholars, and historians.
National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene
The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene is a professional theater company in New York City. It was started in 1915. This company performs plays in Yiddish and plays translated into Yiddish. The theater has screens that show English translations at the same time. This theater company has been based at the Museum of Jewish Heritage since 2016.
See also
- Holocaust memorials (worldwide)
- Jews in New York City
- List of museums and cultural institutions in New York City
