The Anatomy of the New Jewish Museum,Munich Traces of the past and Present

Abstract

This study discusses several issues surrounding the development of the new Jewish Museum, Munich. This institution, in the city where the Nazi Party had its headquarters and birthplace, focuses on the lengthy history and contributions of the Jewish community in Munich from its past to the present. An assemblage of permanent and temporary installations is described as these provide the visitor with an idea of the presence and absence of the Jewish community throughout the ages in this 850-year-old city. State-of-the-art technology, with both visual and audio equipment, is used to inform children and adults of the critical role of the Jews in the city. A series of changing exhibitions, filled with information and often valuable works of art, reveals the cultural heritage of its once large Jewish population. The paper also presents the history of the founding of a Jewish museum in Munich and the obstacles faced until its realization in 2007.