Jews, Germany and Israel

A guided tour through the core exhibition on the anniversary of the October 7 attack (in English, German, and Hebrew)

Blick in den Epochenraum „Nach 1945“ – Blick in den Epochenraum "Nach 1945" der Dauerausstellung

The founding of the State of Israel in 1948 marked a decisive moment for Jews worldwide. The Jewish community in Germany felt a deep connection to the new state. In this context, one room in the core exhibition is dedicated to the history of German–Israeli relations and their significance for Jews in Germany. The challenges of navigating this triangular dynamic as a Jew in Germany, entangled in the trajectories of two states with a relationship highly fraught by history, have become even more apparent in the aftermath of 7 October 2023.

This guided tour through the permanent exhibition follows two thematic through-lines: the notion of holiness in Diaspora Judaism, which is shaped by both affinity for and distance from the Land of Israel, and the emergence of Zionism as a Jewish nationalist movement in the 19th and early 20th centuries, a development parallel to the emergence of modern racial antisemitism.

The tour concludes with a visit to Shalekhet (Fallen Leaves), a sculpture by Israeli artist Menashe Kadishman composed of 10,000 steel faces on which visitors may walk. The artist dedicated the installation to all innocent victims of war and violence.

Book table in the glass courtyard

For the anniversary of October 7, 2023, we are also setting up a book table in the Glass Courtyard of the Jewish Museum Berlin (JMB) with selected books on the topic from our library in the W. Michael Blumenthal Academy. There will be seating and the JMB invites all visitors to take a seat, read the books and engage in conversation.

The book table can be visited from 10 am to 5 pm.

 

Languages

The tour will be offered in three languages:
2 pm in English
3 pm in German
4 pm in Hebrew

Meeting point: Book table in the Glashof

Price info: free - no registration required

Next date:

• Date Monday, 07/October/2024 10:00 bis 17:00 (3 more dates)
• Venue Jüdisches Museum Berlin
• Address Lindenstraße 14, 10969 Berlin-Kreuzberg