The Jewish Museum Berlin: Remembering Germany's Past

By Danika Garlotta

Published on: Mar 9, 2015

By Danika Garlotta

Published on: Mar 9, 2015

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The Jewish Museum Berlin: Remembering Germany's Past

"Rich in symbolism, the museum’s architecture makes German-Jewish history palpable, raises numerous questions, and provokes reflection."

After spending two months in Berlin, we finally decided it was time to actually get out (past the beer gardens and delicious food) and see what our “home away from home” was all about. We had heard about the Jewish Museum and during our walks around the city we couldn’t help but notice the massive shiny silver structure taking up most of the street. It’s a temptress of a building and finally we stepped inside.

Each building and every floor of the Jewish Museum has something interesting to see. Even if you aren’t into cultural Museums, you can still marvel at the beauty of the architecture and wander around the maze of exhibits and halls. The permanent exhibitions spans 14 historical periods from the Middle Ages to the present, depicting the rich and heartfelt German-Jewish history. There are many sad parts to Jewish history, and the Museum does a truly beautiful job in representing the past, present and future. It shares not only the Holocaust period but represents daily life through artistic objects, photos and letters and plenty of interactive displays.

“There are many sad parts to Jewish history, and the Museum does a truly beautiful job in representing the past, present and future.

A wide hallway with concrete walls and a patterned carpet leads toward a dark doorway under bright overhead light.

Black and white close-up of torn paper featuring a repeating pattern of stars with "J.L.R." inside them.

A black and white low-angle shot shows a cobblestone path leading through tall stone pillars toward a distant figure in bright light.

Designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, the building itself is a piece of art. Its maze like structure is covered inzinc-panels with slits of windows on the facade. As you walk through the building and exhibitions, it's as if you're walking through the mind of the designer. You'll find dark spaces and tall walls of concrete. But then as you turn the corner there will be a lively exhibition featuring a robot that is writing the Torah. It's the juxtaposition of somberness and innovation that I found absolutely fascinating. You can’t help but stare and appreciate the creative thought that went into a design as creative and stunning as this.

You can’t help but stare and appreciate the creative thought that went into a design as creative and stunning as this.

A black and white close-up of a modern building facade with geometric panels and vertical ribbed textures.

A low-angle black and white shot of a modern building with vertical ribbed siding and a glass facade under a clear sky.

A black and white close-up of a modern building with a glass facade and a geometric metal sculpture on its exterior.

A low-angle black and white shot of a modern building with a textured metallic facade and vertical slats.

A large domed cathedral illuminated with colorful light projections and a crowd of people in front at night.

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The Jewish Museum Berlin: Remembering Germany's Past

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