With the Jewish holidays approaching, Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, the high holy days of Judaism, I thought I’d write about a museum in Paris my husband and I had the extreme and heartfelt experience of visiting on our last trip to France…
I had read about Musee de et’histoire de Judaisme in various travel books and magazines before our trip and knew this would have to be a place that we would really like to see…we were not disappointed in the least bit, just the opposite.
Located in the Marias quarter of Paris, which has the highest Jewish population in the city once again and since more Jews live in France than any other country in Europe, this museum honors their history in a very unique way…when the museum was opened the then president of France, Jacque Chirac, made an impressive speech and apologized for the Pro-Nazi Vichy regime, which persecuted so many Jewish people during the war…more than 78,000 French Jews were deported during that period and I have to say I was a bit surprised that this museum didn’t truly address that fact in a major way but, there is a giant wall sculpture, that stands more then 3 stories high and can be seen from almost every window in the building which overlooks the courtyard….looking out at it you can’t miss seeing the names of those who had lived in that quarter and who had been deported by the Germans during those tragic years, each one etched into the huge stone
This museum is housed in a palatial mansion, which was built in 1650 for the minister of France, and it certainly is impressive as well as very beautiful…At one time it was the city hall of the 7th district after changing hands many times, then the building got a bit rundown while it was being used as a workshop by Jewish craftsmen housing all sorts of odds and ends… in 1962 it was bought by the city of Paris who then did a massive restoration and converted it into The Museum of Jewish Art and History, financed by the Ministry of Culture and Communication.
This fascinating museum traces the history of European Jewish life starting in the Middle Ages, and onward until the 20th century, through their cultural and artistic heritage…there are many religious objects and ancient manuscripts collected in the early 1800’s, as well as the displays of a small Jewish art museum founded in Paris in 1948. Though most of the focus is about the historic place the Jews held in France, many communities of European nations as well as North Africa are also well represented.
The religious artifacts and manuscripts on display focuses on the many intellectual movements in the arts and the historic significance which took place in Paris….I’ve never seen anything like the exquisite bejeweled and decorated Menorahs and prayer books that are displayed along with jewelry and drinking cups that were personal belongings of many people of those who lived in this area.
One of the most interesting rooms dealt with the famous Dreyfus affair, during the late 19th century, with audio recordings that were recreated about him…this scandal, over a Jewish army officer unjustly accused of treason, is a fascinating piece of history and listening to the gossip among the citizens of the city, which took place back then, was a great touch as you walked through this room…… I also really enjoyed seeing the areas which are dedicated to the paintings and drawings of Marc Chagall, Modigliani, Soutine and other artists which illustrate their Jewish presence in the world of art during the 20th century.
One of my favorite rooms was the media library where you are able to retrace the origins of your own personal family history using your family names. I looked up both the paternal and maternal last names of my grandparents but could only find my maiden name, my fathers name…though it was listed as originating in Scandinavia. That was a bit strange both sets of great grandparents reportedly came from Eastern Europe, (Russia and Austria), but, if there is any validity to it, that could the deep blue eyes, blond hair and fair complexion of many members of my family.
If you are a bit hungry there is nice little café in what was once the original dining room of the mansion, a great place to sit down and rest your feet while enjoying a light lunch or cup of tea or coffee while enjoying the 17th century frescos on the walls, in this lovely brightly lit room.
I enjoyed my visit to Musee de et’histoire de Judaisme very much and found it to be a totally absorbing experience. My thoughts are that you don’t have to be Jewish to spend a few hours there, as with all museums, there is quite a lot to see and learn about the people who have made their mark in history, leaving behind many fascinating stories and artifacts which are truly unique…but, if you are Jewish, this museum can be considered a tool of knowledge, a way of understanding your heritage in an extremely wonderful way…I would consider it a must see visit during any visit to Paris.
For more information you can call;
Tel: 01 53 01 86 60
Hours open to the public:
Monday-Friday 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Admission and audio guide
Adult €6.80;
Student €4.50
