Artlog

At the heart of The Jewish Museum is its permanent exhibition, Culture and Continuity: The Jewish Journey, representing one of the world’s great opportunities to explore Jewish culture and history through art. This vibrant two-floor exhibition features 800 works from the Museum’s remarkably diverse collection of art, archaeology, ceremonial objects, video, photographs, interactive media and television excerpts. It examines the Jewish experience as it has evolved from antiquity to the present, over 4,000 years, and asks two vital questions: How has Judaism been able to thrive for thousands of years across the globe, often in difficult and even tragic circumstances? What constitutes the essence of Jewish identity?

The exhibition traces the dynamic interaction among three catalysts that have shaped the Jewish experience: the constant questioning and reinterpretation of Jewish traditions, the interaction of Jews and Judaism with other cultures, and the impact of historical events that have transformed Jewish life. Culture and Continuity: The Jewish Journey proposes that Jews have been able to sustain their identity, despite wide dispersion and sometimes tragic circumstances, by evolving a culture that can adapt to life in many countries and under various conditions. Survival as a people has depended upon both the continuity of Jewish ideas and values and the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances.

We invite you to visit the Museum and see Culture and Continuity: The Jewish Journey in person. Visitors to the Museum can enjoy random access audio guide tours of the exhibition, including a “Director’s Highlights” audio guide featuring Joan Rosenbaum, Helen Goldsmith Menschel Director of The Jewish Museum, and a special audio guide for children and families. Audio guides are free of charge with Museum admission and were made possible by Bloomberg.

Several of the outstanding works featured in this exhibition may be viewed on-line in the on-line exhibition, Making Connections in Art and Jewish Culture which requires the Flash plug-in, and in the Collection Overview. In addition, a selection of these works have high resolution images and may be rotated.

Bring a copy of this web page to The Jewish Museum Admissions Desk with your e-mail address and you will receive one 50% admissions discount.