For six months, Theodor Herzl took up residence at the Bernard Museum of Judaica, inviting thousands to immerse themselves in his life, his vision, and his enduring legacy. Through original documents, photographs, artifacts, and memorabilia drawn from the world’s foremost Herzl collections—including the Theodore Herzl Archive at the World Zionist Organization, the YIVO Institute for …
All About Herzl, the Herbert & Eileen Bernard Museum of Judaica’s new exhibit, is now open. Many of the items in the exhibit come from the private collection of David Matlow, a Toronto lawyer.
“We welcome anyone to come to the exhibition who wants to learn about Herzl’s life, that wants to learn about Zionism, that, I think, especially in today’s day and age, is so misunderstood,” Warren Klein, exhibit curator and Museum Director, said in an interview with The Forward . “We hope to be an educational vessel for that.”
Treasure Trove has come to life at an exhibit in New York City, The Canadian Jewish News: “At this time, it is important for people to learn (or be reminded) of what Zionism’s purpose was and is, as envisioned by its founder. Simply put, Zionism is the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, to enable the Jewish people to live freely and safely in our ancestral homeland.” Read more
An up-close look at the real Theodor Herzl — and the real meaning of Zionism, The Forward: “Part of the aim of the Bernard Museum exhibit, which includes several accompanying talks, is to dispel misconceptions about what Zionism means, a mission all the more urgent for Matlow since Oct. 7 of last year, when Israel’s detractors are increasingly defining Zionism in hostile terms.” Read More
Herzl, Prophet of Israel, Is Celebrated at One of the Diaspora’s Crown Jewels, The New York Sun: “The exhibit, curated by Warren Klein, is especially illuminating in respect of Herzl’s convening of the Zionist Congresses that were instrumental in transforming musings into a movement.” Read More [paywall]
Israeli Herzl opera ‘Theodor’ to premiere filmed version in NY, The Times of Israel: “The US premiere will take place at the Temple Emanuel – Streicker Cultural Center in New York, in Hebrew with English subtitles, and with live performances by composer Yonatan Cnaan and original cast members Oded Reich (Herzl), Noam Heinz (Theodor) and Anat Czarny (Julie).” Read More
The Bernard Museum is open Sunday through Thursday 10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Have you ever wondered about the journey of the etrog? The Bernard Museum of Judaica dives deep into this topic in time for Sukkot with its groundbreaking exhibit “Etrog: The Wandering Fruit”,which is already creating a buzz in the press.
This week, “Etrog: The Wandering Fruit” was highlighted in “A NYC exhibit explores the etrog’s journey around the Jewish world” from the New York Jewish Week (reprinted in Times of Israel) and a brief “Learn About the Etrog for Sukkot” blurb in the New York Times.
Showcasing over 100 unique etrog-related artifacts, the exhibit features contributions from 20 different lenders. Notable contributors include the Jewish Museum, the New York Botanical Garden Library, and the American Numismatic Society. The display boasts a diverse collection, ranging from etrog containers to documents about the etroger (a Yiddish term for a Jewish merchant who sold etrogs). Additionally, visitors can view illuminated pages where the etrog makes its appearance, both originals and facsimiles.
Don’t miss this fascinating exhibit, which runs September 5 – November 20 from Sunday through Thursday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
By Jenny Silber When you think of what it means to be Jewish, lox and bagels on a Sunday morning or matzah ball soup on Passover may be some of the first things to come to mind. The commonality of sharing these traditions can make us feel like we know a Jewish person before we …
July 13, 2022 Read this terrific article in Hey Alma by Religious School teacher Sophia Garcia Maier about her Sephardic heritage, and how her experience on our Lifelong Learning faculty has been a meaningful part of her Jewish Journey. “I am a New York Jew, the Jewish daughter of two unabashed New Yorkers, and I …
Inscription: “For in this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you from all your sins that are before you, before you shall be cleansed” (Leviticus 16:30) In honor of Temple Emanu-El’s 175th anniversary, the Men’s Club donated a 19th century Yom Kippur Belt Buckle to the Herbert & Eileen Bernard Museum. We …
September 5, 2023 – December 31, 2023: Etrog: The Wandering Fruit
January 31, 2023 – March 28, 2023: Violins of Hope: Every Violin Has A Story
March 24, 2022 – November 15, 2022: At the Crossroads of Sefarad: In the Footsteps of the Crypto-Jews
October 2019 – June 2020: Hello Gorgeous, a Barbra Streisand Exhibition
February – August 2019: The Guiding Hand: Torah Pointers from Past to Present
April – November 2018: Home: Lens on Israel
October 2017 – February 2018: Semi[te] Sweet: on Jews and Chocolate
May – September 2017: Looking Back, Moving Forward: Celebrating Twenty Years of the Bernard Museum of Judaica
November 2016 – February 2017: All About Golda
February – June 2016: Boi Kalah, Here Comes the Bride: Wedding Dresses Embroidering the Story of the Jewish People (traveling)
April – October 2015: Visualizing the Bible: Works by David Wander
May 2014 – January 2015: Justify Your Existence, Graphic Posters from the Moldovan Family Collection
March – October 2012: Bezalel: Art, Craft & Jewish National Identity
November 2008- February 2009: Past Perfect: The Jewish Experience in Early 20th Century Postcards (traveling)
November 2007 – February 2008: Houses of Life: Jewish Cemeteries of Europe
December 2006 – March 2007: Sanctuary Revealed: The Restoration of an Architectural Icon
August – November 2006: Woven Abstraction: Milton Avery, Paul Jenkins and Jack Youngerman in the Tapestries of Gloria F. Ross
May – August 2006: Culture and Costume: Depictions of Jewish Dress across Five Centuries (traveling)
November 2005 – March 2006 : Scattered Among the Nations: Jewish Communities of India, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Peru and Uzbekistan
April – August 2005: Traveling the Holy Land Through the Stereoscope (traveling)
November 2003 – January 2004: Kabbalah: Mysticism in Jewish Life
May – September 2004: Roman Vishniac: Remember the Days of Old
February – May 2003: Works on Paper: Israel Prize Winners from the Burston Graphics Center
April – July 2002: Borders and Boundaries: Maps of the Holy Land, 15th – 19th Centuries
April – July 2001: To Have and To Hold: Decorated Jewish Marriage Contracts
November 1999 – March 2000: Building a Vision: Louis Marshall, Temple Emanu-El and New York City, 1929
Reflections of our past as we build toward our future This page includes posts from the Bernard Museum of Judaica spanning Temple Emanu-El’s history in New York City. In April 2020, Temple Emanu-El celebrated its 175th anniversary, and we will continue to celebrate this milestone with special events, posts, and more. The below posts are …
Dear Friends, One hundred seventy-five years ago today, April 13, 1845, thirty-three German immigrants, refugees of the despotism surging in Western Europe, founded Temple Emanu-El in a small rented facility downtown on the corner of Clinton and Grand streets. It was the city’s first Reform synagogue, and soon became the model for Reform congregations around …
Return to the Museum We are thrilled to announce that Temple Emanu-El’s Bernard Museum of Judaica will be re-opening for a limited time from Tuesday, October 13 through Friday, October 30. Please note, the museum will ONLY be open to Temple members for exclusive guided tours with social distancing for up to four people at a time. Tours will take …
Return to the Museum Exhibition dates February 6 — August 11, 2019 Temple Emanu-El, 1 East 65th Street Museum hours: Sunday – Thursday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM For thousands of years, Jews used simple tapered wooden sticks to point the way through the densely written text of the Torah without touching the fragile parchment. …
