The Jewish Museum of Vienna is one of the world’s most significant institutions dedicated to preserving and presenting Jewish history and culture. Established in 1893 and opened to the public in 1895, it was the world’s first Jewish Museum.

Today, the museum consists of two sites, Museum Dorotheergasse and Museum Judenplatz, located just a short walk from one another. Together, they offer a comprehensive journey through the history of Jewish life in Vienna, from the Middle Ages to the present day. Beyond its role as a guardian of the past, the museum serves as a vibrant cultural institution that encourages reflection on Jewish identity, memory, and contemporary society through exhibitions, educational programs, research, and public events.

I would like to thank the esteemed Natascha Golan for her support and guidance.

Museum Dorotheergasse, Our Jewish City Vienna Then to Now

The Jewish Museum Vienna, Museum Dorotheergasse, located in Vienna’s historic city center, is dedicated to the history of Jewish life in the Austrian capital. Its permanent exhibition, Our City! Jewish Vienna, Then to Now, opened in November 2013 after three years of preparation. The exhibition traces the multifaceted history of Vienna’s Jewish community from the Middle Ages to the present day, highlighting its lasting contributions to the city’s cultural, economic, and social development.

Particular emphasis is placed on the period from 1945 onward, documenting the gradual rebuilding and revitalization of Vienna’s Jewish community following the devastation of the Holocaust. Through historical artifacts, personal testimonies, photographs, Judaica, and multimedia displays, the exhibition highlights both the challenges and the resilience that have shaped Jewish life in Vienna across the centuries.

It presents the post-war revival of the community as a story of immigration, beginning with arrivals from Eastern and Central Europe and later continuing with immigrants from the former Soviet Union, particularly Central Asia, whose contributions played a significant role in the renewal and growth of Jewish life in the Austrian capital.

The Shabbat Room is a key feature of the Jewish Museum Vienna’s permanent exhibition, integrating contemporary art with historical memory. Created by Israeli artist Maya Zack, the installation reinterprets Isidor Kaufmann’s Gute Stube, originally designed for the first Jewish Museum in 1899. Using preserved objects and photographs from the room destroyed by the Nazis in 1938, Zack digitally reconstructs this lost space, offering a reflection on Jewish heritage, memory, and identity.

Another exhibition space is The Atelier: From Alef to Tav, From Beginning to End and it is designed especially for families, school groups, and visitors seeking an introduction to Jewish traditions. Through everyday objects and artifacts from the museum’s collections, it explores important aspects of Jewish life, including bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies, marriage traditions, and the practices of a kosher household. The exhibition offers an accessible understanding of the symbols, customs, and rituals that shape Jewish cultural and religious experiences.

Museum Judenplatz, Our medieval city! The first........

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