Knowing the name, but not too familiar with his art, I was curious about the Paul Klee exhibit at the Jewish Museum. So I popped in last Saturday. It's a two-fold reason why the museum charges no admission every Saturday: 1) their intent is to make exhibits accessible to everyone, and 2) this aligns with the principle of no exchange of money on Shabbat. As such, the gift shop and basement cafe are both closed then. A juxtaposition of exhibits, Joan Semmel's work with themes of body and intimacy, is on the ground floor. Interesting! As well as other exhibits that I hadn't previously seen. I was unexpectedly there for a couple of hours. I was pleased to see people of different heritages enjoying the museum. It's a worthwhile visit, and now that it's warming up you might want to stroll through Central Park across the street, afterwards. read more

See all

We visited this outstanding museum on a Saturday (the one day it is free) because I wanted to see an exhibit of the work of Paul Klee, long a favorite of mine from stuff I had seen at MoMA growing up. The exhibit was well arranged and focused on the political side of his work -- I had not previously understood that he was one of the targets of the Nazi campaign against degenerate art, and many of his works beginning in the early 1930.s first in Germany and then in exile in Switzerland. was devoted to indirect or very direct criticisms of Nazi ideology. we also enjoyed the extensive display of menorahs. More to see and I expect we will be back on a future trip to New York read more

See all

I had such a meaningful visit to the Jewish Museum this week. The highlight for me was their ASL tour led by a Deaf museum staff member. Walking through the galleries with a group of signers, learning about each room and the pieces on display, felt easy, welcoming, and honestly really fun. It was great to see accessibility put into practice in such a real way. The museum's collection is also incredible. They display pieces from their own permanent collection as well as items on loan, and you can feel how many different Jewish communities around the world are represented and interconnected as you move from room to room. If you're looking for a museum experience with beautiful art, a sense of global history, and staff who genuinely care about making the space accessible, I definitely recommend a visit. I left feeling inspired and grateful for how thoughtfully the museum includes everyone. read more

The wonderful Levy's Rye tagline from '61 also applies here: "You don't have to be Jewish" to love the Jewish Museum! IMPORTANT TO NOTE - The Jewish Museum is free to visit on Saturdays! So go! There's a lot to be gained! Recommend going especially now to catch 2 exceptional exhibits, "The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt" and "Draw Them In, Paint Them Out," which each present artwork centuries apart yet are interconnected. Jewish Museum's curators demonstrate in both exhibits how minorities and discriminated people back then and today can identify with the shared experiences of others who may also be different. By juxtaposing these two exhibits, the curators found the connective thread with the past and today that is more timely and poignant, given those forces that attempt to eliminate DEI programs that work to correct injustices, strengthen White Supremacy and legislate certain religious beliefs on others, plus even erase the records and digital homage to our society's trailblazers. Kudos museum team bringing to the public something so powerful! How do they do it? "Esther in the Age of Rembrandt" shows more than religious ephemera along with his and his student's exquisite art. What you'll see is how, with Holland's 1581 declaration of independence from Catholic Spain, religious tolerance brought both Jews who escaped the Inquisition and broad Dutch identification with the Old Testament story of Esther, who heroically saved Jews from genocide by standing up to her Persian King husband. Today's familiarity with Esther comes a distant 2nd or 3rd to "The Ten Commandments" (#1) and Chanukah, but back then in Holland - over 1000 years later - Esther was held as a female role model. As evidence, period paintings show society's leading ladies posing as Esther, including Royal Princess Elizabeth. Remarkably, the curators use a 1992 piece in this exhibit to tie it to "Draw Them In, Paint Them Out," which binds two minority artists works, one Jewish and other black, and delves into shared outsider experiences dealing with American racism. As much as I enjoyed the awesome Dutch masters' works, given that the story goes beyond their skills as artists, the adjacent American Fred Wilson's "Queen Esther/Harriet Tubman" (see pic) should not be missed! "Draw Them In, Paint Them Out," presents Trenton Doyle Hancock, a present day, multimedia African American artist, confronting Philip Guston, a Jewish 20th Century painter and cartoonist. Both covered provocative themes of racial and social tension across America. Each touch upon the Klu Klux Klan, which hatred extended to Blacks, Jews, and Catholics. [For those born post-'60s, it's hard to imagine the "Restricted" Country Clubs up and down the East Coast up until then, not KKK-related, that blocked membership of all 3 minorities.] These artists create easy-to-appreciate images. Hancock's voice also is a linear extension of Guston's themes: Who am I? How do we all fit in and live together? Nevertheless, when some people today in power claim "very fine people on both sides," Hancock's works illustrate the need to accept and appreciate people different and the right to live in a society without facing bigoted hate, whether it be anti-semitism, White Supremacy, or other racism. Thank you Jewish Museum for making these exhibits happen! read more

See all

The Jewish Museum is located on the Upper East Side's Museum Mile. The building on East 92nd Street and Fifth Avenue is made of stone, carved and grand looking. Once again, I was able to get a free Culture Pass to see this museum. There were three floors to see. First, I went to the second floor to see Anish Kapoor's Early Works. While I found the art colorful once again modern art is all Greek and Latin to me. I liked the more traditional paintings and silverware from the museum's collection on the third floor. Here I was able to see pretty paintings and even saw one of David Sassoon from Baghdad who settled in Bombay (Mumbai) in the mid-nineteenth century. Sassoon docks is named after him there. I saw the first floor art as well. Security guards check backpacks and as I had a bottle of water I had to check it in. Restrooms are on almost all floors. Every one who worked there was pleasant. read more

See all

Established in 1904 at the Jewish Theological Seminary and occupying this stately mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan since 1947 when Frieda Warburg sold her family's home to the Seminary, the Jewish Museum features nearly 30,000 objects ranging from Judaic ceremonial items from the middle ages to contemporary art objects. The museum currently puts an emphasis on displaying objects created by Jewish artists or featuring Jewish subjects rather than displaying objects intended to portray the long and winding history of Judaism. The museum occupies 82,000 square feet across four floors and the basement although the fourth floor is reserved for museum offices and artist studios and the cafe in the basement (formerly operated by the iconic Russ & Daughters delicatessen) has been closed since 2020. On the third floor, the curators make good use of the space with a rotating selection of Judaica artifacts, photographs, paintings, and sculptures in the permanent collection including contemporary works by James Tissot, Marc Chagall, George Segal, Eleanor Antin, Deborah Kass, and Andy Warhol. The first floor and second floor galleries feature rotating exhibits. The Jewish Museum also hosts programs that are open to the public including artist talks, performances, and discussions led by museum staff. One of the unique programs offered by the Jewish Museum is the Verbal Description Tour, where visitors are guided by an art educator who provides detailed verbal descriptions of the art to those with visual difficulties. Pro Tip: Admission ($18 for adults, $12 for seniors, $8 for students over 18, and free for students under 18) is free on Saturdays and select Jewish holidays. The museum is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. read more

The Jewish Museum - Coney Island Exhibit - Museums Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Nice museum! First floor isn't Jewish focused but interesting to see. The 3rd floor has a lot of Jewish focused art. The current Hamas room was sobering but important to view. Many artifacts, like Solomon's temple piece? Crazy! Nice place. Friendly staff to welcome you and scan with metal detector. Came on a free Saturday read more

See all

First floor is completely depressing. Boring paintings about how the Jewish people have been oppressed in "modern times". While the Jewish people have been enslaved and outcast by most societies since early Egyptian times, this display focuses on recent history. I wanted a celebration of the Jewish people, heritage, and traditions. This is not it. Did not explore other than the first floor. The Jewish people have done so much more in history than be oppressed, but this museum does not even touch on any of those things. Terrible example of a museum. read more

3.5 rating! Despite the name, the Jewish Museum focuses more on modern American art than Jewish culture and art. It is definitely worth a visit for contemporary art lovers, as the museum has several original prints by Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. When we went in early January 2023, there was a 2 floor exhibit on New York 1962-64, showcasing some of the art that made the Jewish Museum an icon for modern art in the city. While interesting, the museum itself is on the small side (3 floors of exhibits) and you can easily go through it in 2-3 hours. There is also a small but intriguing wing on the 3rd floor featuring Jewish silver work and artifacts, which I would have liked more of. Another down side was the cafeteria was closed on a Sunday, which would have made for a nice break and pleasant end to the visit. The price tag and size of the museum takes it down from 4 stars, I would like to give it 3.5 stars...Yelp, make this rating system more nuanced! Oh well. Worth a visit especially if you go for a discount. read more

See all

The Gaby Aghion & The House of Chloé exhibit was beautifully curated showcasing the endless talent of the designers over the years. read more

See all

We went for the Ruth Bader Ginsburg exhibit but we're pleasantly surprised by the other exhibits and free admission on Saturdays. read more

See all

Jewish Museum is free on Saturdays, but we came on a Sunday, getting in free with our Bank of America credit card good on the first full weekend of the month. Museum web site says timed entry required, even for members. This is done in advance on the museum internet site , with a receipt sent to your e-mail. Copies of vaccination cards checked at the entrance. You do not have to purchase a ticket to get a timed entry, as there is a second line at the entrance for ticket purchase. The main Exhibition is "Afterlives: Recovering the lost stories of looted art", on display August 20, 2021 - January 9, 2022 The room of the martyrs, shows paintings designed as "degenerate" by the Nazis, photographed in secret by Rose Valland, curator of the Jeu de Paume in Paris. These include paintings by Andre Derain, Claude Monet, and others believed to have been destroyed by the Nazis. Other paintings, stolen by the Nazis, were documented by Valland. After the war many of the works were returned to their owners. Paintings by Paul Cezanne, Pablo Picasso and Fedor Lowenstein survived and are on view in the exhibition. One senior lady jumped the short vaccination check line in front of us, saying she only needed to use the restroom. At least she was quick in showing the vaccination forms. I doubt if she had a timed entry! Another senior lady also jumped the line in front of us, saying her husband was waiting, only to hold up the line for several minutes turning on her cell phone, and looking for her electronic vaccination. Such chutzpah! read more

See all

This museum is a smaller museum and it takes around 1 to 2 hours to complete depending on how interested you are into the artifacts. The second floor has the audio tour headphone rentals. 2nd floor focus was on the immigration of Jewish families. I believe that is a permanent exhibit. We came here on Saturday and admission is free on Sat. When we came, the museum wasn't very busy. The museum has 5 floors but only 4 floors are full of artworks/artifacts. The exhibition does change. I highly recommend coming here. Saturday is free and if you come any other day, its $18. read more

See all

When I visited this museum, only the first floor was open. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th floor were closed due to renovation and a special event. I wish the front desk staff would have notified me when I purchased the ticket. Very very very disappointing!!! read more

One of the best-curated, small museums in the English speaking world. The permanent collections are closed for remodeling until the fall, but the two new exhibits are blockbusters, especially the Story of Esther. read more

this place is a ripoff and a waste if time. only 2 floors are open. The judaica collection is limited and the emphasis in the exhibit in rotation is on contemporary themes and trends that are both inscrutable to non-jewish visitors and a poor representation of Jewish values and culture. Certainly this was generally NOT representative of the Jewish people or the rich traditions and culture over millenia. read more

AMAZING!!!! The museum is a must see, the mansion itself is spectacular, and don't miss the gift shop. THE BEST gifts for your bubby and the entire mishpocha. My first stop for Channukah shopping and never disappointed. GO!! read more

See all

Anyone interested in Jewish culture is welcome here. It has lots of ancient and contemporary artifacts, and there's artwork by Jewish artists like paintings and photographs. The Jewish Museum is a good introduction of the religion. By taking a look inside, it demonstrates there's much artistic talent among those who practice the faith. You can find many examples in contemporary culture of important achievements like this. A lot of artists have been the subject of exhibits. It has featured Jewish musicians like Leonard Cohen, magicians like Houdini, so many to choose from. There's lots of well known artists, and many that are more obscure. A few are very contemporary. One exhibit explores Jews depicted on television. It shows some funny clips from shows like Entourage. There's an OY sculpture similar to the one outside the Brooklyn Museum. A difference is it's not as ambiguous. This is most likely OY and not YO. It also has a location of the very good Russ and Daughters. The rest of the museum is mostly ancient artifacts of Jewish faith, like menorahs. One particularly disturbing one was the bris kit. This made me hurt in my happy parts. It's open daily, and open even on the Sabbath, when it's free. Some exhibits at this time may not be open. There's often still plenty that's open though. read more

See all

Great revolving exhibits. Currently on: New York 1962-1964. Multimedia exhibit that mixes video, news, vignettes of the typical home of that era. Art, periodicals. All so colorful, provocative in some instances. Lots of good info on easily digestible plaques. This is a fairly comprehensive picture of the time, showing technology, literature, art, racial tensions, and politics. It brings it all to life. Really loved it and recommend it. 18 dollars for the general public, can buy online. read more

See all

Free on Saturdays! Walked in with a friend and wandered. So you should note before going that this is a Jewish art museum, so the name is highly misleading! Nevertheless, I enjoyed casually exploring. It's three floors of art made by Jewish artists. We saw paintings, drawings, sculptures, light creations, a couple short films, a ton of menorahs, and many other Jewish items, like Passover plates, Torah cases, and Torah crowns. I wouldn't say it was one of my favorite museums, but it made for a quick (almost an hour) visit and some pretty unique art. Still, I love seeing the celebration of my people's work and the objects that show others some of our culture and holidays! It seems Russ & Daughters has a cafe downstairs if you want to try some of that without going to the original! read more

See all

WEIRD experience. Came here with my dad and my sister last weekend not really knowing what to expect. We get inside the museum (very tight security, btw) and are kinda asking the workers to give us the lay of the land - where should we start, are they exhibits they recommend, etc and they're just very tight-lipped and unfriendly. Odd. So, we head downstairs first because I wanted to see Russ and Daughters (I live very close to the LES location) and the appetizing counter is closed due to Shabbat. So, we head back upstairs and to the second floor. We see a giant picture of Leonard Cohen and there's this exhibit of Cohen reciting poetry in a sort of 360 panorama. We're like okay cool, what else? The next exhibit is a suspended glass cube with a newspaper in it with an article about none other than...Leonard Cohen. Then, a sort of interactive exhibit where an instrumental version of Hallelujah is playing and you're supposed to hum along into one of many hanging microphones and can feel the vibration when you do (this was actually a really cool piece in all fairness). But long story short, about 95 percent of the museum is kinda this weird shrine to LC. The third floor was more of what we had expected: a collection of judaica, some tongue-in-cheek art (a giant sculpture that just said "Oy") and some more contemporary reflections on Jewish culture. I still had a good experience, but it was an odd museum made odder by the fact that the workers were notably unpleasant. It was bizarre - even prompted, none gave information about the artwork or museum or anything. Never had that experience in a museum before. All in all, glad I went, won't return. Definitely wouldn't pay admission (Saturdays are free) read more

The museum will reopen on October 1, and it will have free admission through December 31. Timed admission tickets will be required and must be reserved online (they're available up to one month in advance). New hours: 11-8 on Thursday and 11-4 on Friday-Monday (note that the gift shop is closed on Saturdays). New health and safety protocols: Temperature checks Limited capacity (through timed ticketing) Masks are required and there will be social distancing read more

I love this museum! I wasn't sure what to expect, but it's a mix of Judaica, Jewish history, and art. I really loved the New York 1962-1964 exhibit with a mix of art and interpretive history. It was really well curated and offered a really wide variety of artwork on display. I also loved seeing the artwork from Jews around the world, particularly Jews of color. Sadly the Russ & Daughters on the lower floor was closed as I was there on a Saturday. If you do go on Saturday, it's free to ensure that people observing Shabbat can enjoy it. read more

This is such a great place to visit! On Saturdays, it is free which is really nice! Also, the security will go through your bags - but don't worry, it doesn't take that long! The museum has lots of photographs, artwork and artifacts! It has 3 floors of amazing art and it looked like it has a great gift shop (but it is not open on Saturdays). Downstairs is a cafe (but you need to pre-order if you want to eat there. They don't take your money on the Sabbath, so this has to be done ahead of time. There are many good pieces of artwork- and many Hanukah menorahs from all over the world! read more

See all

When I need gifts for my Jewish friends this is the best place. There's religious articles, educational, entertainment and humorous. Something for any occasion. You must go through security at the museum entrance. After you pass through security you can visit the gift shop and also Russ and Daughters Restaurant which is in the basement. Everyone I came in contact with was very welcoming. They answer questions without hesitation. They have restrooms in the basement near the restaurant. They also have free WiFi. If you want take out benches are provided so you can sit to eat. My family always enjoys visiting. It's very nice during the week. Saturday's are free admission to the museum. The gift shop and restaurant are closed Saturday's. I'm really enjoying the current exhibits. I always see something new. I have hundreds of photos. I highly recommend if you enjoy museums. read more

See all

We have always walked by this museum, but we finally did visit in 2019. It was wonderful. It is a quiet museum with wonderful art, design, information and learning. The Jewish Museum is the intersection of art and Jewish culture for people of all backgrounds. It does not matter. What matters is the ability to enter and learn. Listen to lectures. See art from all over the world and important artists we have seen in other locations. As you move from the permanent collections to those of special exhibits you will understand something you might never have considered or have known of, The Jewish Museum is a perfect place to visit and understand even more. This is a beautiful place off of Fifth Avenue on the Museum Mile. This is a great place to expand your thoughts and your horizon. read more

The Jewish Museum is a great museum on the Upper East Side that has a varied collection: art of Jewish theme and artifacts from Jewish culture (seder plates and Hanukkah lamps from around the world and from different eras). It's not the largest museum, but it has an interesting collection and is well worth a visit if you're in the area. It's free on Saturdays (but it'll be a little more crowded if you visit then). read more

See all

This is a museum with a bunch of modern art exhibits masquerading as a Jewish museum. I expected more exhibits related to Judaica and Jewish life rather than abstract art, odd sculptures, and paintings of penises and vaginas. I went here years ago and did not remember such an eclectic mix of exhibits. read more

this museum was great! loved all the art! the new york 1962-1964 exhibit was very powerful. i loved everything. clean bathrooms too. helpful staff. not a huge museum either. its just the right size to see everything. admission is very reasonable too. read more

Terribly disappointed in The Hare With Amber Eyes exhibit. The arrangement was awkward and peculiar. Numerous and varied paintings, letters, documents, etc. were hung on walls without any labels at all. The labels and descriptions were on numbered charts on adjacent walls. So for any mounted work, you looked at it, then had to walk across to the adjacent wall to find it on the chart to see what it was - "OK, 4th row down, third item in - or was that 3rd row down?". Distracting, tedious, time-consuming, and ultimately exhausting. Greatly detracted from the impact of the material. There were audio guides available, but a lot of that seemed to be the author of the book reading it aloud, and I had already read the book. In addition, despite the timed tickets, the exhibit was MOBBED. Masks but not vaccination were required, and IMHO, people had to be much too close together. Pretty poor show for an important and unique collection and story. read more

Nice Museum on Museum mile. Id recommend checking it out if you're in the area. Top floor is their permanent collection

This was the first time I've ever visited this museum, and I found it very interesting. It's not a huge museum, but they've put it together very thoughtfully. The current exhibition is 2 main focuses that are intertwined. The first deals with art and items in general that were stolen by the Nazis during WWll and their subsequent recovery. The second part deals more in depth with one Jewish family, their rise to prominence and great wealth, and the loss they endured during WWll. I found it all extremely interesting. It's all obviously things you already know, but when you read about the details of these things it all becomes so much more shocking. The story of the wealthy family in particular becomes very relatable and frightening, even if your not wealthy. Overall, they have some great pieces of artwork and some great, sad, and even optimistic stories to tell us. I highly recommend a visit. read more

I found this museum to be welcoming and well organized. At the time of my visit, they had two exhibits entitled "Veiled Meanings: Fashioning Jewish Dress" and "Modigliani Unmasked." The first one featured an impressive array of garments worn by the Jewish communities of Asia, the Middle East and Europe throughout different periods. The ensembles have been beautifully preserved and one can appreciate the elaborate craftsmanship of hand embroidery and rich brocades. The Modigliani collection was equally impressive and I was personally excited to see the works of a Sephardic artist so prominently displayed. His words "always speak out and keep forging ahead," resonated with me in a deep and meaningful way. I second a lot of what Green T. said on his review. I visited the museum after one of the worst snow storms and the staff was very efficient at handling the volume of visitors and keeping the floors clean and dry from all the snow and sludge outside. I wished they had more galleries opened, as I couldn't get enough of the exhibits, but the third floor was closed. I was also hoping to grab a bite to eat at Russ & Daughters, the cafe located in the basement. I didn't realize it was Kosher; so, obviously, it would be closed on Saturdays :( read more

See all

I had a really great first experience here, but how could I not with the phenomenal Florine Stettheimer exhibition going on? I wasn't aware of her work before, but the Jewish Museum put on a really elegant showcase of her works, from her rich oil paintings to her sculpted maquettes for plays to even some quick drawings for costume ideas. The wall placards gave much insight to who she was as a person, who she hung out with, and how she approached her work. I spent all of my time at this exhibit, so I didn't get a chance to check out the others- but I will say that the amazing smells wafting from Russ & Daughters downstairs will have me coming back for sure ;) read more

The Jewish Museum - Florine Stettheimer exhibition, love this little part of a painting :) - Museums Near Me - New York, New York

See all

My visits to the Jewish Museum are always exceptional. The exhibition on Edith Halpert is fabulous and an important presentation on a champion of American fine and folk art. The show is historic for many reasons. I was really moved by the 20 minute film called "Ocean Avenue." It has made an impression on me that will stay with me for the rest of my memory. I was really moved. Thank you staff of the museum for providing such a wonderful experience!!!! read more

The Jewish Museum - Film - Ocean Avenue - Museums Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Portrait of the artist as a young %@&*!, the Art Spiegelman exhibit is phenomenal. Yes, you may have to read over some old Jewish ladies heads, but well worth seeing the early sketches and works of this innovative and thoughtful artist/cartoonist of Maus, many New Yorker covers and to my recent knowledge, Garbage Pail Kids! The Jewish Museum, located in the UES is housed in a converted old mansion. Security is tight, so leave the concealed weapons at home. Admission is free on Saturday's, but I'd say the usual $14 is money well spent. * The gift shop is closed on Saturday's, just a FYI. We went for the Spiegelman exhibit (http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/exhibitions/art-spiegelman), stayed for the Chagal exhibit (http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/exhibitions/chagall-love-war-exile) and checked out the permanent traditional Jewish exhibit that spans the era of Judaism world wide. The two guest exhibits were wonderful. I mean Spiegelman is a legend as well as Chagal. Go. Space is of the essence, so it does get crowded so if you can come at an off time, I'd suggest it. The permanent Jewish installation is interesting; a lot of art and artifacts from the different ages and regions of Jewish residence world wide. It's a good idea to save that for the last part of your tour, since you can breeze through it. Overeall, the Jewish Museum is well worth the 2-4 hours of exploration, Jewish or not. read more

This is a great museum. A couple of the floors were closed so I only saw one floor's worth of exhibits, and still really enjoyed it. It's a great space, and the gift shop is full of lovely items. read more

Fashion is one of my favorite art forms since its wearable! I have followed designers for twenty years and Isaac Mizrahi is a notable one. Isaac Mizrahi hit a fashion stride in the nineties while working with the "Supermodels" (the time when the names Christy, Linda, Claudia and Naomi needed no explanation) and a film of an introduction to the world of fashion through the designer's point of view called "Unzipped". The film allowed the customer or admirer to understand the thought process and work that it takes to make a collection. When the Jewish Museum announced their Isaac Mizrahi exhibit, there was no way I was going to miss it. The building itself is gorgeous and has incredible details from iron chandeliers and doors to the white carvings on the corners and ceiling. Right when walking in you see a rainbow of color swatches and threads. The exhibit is very small. I still enjoyed seeing the color block dress I remember so well. I enjoyed seeing the blown up floral dresses, the accessories section and the small movie portion. I loved seeing all the sketches but my favorite were the costumes. I had no idea that Mizrahi had designed theatrical costumes and they were stunning. The ostrich-like pink flamingo creature was my favorite. I would have hoped that the exhibit would have captured Mizrahi's career and life more. He was one of the first designers to ever work with Target. And I absolutely love that he wanted to share his heART with everyone regardless of money. The museum is FREE on Saturday. The only con is that means you can't stuff your face with delicious lox and bagels from Russ & Daughters. The Unorthodox section on the first floor was wild and risque. It is not to be missed. I especially loved the strange water color paintings from Canadian artist, Nick Payne and the Vampire Ladies of Michigander's Auste. read more

See all

Stopped by on pay-what-you wish Thursday night (Saturdays too, my Tribespeople) to check out the soon-to-close Chagall exhibit. Before finding the right floor, we trekked through some of the permanent exhibit. If you whiz by you might think you're in a Judaica-strewn family room of your elderly aunt from Long Island. But stop for a closer look, and you'll go through the fascinating history of the Jews of BC--Saul, David, Solomon, and all. I'd love to return sometime for a couple hours' browsing. Chagall was why we came, though, and Chagall we got. It was a very well curated and contained exhibit that you can do justice in 30-45 minutes. I didn't have an audio guide or podcast, which some people did, but there was some context added to the painting captions by a European tour guide who shepherded a large group of Euros through the rooms (sometimes hogging up art ogling space for several minutes at a time). Exhibits were very well kept and the staff were all very nice, to a tee. read more

I was a little disappointed how crowded the Chagall exhibit was. There were some spaces that were way too tight with too many people in them. Or the descriptions were all placed close together, so lots of people would crowd around one area. The crowd here is primarily... Jewish. Lots of families and older Jewish men and women here. It made me feel like I was back home! They clearly attract some really great exhibits. Definitely worth checking out. read more