Intense Encounters in “Jerusalem”

How school children react to the tour through the exhibition Welcome to Jerusalem. A conversation with Marc Wrasse

Poster with "Jerusalem is now in Berlin" written on it. The "u" is replaced with a menorah.

Campaign for the exhibition Welcome to Jerusalem; Jewish Museum Berlin, designed by: Preuss und Preuss GmbH

You’ve worked for the Jewish Museum Berlin for many years, as well as for other museums. What makes this exhibition special?

The Jewish Museum Berlin has a wide variety of visitors—the audience here is nearly as diverse as the modern world itself. If you visit the museum or work here, you can have a lot of different experiences, including in experimental exhibitions such as Obedience (more information about the exhibition on our website). Due to their social and political significance, I always find encounters during tours through Welcome to Jerusalem (more on our website) to be something special. Muslim students in particular—and that label encompasses much variety, ranging from the third-generation Turkish people in Germany to Syrian war refugees with their anti-Israeli background—are highly attentive in this exhibition.

Why is that, in your opinion?

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A New World

Showtime for the Summer Children’s Program at the Jewish Museum Berlin

Friday was showtime at the museum: the children in the summer break program had their big debut, presenting their plays and animated films. The whole week they had developed and rehearsed them, built sets, filmed, and added sound tracks. Everything was focused around the theme: What would a new, better world be like?

Die neue Welt und der Luchs (The New World and the Lynx) is one of the animated films shot as part of this year’s summer holiday programme.

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Fingers instead of money?

News from the Summer Children’s Program at the Jewish Museum Berlin

Nearly a dozen children are sitting and lying in a circle with an adult. In the middle is a poster with "family" written on it.

Questions about a new world: “Will I have a family?”; Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Jule Roehr

“We should be able to pay with our ten fingers. Then everyone would have the same amount.” Marie* (8 years old) enthusiastically promoted her idea for a better world: “That would be fair!” Luca (10) wasn’t so convinced: “How am I supposed to buy bread with my fingers?”

The 2018 Summer Children’s Program at the Jewish Museum is focused on the question: what might a new, better world look like? The starting point is Noah’s ark, a symbol for new beginnings.

Two girls, the right one holding up a drawing of a creature labeled "Schweinefischili".

Animals in the new world: “Schweinefischili” (“Fishpiggy”); Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Jule Roehr

 

Franziska Kahn, a philosopher who works with children, prompts them: “Let’s discuss what’s most important in a better world.” “Okay!” the children cry out and raise their hands. “Family, friends, animals”—in that exact order!  continue reading