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Contemporary History Collection

The Contemporary History collection was established in 2015 to document Jewish life in Germany from 1945 to the present.

Thematic Focal Points

Thematically it covers the history of displaced persons in occupied Germany, the rebuilding of Jewish communities and institutions in East and West Germany, the immigration of Russian Jews to reunified Germany, and Berlin's appeal for young Israelis today. Further emphases include the complex history of German–Jewish relations after the Shoah and the portrayal of Jews and the State of Israel in various media.

Personal Items and Historical Events

Objects and documents that are linked to the history of individuals and families or tell historical events from a personal perspective are of particular interest for our collection. We also document Jewish organizations and special occasions such as rallies, sporting events, and other events in individual communities.

Displaced Person

The term "displaced person" (DP) describes people who after the Second World War, and because of it, resided outside of their homeland and could not return or settle in another land without help.
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Private Films and Videos

Another focal point is building up holdings of amateur films and videos. These are an important audiovisual legacy and an asset to both exhibitions and cultural history research. Private film and video footage provides valuable glimpses into everyday Jewish life as well as regional and family religious traditions from past decades.

Objects from Our Museum’s History

The foundation and development of our own institution can also be illustrated using objects of contemporary history such as gifts from visitors, staff ID cards, and architectural models. This collection grows on an ongoing basis.

Help Us Out!

Since this collection is still being developed, we would greatly appreciate your bequests or donations of relevant objects!

Contact

Tamar Lewinsky
Curator of Contemporary History
T +49 (0)30 259 93 458
t.lewinsky@jmberlin.de

Address

Jewish Museum Berlin
Lindenstraße 9–14
10969 Berlin

How can I conduct research using the museum’s archive, collections, and library?

Our Reading Room is open to the public. You can also research using our library’s holdings and some of our collection’s holdings online. To view additional holdings, please contact the responsible curators.

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I would like to depict or borrow an object from your collections. Who should I contact?

Your contacts for photo permissions are Valeska Wolfgram and Birgit Maurer-Porat (T +49 (0)30 259 93 433, email: fotodoku@jmberlin.de). Loan requests must be made at least six months in advance. For questions regarding administrative processes, please contact Katrin Strube (T +49 (0)30 259 93 417, email: k.strube@jmberlin.de).

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How can I conduct research using the museum’s archive, collections, and library?

Our Reading Room is open to the public. You can also research using our library’s holdings and some of our collection’s holdings online. To view additional holdings, please contact the responsible curators.

View full answer

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