The world began with light. And light plays a prominent role in Judaism: it symbolizes the distinction between the sacred and the profane, between knowledge and error. The lighting of a flame is an elementary component of many Jewish rituals.
Light is also the element of two installations that you can currently experience at Jewish Museum Berlin: Both the work res·o·nant by Mischa Kuball in the axes of the Libeskind Building and the walk-in installation Ganzfeld "Aural" by internationally renowned light artist James Turrell. It is no coincidence that we have dedicated our new JMB Journal to the topic of light.
Read about the light in the history of creation, in religion and science, in art and architecture; find out how Jewish rituals can be challenging when it comes to purchasing candles - or when one isn’t allowed to ignite light at all.
In this issue, for our photo series “Night Shift”, we have portrayed those people who work when it gets dark: the guards and the police who protect the museum at night. In addition, we present the large-scale project Object Days, in which Jews from all over Germany tell their migration stories with the help of souvenirs they have brought with them.
With texts by Peter Schäfer, Michal Friedlander, Léontine Meijer-van Mensch, Thomas de Padova, Hans Wilderotter, Julia Voss, Detlev Weitz, Urs Schreiner and Lenka Reinerová and with photos by Stephan Pramme.
You can also read the journal online on issuu.com.
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All Past Issues: JMB Journal (23)

Consuming Light
A Short History of Ritual Lights by Michal Friedlander
JMB Journal 18
2018

Object Days
Memorabilia and migration stories – portraits of Jews living in Germany
JMB Journal 18

Night Shift
A film allows insights into the museum at night
JMB Journal 18

Unpacking Donations
Family collections arriving at the museum
JMB Journal 18
2018

James Turrell: Ganzfeld Aural
Installation in the Museum Garden
Exhibition
12 Apr 2018 to 6 Oct 2019

res·o·nant
Light and Sound Installation by Mischa Kuball
Exhibition
17 Nov 2017 to 1 Sep 2019
Museum Publications
Exhibition catalogs, the JMB Journal, book series, and more
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