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Opened in 2004, the Danish Jewish Museum in Copenhagen has quickly become among the most popular Jewish museums in Europe. In true Danish fashion, it combines great modern architecture with history and a story worth telling.
Designed by the world-famous architect Daniel Libeskind, the Danish Jewish Museum presents Danish-Jewish life through 400 years, including the rescue of the Danish Jews during WWII.
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400 years of immigration and integrationThe Danish Jewish history is a story of immigration and integration. In Denmark, in a rather unique way, the relationship between the Jewish minority and the non-Jewish majority population has been very harmonious - with the rescue of the Danish Jews in 1943 highlighting the close bond.
In addition to the story of the remarkable escape of the Danish Jews, the Danish Jewish Museum presents many facets of everyday Danish Jewish life through 400 years: from the Jewish upper middle classes to the working class – from Orthodox Judaism to assimilation. With its emphasis on personal angles and surprising detail, the museum’s showcases hold great works of Danish Jewish artisanship as well as simple everyday items, each with their own story.
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Design for all the senses
In his design of the interior of the Danish Jewish Museum, architect Daniel Libeskind expresses unique and unifying elements of Danish Jewish history: the Nordic, the remarkably peaceful coexistence, and especially the rescue of the Danish Jews in 1943. The Jewish concept Mitzvah, "a good deed", is of central significance to the architecture. In gigantic sizes, the letters of the Hebrew word Mitzvah form the walking area of the museum. This is part of creating an unusual physical space where the walls and floors are purposely not straight or even, and the rooms are not square. So as you walk through the exhibition, you may get an additional sensory understanding of what it’s like to be a newcomer finding your way in strange surroundings – to be an immigrant. |
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Historic locationThe Danish Jewish Museum is built within a space which is already historic. The Royal Boat House, which houses the museum and is located in the center of Copenhagen, was built at the beginning of the 17th century by King Christian IV – at about the same time that the first Jews arrived in Denmark. After a tour of the museum, check out the museum shop’s selection of books and booklets on all things Jewish in Denmark as well as jewelry and Danish design mementoes for the Jewish home. The Jewish Museum also has an interesting selection of free brochures about Jewish Copenhagen and the Jewish experience in Denmark. Go to The Danish Jewish Museum’s website.
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Copenhagen for Jewish visitors: Where to stay, where to dine, and much more.
Jewish Copenhagen history During World War II, the Torah scrolls of the Copenhagen Synagogue were stored for safekeeping in a church by the Round Tower. Find out more about what to see on a walking tour of Jewish Copenhagen.
News for JewsListen to Radio Shalom in Danish, Hebrew and Yiddish.
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