South African Jewish Museum

Museum · City Bowl

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South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by Getty
South African Jewish Museum by Getty
South African Jewish Museum by Getty
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null
South African Jewish Museum by null

Highlights

Interactive displays, artifacts, shtetl replica, Japanese carvings

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
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88 Hatfield St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa Get directions

sajewishmuseum.co.za
@sajewishmuseum

15 Best Museums in Cape Town

"Located next to the oldest synagogue in the country and the Holocaust Museum, the South African Jewish Museum has a grand, sand-colored wall that's unmissable from the street. Inside, interactive displays, audio-visual presentations, and artifacts take visitors back through the the roots of the Jewish people in South Africa. The primarily focus here is on the Jewish heritage in the country, but there's also a permanent Netsuke exhibit with around 200 miniature Japanese carvings." - Mary Holland

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-museums-in-cape-town
View Postcard for South African Jewish Museum

South African Jewish Museum

"Set the scene for us: Where are we, and what are we going to see?Located next to the oldest synagogue in the country and the Holocaust Museum, the South African Jewish Museum has a grand, sand-colored wall that's unmissable from the street. The interior is modern, with an exhibit that focuses on the history of Jews in South Africa. Sounds pretty cool. How's all this history presented, then?Interactive displays, audio-visual presentations, a shtetl facsimile, and artifacts take visitors back through the the roots of the Jewish people in South Africa. This chapter begins primarily in the 17th-century, as Jews were among the directors of the Dutch East India Company, and runs through its rapid 20th-century expansion, with a compelling chapter on Jews during apartheid. Wow—so, in a lot of ways. Beyond the permanent stuff, are there any exhibits we should check out?In addition to its main focus, the museum has a permanent Netsuke exhibition with around 200 miniature Japanese carvings. Noted! How about the facilities, and the overall location? Is there anything close by that's also worth checking out?Aside from one grand stairway, the museum isn't a challenge to navigate (it's accessible to all visitors). The space is small by museum standards, so you won't be traipsing around for hours. While you're in the area, make sure to visit the the neighboring Cape Town Holocaust Centre, a museum and memorial. Got it; now we have an itinerary! Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged?If you don't have a lot of time, skip the Netsuke exhibition." - Mary Holland

https://www.cntraveler.com/activities/cape-town/south-african-jewish-museum
View Postcard for South African Jewish Museum

Lyle Cable

Google
Today I spent my birthday at the Cape Town Jewish Museum. I hadn’t visited the museum in four years and decided to take the opportunity to return. Since it was a weekday morning, it felt as though I had the entire place to myself. After purchasing my ticket, I was fortunate to be joined by a volunteer tour guide—an elderly gentleman with a deep passion for the museum’s history—who greatly enriched my experience as we moved through the exhibits. After exploring the museum and briefly visiting the Garden Shul, I made my way to the Holocaust & Genocide Centre. I usually attend this space on Holocaust Remembrance Day, but due to work commitments earlier this year, I was unable to. Visiting today felt like a meaningful way to honour that missed occasion. At the library, I finished reading a book titled The Jews of District Six. (Just a quick note—if it weren’t for this book, I honestly would’ve had no idea that there was a significant Jewish presence in District Six, or how deeply integrated the community was into the fabric of Cape Town.) I then treated myself to a lovely tote bag as a small birthday gift and enjoyed lunch at the café. Just before leaving the centre, I noticed that the woman working at the museum store was wearing a yellow ribbon pin. I asked if they were available for sale, and to my delight, they were. This sparked a warm and engaging conversation between us. Visiting the centre today renewed my desire to learn more about Jewish history and culture, and I’m now even considering enrolling in a class or course to further that exploration

Rachel KS

Google
Much bigger and even more beautiful than expected. Has some very interesting history of Jews in South Africa not just in Cape Town and even a replica of a Lithuanian Shetl. Has an old ship and Torah and lots of wonderful judaica and great stories. Wonderful gift shop features art made by residents of Astra, a social support home a few blocks down.

Rodolfo Archbold

Google
Excellent, well organized, and laid out. Provides quick overview of Jewish celebration, then a more detailed presentation on how Jews arrived and the history of the community development. A good mix of audio visual, written, and graphic materials. Very informative. I suggest you plan 2 hours at a minimum

lamise inglis

Google
I love learning about other faiths and cultures. This was such an interesting experience. It was the first time I saw the Torah in person. They have some lovely interactive spaces where you can dress up for photos in a time gone by. There are audio pods where the stories of exhibits are told. I would recommend a guided tour if you are not familiar with the faith. A must see if you find yourself in town.

Barry Asman

Google
Very informative, well put together, important Museum to visit. Highly recommended for all to see.

Richard Greenham

Google
Superb! Excellent history of Cape Town and the Jewish people moving here from Europe. Really well laid out and detailed exhibits. There is cafe and shop which overlook a very peaceful area in the middle of the complex.

Em Dib

Google
This was so well set up, we chose to visit from the tour bus. We visited the holocaust memorial and it was such an eye opener. Very good and accurate information. You can spend hours in here just reading and observing the primary sources supplied here. Definitely worth a visit and the lady at the front was so lovely and informative.

Linda Graul

Google
Upon entering the museum grounds, you feel like you‘ve reached a little paradise within the city. However, the exhibition is not up to par with the exceptional exterior. There are next to no exhibits, instead you are overwhelmed with badly formated text conveying very little information, while a cacophony of video testimonials prevents you from focusing. I recommend skipping the museum and enjoying the peace and comfort of the grounds from the café.

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