The Contemporary Jewish Museum

I have been to this museum pre-pandemic several times and always enjoyed the exhibits and gift store. I enjoyed learning about the diversity of Jewish experiences, its culture, its history and its arts. To my surprise, the museum has nothing related to Jewish. It's hodgepodge exhibits are next to nil. I don't see the many galleries they use to have. There are only two galleries opened upstairs. Downstairs is an open space of a minute gift store, displays here and there and a Wise Son deli. I read recently that this Museum will be closing soon indefinitely due to slow foot traffic and sales. If you have a chance, please drop by (between 4th and 3rd streets on Mission Street). This museum is listed as a National Register of Historical Places. It use to be the former PG&E Jessie Street Substation. Just marvel at the architecture of the museum and see how this alley has been reused as a commercial space of eateries. Then afterwards, enjoy a delicious Jewish lunch at Wise and Son deli. If you feel invigorous, cross the street and visit the Martin Luther King memorial (walking under a waterfall).

Really impressive and thought out museum, you could spend so long in there! Eighteen and under can go for free, and also the library has free tickets. Went on a Friday 2:00-3:00, and there were only a couple other groups there. It's only a 20 min walk from the train station, or a 10 min bus ride! The employees were very kind and helpful.

The Contemporary Jewish Museum is free the first Friday of the Month. I got the tickets online and arrived when it opened at 11am. There were 4 exhibits, one was going to end the next day so I was lucky to be able to see it. The front desk scans you ticket barcode and you can begin to explore. The exhibits are very interesting and some even made me emotional. They are engaging and they make you ask yourself certain questions. The photography exhibit was very personal, we got a glimpse inside the artist’s life. The exhibits are not big, but the creative space and art are mentally and emotionally engaging. If you are free the first Friday of the month, I recommend you come with the free ticket.

I happened to visit when they had very limited exhibition but also offered 50% for admission that felt nice. Stuff is the nicest and kindest - I really haven’t met so polite strangers for a really long time. Thank you! Will definitely come back for next exhibitions.

Great place to spend a couple hours. Some reviewers are calling this place pricey, but at $14 for adults it’s a much better deal than many other museums in the area (which can run at $25-50 a ticket). They feature a ton of contemporary, local artists and change main exhibitions every few months. I’ll definitely be back!

Three major exhibits that are thought provoking and pertinent to the times. Plus other artist exhibits that do not disappoint! Worth the time and the price is right! Right across from the Martin Luther Jr. Memorial and in the heart of Yerba Buena area! Plenty around to see after! Close to SFMOMA. Include it in your plans to San Francisco!

Lovely contemporary art museum in San Francisco. No parking, nice little cafe inside. Special exhibitions that change frequently cover a wide variety of topics and media. Went on a great docent tour of the special exhibition which really helped me understand the symbolism in the works.

Saw the Jim Henson exhibit and it was a small venue but awesome. The museum is clean and close to public transit. Plenty of places near by for food as well as what looked like a cafe inside.

As the CJM prepares to close for an indefinite amount of time, I hope my post is a review and not a eulogy. With it's distinctive angular exterior and central location the museum has made its mark on the city. Over the years it has produced some pretty interesting exhibitions. This year's "RetroBlakesberg: The Music Never Stopped" was one of the most fun and intriguing programs held at the museum. The exhibit itself was highlighted by a personal tour by the Bay Area-based Rock and Roll photographer Jay Blakesberg. Sharing his experiences was like reliving Bay Area music history up close and personal. The related concert held at the museum was a double dose treat to cap it off. Let's hope the future of this museum eventually continues along the lines of "The Music Never Stopped" rather than "The Day the Music Died".

I have been to this museum pre-pandemic several times and always enjoyed the exhibits and gift store. I enjoyed learning about the diversity of Jewish experiences, its culture, its history and its arts. To my surprise, the museum has nothing related to Jewish. It's hodgepodge exhibits are next to nil. I don't see the many galleries they use to have. There are only two galleries opened upstairs. Downstairs is an open space of a minute gift store, displays here and there and a Wise Son deli. I read recently that this Museum will be closing soon indefinitely due to slow foot traffic and sales. If you have a chance, please drop by (between 4th and 3rd streets on Mission Street). This museum is listed as a National Register of Historical Places. It use to be the former PG&E Jessie Street Substation. Just marvel at the architecture of the museum and see how this alley has been reused as a commercial space of eateries. Then afterwards, enjoy a delicious Jewish lunch at Wise and Son deli. If you feel invigorous, cross the street and visit the Martin Luther King memorial (walking under a waterfall).

The CJM has gone through a challenging financial situation and announced temporary closure for at least a year. The last day open to public was December 15, and I think it's worth a stop if you were interested in. Overall it's a relatively small and empty museum, not much going on but few interactive arts. It took less than one hour to explore all open exhibits, and I like the rainbow room the most.

If you ever want to see another museum in San Francisco see this one. It's a beautiful museum, it's informative, and I totally recommend it.

While it was 2019..now it's 2024--5 years increments..ran for 15 years...they have cutbacks and are closing temporarily...it was very exciting and thrilling to visit...many exciting exhibits---Stanley Kubrick, Levi Strauss(2021), and Jay Blakesberg this year...so many exciting exhibits and unique art shows...I will miss it for now...times have changed..it's hard to not get let down by the change in the economy...hope to see a revitalization...booms and busts..all the hard work was much appreciated...hope the community continues to persist and grow.

What a beautiful space! I'm sorry to hear they will be closing. I hope they can reopen. I almost fell asleep in the yurt. It was so relaxing.

We visited the CJM this past weekend with free admission through Bank of America's "Museums on Us" perk. Security at the entrance and staff at the ticket counter worked efficiently, and there weren't a lot of visitors on a Sunday afternoon. I really enjoyed the current exhibitions, including RetroBlakesberg: The Music Never Stopped (Jay Blakesberg's photography capturing historical moments in music), First Light: Rituals of Glass and Neon Art (exploring the application of light in various artworks), and my fave, Annie Albagli: We Become [Vessels], a video artwork focused on human connection, with soothing images and sounds of nature evoking a meditative state of mind. The museum aims to bring people together and has much to share about culture, history, and art, even interactive exhibits like "What Makes Me" where I was able to identify and connect the strongest values and elements of my life, using yarn. There's also a sizable gift shop with plenty of inspirational souvenirs to take home. Best of all, if you have a BofA card, you can visit this museum for free like we did, first weekends of each month (or first Fridays are free for all visitors).

This quaint museum is small but mighty, bringing in incredible artists to exhibit, while also ensuring to feature local artists. And within the art, history and symbolism are intertwined to make any and all to feel included. The building itself is a testament to the history, and the modern new architecture in the expansion 15 years ago leaves no detail overlooked to incorporate the deep meaning and symbolism. I thoroughly have enjoyed every exhibit I've experienced here over the years and will continue to be a patron.

It was such a beautiful, peaceful space. The exhibits were all well curated and allowed time to read and reflect. I also appreciated the joy in the space. It's relatively small so add it to your list when nearby.

This is a unique museum in downtown SF. The creative shape of the building by architect Daniel Libeskind, has to do with Hebrew characters and the explanation is inside the museum. Be sure to take a picture outside the museum to include the angle and tip. In the rainbow room, you won't see the colors on the floor until you hold up the camera on your cellphone (see pic). Tables are provided to do Chinese-Hebrew calligraphy as well as decorating pencils in the children's area. Have a pastrami or corn beef sandwich at the small Wise Sons Deli downstairs in the lobby. This museum was an eye opener and educational. Check for days you're able to come free.

I heard the museum is going to close so I visited it this weekend as I had never been. Some of the exhibits are really great (e.g. the rainbow exhibit) and it is a great opportunity to learn more about the Jewish culture and art and also the history of the building. Overall it does not have that much to see and experience so it may feel a little "weak" if compared to some of the other museums in town. I was also expecting more art.

We attended an event held by A16Z here during the JP Morgan conference. The exhibits were not open to us, however the space for events was spectacular. The architecture alone merits a 5 star review.

I have been to the Contemporsry Jewish Museum several times, and I recommend it. I am not Jewish (I thought briefly I might be, due to a rare disease I have that is disproportionately suffered by Jews, by more than an order of magnitude difference; a genetic test suggests that ancestry is absent from my lineage). The exhibits are interesting. I have brought out of town guests. I am writing to highlight three aspects of the institution. The first is another reason to visit: the architecture. Daniel Libeskind designed a deconstructivist addition to a former power station. I am not in general a fan of "starchitects." But I am fascinating by their structures. This is worth photographing, if that is what you do. Otherwise, you can admire it, even gawk. It is unique. It also is striking. Both the exterior and the interior are worthwhile. He worked for both Richard Meier and Peter Eisenman, according to Wikipedia (not to be relied on; and not fact checked for this purpose) -- you see some of the influence of both. The only other constructed work of his I know is the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. So I cannot compare well. I'd say, from casual study of photos, this cube is the most appealing. Perhaps that has to do with scale. It erupts, cooly, from another edifice. The second is the wonderful diversity of their shows. One of them was about diversity, meaning within the Jewish population. I also saw an exhibit about Stanley Kubrick and another about Roz Chast. The NY Times suggested in a review that the curatorial emphasis here is on a liberal political tradition and more assimilationist tendencies. They implied those are normatively preferable. The third is related to the second. I did not even know this was "a thing." Per their website, so confirmed, this is a "non collecting" museum. They do not have holdings. They do not accept objects. They borrow. They partner. That explains why they have so much change. It benefits those of us who would go. Everything is special. There is essentially no display that is regular and thus routine. You can put together a whole series of activities for the day in downtown San Francisco. This institution should be among the stops.

Very straight forward. The second floor always has a nice exhibit many times and always worth it. It's not big, just a large room and a small one, the smaller one usually being more hand interactive. The ground floor is the store, cafe, and much less work but yet so enriching. It's nice to kill some time around or have a free day to roam around. Recommend going on the weekends as it's lively both inside and outside the museum. Plenty of restrooms which were clean.

Neat place hidden next to the Old St Patrick's Cathedral down town San Fran. Wife and I like to try and visit museums when we can. This had some interesting art exhibits. It was slow on a Friday which was nice. One of the artists was there carving into the wood piece which is described in all the photos. Recommend visiting for a taste of different culture and art.

Went to Contemporary Jewish Museum Sun 5/22/22 to see the Jim Henson exhibit. He's not Jewish! Why is he even there? Has his life's work on display. I didn't read or watch everything just kinda skimmed it. Was ok. On the second floor. Bay Area artist v about 20 was on the first floor, those we're kinda strange, just ok overall. I did walk-in tickets, website recommends making reservations. Overall, just ok.

Give it a Chai! This a a very different kind of Jewish Museum. The museum does not have permanent collections or exhibits. Instead, the museum features a series of rotating educational opportunities and experiences. During our visit, Levi Strauss: A History of American Style occupied the entire second floor. It was so interesting to learn about the humble beginnings of Strauss, his partnership with Jacob Davis and how adding rivets changed the face of blue jeans. The rivets patented by Strauss and Davis made the miner's jeans more durable. A front pocket was added for a pocket watch. The signature red Levi's back pocket tag was added later. Today, the Levi's are recognized worldwide. Interesting to see the Original 501s, Albert Einstein's leather Levi's jacket, Beyoncé's superlow riders, a quilt made to recognize those lost to AIDS and Team USA featured throughout. The original Articles of Incorporation are also displayed in this exhibit. The building itself is a juxtaposition of traditional and modern architecture. The main building is the former Pacific Gas & Electric Jessie Street Substation. It was originally built in 1881, damaged in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and then rebuilt in 1907 by Willis Polk. Polk worked for famed Chicago architect Daniel Burnham on the West Coast. Polk was responsible for building or rebuilding many San Francisco landmarks following the devastating 1906 earthquake. Architect Daniel Libeskind redesigned the historic landmark and added a blue-stainless steel cube interlinked to the original red brick structure. The two united buildings create the Hebrew letters "Chet" and "Yud" to spell "Chai" which means life in Hebrew. The Libeskind cube, known as "Yud," features 36 gold windows which is equal to 18+18 or a double Chai. There are also 18 steps in the main lobby staircase symbolizing Chai as well. In Judaism multiples of Chai are considered good luck. If you decide to visit, check the website to see what is on display. Park in the garage across the street. We used our ROAM reciprocal benefits for admission which is usually $16 for adults.

We had a lovely visit here while visiting SF for a week. The building is beautiful and clean. There were 3 exhibits on two separate floors. What I loved was how manageable it was to see everything, unlike huge museums with a dozen exhibits. Each exhibit was insightful and unique. Loved the Wise deli in the lobby! We may come back just to have lunch.

Our second visit to this museum and we were disappointed to find that half the facility, including the gift shop, was closed. Not their fault, of course, and admission was half priced. We only got to see a small but interesting exhibit of marionettes (Oz is for Oznowicz: A Puppet Family's History) - with some history of the connection to Jim Henson and the muppets. The Tikkun exhibit was also very interesting. The building itself is a repurposed power distribution facility. We will visit again on our next trip to SF.

I only had a limited amount of time to explore San Francisco while attending a reunion conference a few years back, so the decision to spend time checking out a major Stanley Kubrick retrospective was an easy one. One strong point of the Contemporary Jewish Museum is the exhibition space itself. There is enough square footage in the museum to create numerous substantial sections. Even art museum directors could learn how to better utilize space from this museum. Every major motion picture within Kubrick's oeuvre had its own section. Some of Kubrick's films, such as the lesser known noir film Killer's Kiss (1955), were partially screened in vignette format in the exhibit space. More well known films including The Shining, 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange each had its own area. Even costumes from Barry Lyndon and Eyes Wide Shut were displayed behind a glass case and on a wall, respectively. One of the highlights of the exhibition was the display of Kubrick's cameras and lenses. Seeing his wooden director's chair was also really cool. Overall, the Kubrick exhibit was both incredible and revelatory. It really delved into the intellectual and creative sides of this genius director.

Visited the CJM today to see the JIM HENSON exhibit. WOW. Presented beautifully. Everyone in attendance had smiles on their faces. The graphics and the colorful walls all reflected the Jim Henson spirit of fun and wonder. I noticed so many viewers chatting, pointing, and sharing memories evoked by the displays. Exhibit opened March 31, 2022. Highly recommend.

This museum is truly amazing!! Highly recommend giving it a visit! The muppets exhibit was my favorite and was such a delightful experience!

Beautifully designed museum. The building was gorgeous inside and out. We came here for the Jim Henson exhibit which was amazing. Great curated collection of his work throughout the years. I made the mistake somehow of buying my tickets online for the wrong day. I thought I was going to be out that money and have to pay again, but they were very accommodating and fixed the date for me once I arrived. Looking forward to what the next great exhibit will be.

Nice facility, conveniently located with easy parking up the street at 5th/Mission garage, and close to BART. Multiple galleries, with a nice range of exhibits, ranging from Jim Henson Muppets, to the history of Jews playing mah jong. Interesting architecture--juxtaposing the modern blue steel "cube" with the original power plant/factory building. And, of course, the Jewish deli downstairs is a must visit ! My only complaint: the gift shop is severely lacking. Ample space, but it is half empty. So much opportunity to provide judaic gifts from ceremonial objects to books, in addition to items related to current shows. The Jim Henson exhibit, for example, was a huge opportunity, given the massive amount of Muppet-related items on the market. Dear Jewseum (by the way, you should officially rename the museum "Jewseum"), please hire me to curate the gift shop. I could do it part time...modest stipend plus commission!

Before the COVID-19 era started, my brother bought me Shabbat candle holders here. They're beautiful. If you're looking for a meaningful gift for someone that the proceeds can help preserve a beautiful culture in the San Francisco Bay Area, look no further then here online. Unique jewelry pieces, candle holders, books, etc. can be found.

The best things about San Francisco's Contemporary Jewish Museum I could count on a single hand: * Their cafe, Wise Sons Deli, wafts the glorious scent of corned beef through the ground floor exhibit nearest to it. * Free admission for two adults using a pre-booked library "Discover & Go" pass. (Check your local library to see if you can do the same). * The 1-hour docent led tour of an upstairs exhibit made the place at least 90% more interesting than it would have been otherwise. The least favored things about San Francisco's Contemporary Jewish Museum I could also count on one hand: * It looks large from the outside but what's on display inside is very limited. * The exhibits are constantly changing (the museum has no permanent collections) but the ones present on my visit weren't very compelling. * The "contemporary" focus provides little to no place for historical context. This is nothing like Berlin's Jewish Museum or any museums focused on the Holocaust. On the day of my visit the CJM had 3 distinct exhibits and could have easily been toured, in its entirety, in under 90 minutes, gift shop included. It lacked both depth and breadth and I wasn't the only one who thought so. Outside of the upstairs exhibit a guestbook sat open for patrons to respond to the comment "what did you think of the exhibit". I laughed when I saw one response, "$14 is too much...". Had I paid the full admission price I could've penned that remark myself. If you're lucky enough to visit when the CJM is full of interesting exhibits your experience will differ significantly from mine. That said, I'd err on the side of caution. The CJM has many "free days" which you should research before visiting. The next free day is Christmas because, you know, Hannukkah. I'm sure I'll visit this museum again sometime and hopefully find it more compelling but with its frequently changing exhibits and no permanent collection what you see on any given day is a crapshoot. Save your shekls and visit on a free day to avoid feeling like you've been had.

Don't waste your time or money. They had a temporary showing of a local potter, fair. The rest of the museum was non existent.

This museum is in a really cool shaped building between Market and Mission Streets in downtown SFO. It's smaller than I'm used to as far as museums go, but it's very nice. My company hosted a private function here and everyone loved it.

Respective to its treatment of artists, my experience with CJM was unsatisfactory. Rather than do their own research regarding the provenance of artwork they chose to present for paid admissions, they relied on the presentation of an organization that did not own the artwork. They also relied on the story that organization provided and repeated it adjacent to the pieces involved when a cursory amount of research would have correctly informed them of how that artwork came into being. As a result no less than 15 artists were taken advantage of by CJM. Efforts to secure some compensation for their works have been stonewalled by both the current director of the museum as well as the incoming new director. In my experience, CJM operates without professional care for the artworks it presents and is reprehensible in its unwillingness to even meet to discuss the matter further.

"Excuse me, young man, can you direct me to the Barbra Streisand Shrine?....Get avay! ...you call this a Contemporary Jewish Museum? Haven't you seen 'Yentl'?...Oy vey! ...Oh wait, this is nice, mommala. I think I've got shpilkes in my genecktageesoink." Now I can finally get my drink on at Ducca and walk over to pound a chocolate cream puff at Beard Papa's afterward without worrying about straying into traffic. It is gorgeous...and worth the years of waiting. If they scaled back due to a funding shortfall, it's hard to tell what they sacrificed since it certainly feels like an expansive space. I was lucky enough to walk through it yesterday before the Grand Opening today (6/07/2008). It took a typical-for-SF nine years for architect Daniel Libeskind's design to take its final form. Libeskind is a renowned architect who lost, won, and then lost again the competition for designing the World Trade Center Memorial to commemorate 9/11 at Ground Zero in New York. And in a terrific example of historic building renovation, the museum incorporates the old Jessie Street Power Substation. Moreover, the open courtyard on the new Jessie Square, makes the ideal complement to the Yerba Buena Gardens across Mission Street. We're lucky to have Libeskind's talents showcased in this city. Inside, you immediately enter the Koret-Taube Grand Lobby, and toward the left is a comprehensive exhibit of the works of the late New Yorker cartoonist William Steig, who created all the Shrek characters. It runs until September 7. There's also a nice montage of photos and memorabilia reflecting on "Being Jewish in the Bay Area". Upstairs are the museum's show pieces. Running though January 4, 2009 is a major exhibition, "In the Beginning: Artists Respond to Genesis". It contains seven new artist commissions with works from past masters like Chagall. All explore our individual responses to the story of creation as depicted in Genesis, Chapter 1. One of the most arresting is Matthew Ritchie's "Day One", which is a roomful of interactive digitally animated images that gives you a geophysical sense of how the earth was formed (see my photo). If like me, you've been wondering what the slightly askew black cube is about, it contains the museum's "Yud" Gallery, a unique space designed to showcase sound pieces with its 65-foot ceiling, diamond-shaped skylights, and walls converging at different angles. Right now, they're presenting the Aleph-bet Sound Project, which according to their program..."explores the Kabbalistic principle that the ancient Hebrew alphabet is a spiritual tool full of hidden meaning and harmony." You can hear the likes of Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson if you time your visit right. I posted a few photos for the gallery. Impressive place, don't you think? Hello Gorgeous.

I was disappointed with this museum after reading great reviews. I understand that is is 'contemporary' however would appreciate more Jewish history, at least compared to what was presented. The lower level was showing photography and music related to African American communities in US and upstairs was showing cloth weaving in India with video presentations. The textiles and photos were interesting to look at, but didn't see the connection to Jewish communities. The presentation about Lew the Jew was fine, but looking through panels of tattoos to explain Jewish art got old after a while. Overall, I am disappointed with the exhibits. With the limited selection displayed, it should have been free. Perhaps the high reviews were from people who got free admission with BofA. I paid over $40 for two people and had higher expectations. There are much better museums in sf and I left more confused then enlightened about the Contemporary Jewish community in US.

For free admission (first weekend of every month) during Bank of America's Museums on Us program, visiting the Contemporary Jewish Museum is a no-brainer if you haven't been already. If you've been before, but haven't seen the current exhibit, Our Struggle: Responding to Mein Kampf, you should plan a return trip. Our Struggle is a powerful exhibit. After painter and photographer, Linda Ellia, found a copy of Mein Kampf, she began to use the pages of the book as a canvas to express her anger before sending individual pages to people from all over the world to paint, draw, sculpt, and collage directly on them. The project showcases the ability of art to turn something so evil into individual pieces of beauty. Each individual page tells a unique story but as an entire body of work, the story is amplified and even more beautiful. The exhibit shows art's cathartic effect to help people to express inner hurt and begin that road to healing and recovery. Be sure to take some time at the exhibit to watch the accompanying documentary, L'Art et la Maniere. It really brings Our Struggle to life. Other exhibits include The Torah Project and Jews on Vinyl. The Torah project showcases the detailed work that goes into reproducing the Torah but more importantly, the spiritual journey that each scribe embarks on. Jews on Vinyl is a fun, lighthearted exhibit and a fantastic way to end your visit to the Museum. Sit back, enjoy the unique architecture and fantastic acoustics, and listen to different interpretations of Hava Nagila. [http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/BFjSRfpk6gfgVptJCugy1A?select=_hJ0Vjdbpn8CT6ufon5gZA] A weekend visit to the Contemporary Jewish Museum is totally worth it. Its manageable size means you can be done in under 2 hours if you wish but with exhibits as powerful as Our Struggle, you just might want to stay a little longer.

THIS IS FOR THE GIFT SHOP: It is AMAZING anyone ever goes in here. The security guy is a mumbling power monger. I get it- this museum wants super beefed up security, (basically it the same as the airport but you don't have to remove your shoes.) It would be nice if he could provide clear direction in a voice you could hear (volume-wise) and understand (mumble-wise). He was also just a jerk. There is high security where I work too - but at least they are nice. Why don't you have a sign with the security directions - so you can just point? The stuff for sale inside is very nice for a museum store, but by the time I was "allowed" in I was friggin pissed off!

A very small museum. Not much art, and what art was exhibited was superficial, not very thought provoking. The museum is only open 4 days of the week, 6 hours per day.

Apparently "contemporary" to this "Jewish" museum means a (tiny) gift shop full of books about tattoos and packets of "temporary" tattoos which seemed geared towards kids. I get that this museum is taking a modern look at Jewish culture, but I would've thought they would still try to respect some basic Jewish laws...especially in light of the fact that not even a century ago, European Jews were forcibly tattooed by Nazis, ostensibly in part to additionally defile them. While we're on the subject of the gift shop, there used to be a big, beautiful gift shop here selling gorgeous Judaica, which was wonderful, since it really was the only place in San Francisco to find a large selection of quality Judaica. But recently, they renovated that space and turned it instead into a "community" area (read: empty lounge). What's left of the gift shop is now a few measly shelves, mostly books, and as noted above, prominently featuring books about tattoos. What a shame! When I spoke with the front desk employees, they, too, expressed dismay at this development and mentioned that I was by far not the only person sad about the demise of the gift shop. And that's really almost all there is to know about this quiet, under-utilized museum space. The lobby is very empty-feeling, with a stark, imposing dark wall closing in upon you as you walk in. They usually only have a few exhibits, often marginally attached to the modern Jewish experience, in a very San Francisco kind of way. Of all the museums here in San Francisco, the CJM is by far the most lackluster experience. I suppose it's nice that they're open on Christmas, but so is everything else these days, so we're no longer beggars unable to be choosers. You'll find a much more vibrant modern Jewish experience at any local Jewish event, and more Judaica at Bloomingdale's (Michael Aram, anyone?!). You can find those books about tattoos at the library for free, and you can feel less guilty about buying them from a supposedly-Jewish institution (this way, your Bubbe won't plotz). In a city with some pretty excellent museums (Asian Art, SFMOMA, De Young, Legion of Honor, California Academy of Science, etc.), there's no need to settle for mediocre, or worse, a space that actively promotes desecration of Jewish law (tattoos, anyone?). I wish I could say better things about the CJM. It really IS a giant missed opportunity!

The very building itself is really rich in history and architectural stature. It is beautiful! Take the time to go on the docent tour that gives you the low-down on the structure. There is so much light and liveliness to the atmosphere and the coolest windows too! There is always a nice variety of art exhibitions-something for everyone. I do want to mention too that, though I've been an art nut forever and been to museums all over the globe, the cjm staff are by FAR the friendliest and most pleasant people I've ever encountered.

3.5 stars. I've wanted to visit this museum for years, especially since I noticed the Curious George exhibit was there. After several business trips to the area, I grabbed a coworker and we headed over for a long lunch break. Truth? It was A-OK and not 100% what I expected. I didn't realize how small the museum actually is inside. It's beautiful, but basically limited to one main exhibit. Not that that's a bad thing, it just really caught me off guard. We visited the Stanley Kubrick exhibit taking place. We got there just as a tour started, so we joined in for a few minutes. The docent was very knowledgeable. There was a pretty decent collection of movie memorabilia and photos. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Stanley's collection of cameras. Worth the visit to the museum, but just be mindful that it's smaller than it looks. Small, but nice onsite museum shop and Jewish deli with all your classic favorites. I ordered the matzah ball soup, but I've also had the corned beef and potato salad there. Next time I'm going for the pastrami sandwich.

Do not bother going to the "Leonard Cohen exhibit". It's a farce! A joke! There is nothing about Leonard Cohen there, except a flier of his biography which you might as well read online. No memorabilia, original writings, photos.. usual things you might expect from a celebration of an artist's life. The two sad art installations inspired by Cohen might have meaning to the artist and their closets confidants, but where meaningless and plain confusing and ugly to us. No explanation but a lengthy blah blah of wishful thinking. I'm so disappointed. Thinking that Leonard Cohen is such a rich artist with a rich life, what a beautiful opportunity missed!!! In addition, the only comprehensive insight into Judaism in the Bay Area you get from a film that plays in the store... I rather watch that on YouTube than coming here again. CJM I hope you up your game ... it seems there is plenty of funding...so what's your problem?

I worked so close to this place for many years and did not know it existed. The outside is peaceful with a lot of pigeons. It is a stunning building. You can plan on spending 1-2 hrs here looking through the exhibits.

My son and I went there today and were totally disappointed. There were no exhibits, no history, no collections, no art work. Just some video about a guy named George Fok and one about someone named Judy Chicago. I mean we had more fun looking at the Christmas Tree at Macy's and walking along the Embarcadero which didn't cost 32.00 admission. We were expecting a museum similar to the Jewish Museum in Denver. Most everything in San Francisco is fascinating but Mission Street in general--so far--gets more reviews from me. Salesforce Park a park? This Jewish Museum had nothing remotely about Jewish History. Am wondering if the Black Museum across the street has anything about African-Americans?

Last Tuesday was Remembrance (Veteran's) Day. Since there was no school for my son, I took the day off and we headed into SF on BART. We did our usual "Westfield Center - Blondie's Pizza - SF MOMA - Yerba Buena Gardens Playground" loop and this very nice sunny day. This time we added the Contemporary Jewish Museum to our travels. And since his grandmother had also highly recommended it, why not? The stunning architecture consisting of the black cube set against the restored 1907 power station is almost worth the 4 Stars by itself. And due to the impatience of one adolescent kid, we didn't see much exhibit wise. But, we'll be back!

It is true that my Father's mischpahas hopped Ellis Island and settled in Deutche Pennsylvania and eat matzoh and peanut & jelly peanut butter sammiches as snacks after some nice brawn. We've been to a bris, shul, honored the high holidays, can sing Fiddler on the Roof from memory and have attended more than one Bar Mitzvah. It is true that I am infamously incapable of keeping kosher, am a Larry David fan and possess a modicum of Shiksa Appeal. Also, i wear stuff on my head and can make a mean soup from scratch. Then again, I own a copy of Mein Kamph - in Korean - no less, just because I couldn't resist the novelty. A real mess this one is, but what can you expect from a goyishe gal with a Cherman last name whose ancestors - and not by blood - were stuck in Alsace-Lorraine? Some charcuterie, and quiche, maybe, but who among the Chosen could appreciate that? What a meshugass! I digress. There is no confectionery reward nor real estate in the game of Candyland. Discuss. The Cadet wanted to see the Houdini Art & Magic exhibit, gawd love him, but he already mastered how to make my gelt and social life disappear (Yelp truly, excluded of course) - what more does he want, my other kidney? Don't let the brick exterior deceive you, bubeleh; the interior is clean, contemporary and a beautiful backdrop for the rotating exhibits. Our very own Ed U. and Lolia S. both point out the more pedigreed features of Daniel Libeskind wonderland, and you'll be better for it to read their reviews. I love the juxtaposition in which the building blends with the existing architecture, but is eye-poppingly now, once you cross the threshold. A note about the entry protocol: it's not unlike an airport security checkpoint, though you are not required to doff your shoes or remove your jacket. They don't wand you and as far as my experience goes, there are no gender-specific secondary checks. The staff are extremely gracious and informative, with a smile. If it's a rainy day, use the self-check umbrella check with confidence; a coat check is also available for your/my convenience. Military discounts are given with ID (a mitzvah!) and the same goes for students. If your +1 is student who attends a military academy, they don't double down - not that I'm a miser, but it was just a point of clarification when purchasing the Cadet's ticket. * Entry is free for museum members * ALL school group visits are free ; D * 3rd Monday of the month is free * Children under 12 are... you guessed it - free! Bonus points for making this museum so inviting and accessible. See? I do like other F-words. I didn't love the gift shop as a prelude to walking the floor, though I did find some amusing mementos and tchochkes. The next time 'round, I will visit the restaurant, which serves hearty, kosher, vegetarian cuisine - which is not exactly the trifecta I yearn for by default... But I'll think of it as another museum experience: opening my senses to different experiences and perspectives. It's just that I'm an observant omnivore and it will be challenging to open my mouth. Okay, now I'm kvetching.

While the museum itself was closed for a special event, I was able to tour the gift shop. I found that I was impressed with their selection. They had a lovely collection of menorahs that I would love to have and a few hand of Fatima necklaces that i would adore. Sadly I didn't have a lot of time so i was not able to truly investigate. i will have to return!

Such a great museum! They had a lot of interesting exhibitions by Jewish artists, and it gave a good experience learning about some facet of Jewish culture. We got in for free for having a Bank of America card, so watch out for those days! The coolest exhibition they had was an audiovisual experience mixing videos of jazz tutorials online together. The end experience was extremely satisfying, and I could have spent hours in that room! I felt the museum was a bit too small though, so make sure you don't plan your whole day around it.

After years of living in SF, I finally got to check out the Contemporary Jewish Museum for their Amy Winehouse exhibit. I've always admired the beautiful architecture on the outside, so I was curious how it would look on the inside. When you step in, it seems a lot smaller than it should and even the exhibit itself seemed to be contained in a relatively small room. That being said, the curation for the exhibit was done well and I'd be interested in going back for something in the future. Until then, I will continue to admire that beautiful building on my bike rides home.

Well, I am back, back, back! I used the Discover and Go Pass offered by my county library! And it worked! Again, no problem with security, I was ready and willing to check my bag or bags in. I like that, makes it easy to get around the museum. I went back to revisit the "Gertrude Stein: Five Stories" exhibit, I had to come back. I will come back before it closes on 6 September, I enjoyed looking at the photos and artifacts of Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Tolkas, the immediate Stein family, and the friends of Gertrude and Alice. There are portraits of Gertrude by Cecil Beaton and Man Ray, two prominent photographers. (Cool!) Unfortunately, "Are We There Yet?" closed. Darn! I had another question to contribute. I will have to come back to revisit Charlotte Salomon's exhibit. I need a whole day there to reflect, seriously. I am taking an art course pertaining to women and art. This would be a perfect starting point for me, Ms. Salomon's work. The CJM store is a great resource for souvenirs and gifts. Now I have a place where I can get gifts for my Jewish friends and their kids, especially the dradels and storybooks. There was one lady that worked there that left me cold. I spoke to another associate about her; I was informed that she is from another country. Okay, I understand. I look forward to future exhibits at CJM and they are also undergoing renovation, looking forward to the new look. Exhibits here change a lot, hopefully in the future, they will have a permanent collection or two housed here.

This review is for the Outside only. I come here in the evenings and weekends with my firmed to hoop dance. There is a huge space for pedestrians with benches, grass, etc. Ive never been told to leave the area which is nice, because a lot of establishments will try to tell me I'm disruptive when wall we are doing is having some fun and minding our own business. The plaza is lit beautifully at night and is very peaceful in the middle of the city. It is a perfect mix of busy and out-of-the-way. Thanks CJM for being awesome!= and embracing SF's diverse culture!

A fascinating building that now opens the doors to the public. Yesterday and today were previews for members. Managed to get in today with a class mate. It is an amazing place! I can only congratulate on the architectural results! Of the exhibitions we managed to see two of the major ones today; Jewish life in the Bay Area and the exhibition about Genesis. The first is a powerful description of the diversity in the Jewish community in the area. It is presented in photos, and many artefacts - all from menorahs to pins "God is coming and is she pissed" or for electing Harvey Milk. The museum has marketed itself as not planning to have a permanent exhibit, but to be perpetually changing. It has had a flying start, and I can only hope it will keep up the good work!

- security queue to get into the building more strict than homeland security - cameras monitoring you at every corner with guards on every wall (counted three pointed at me at any one spot) - perplexing rules given to you based on the staffer's apparent personal whim - friendly docents - contemporary architecture - line that reaches forever before the deli counter - exhibits that give the average layman pause it is an interesting experience to wander through the museum and try it out for yourself at least once, but before you go, make sure you carry just the bare essentials (money), and expect to be treated as less than human (that way, when you get that surprisingly pleasant smile and kind help, you'll be glad you went to see the exhibits). interestingly enough, i overheard more than one other visitor remark that the exhibits didn't seem to have anything to do with being "Jewish" as well.