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Museum of Jewish Art and History

The Museum of Jewish Art and History (mahJ) occupies the Hôtel de Saint-Aignan, a seventeenth-century mansion in the Marais district. Its permanent collection traces the history and culture of Jewish communities in Europe and North Africa from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. The visit begins with an introductory room of symbolic objects and founding documents. Highlights include 66 thirteenth-century funerary steles from the medieval Jewish cemetery of Paris, the most important archaeological find of its kind discovered in France. The Italian Renaissance room displays the Modena Ark, the only surviving fifteenth-century Ashkenazi ark, along with liturgical silverware and embroidery. Another room is dedicated entirely to Hanukkah, with an exceptional collection of hanukkiot. Also on display is a restored nineteenth-century Austrian sukkah decorated with views of Jerusalem. The museum holds works by Marc Chagall, Amedeo Modigliani and other artists of the School of Paris, as well as the Dreyfus collection of more than 3,000 objects. The visit is organised chronologically, setting the works in their historical context. The museum has a bookshop, media library, auditorium with lectures and concerts, and offers guided tours in English during the tourist season (April–July) and workshops for children, families and adults.

Things to do at Museum of Jewish Art and History: 11 missions

• Explore the museum's sukkahDiscover a remarkably well-preserved 19th-century sukkah used for the festival of Sukkot.
• Explore the room dedicated to HanukkahWalk through the room devoted entirely to the festival of Hanukkah and see its collection of hanukkiot.
• View Marc Chagall's The Gates of the Cemetery at the museumLook at Marc Chagall's work The Gates of the Cemetery at the museum.
• Look at the works Glass(es) by Moshe NinioView the works Glass(es) by Israeli artist Moshe Ninio, held at the mahJ.
• View the installation Miqlat (Shelter)View the installation Miqlat (Shelter) by Israeli artist Sigalit Landau in the museum's main courtyard.
• View the exceptional holy ark from ModenaLook at the exceptional holy ark from Modena, along with the silverware and liturgical embroidery of Italian Jewish culture.
• Walk through the room dedicated to HanukkahVisit a room entirely dedicated to the festival of Hanukkah.
• See the gravestones from a 13th-century Jewish cemetery in ParisView the gravestones from a 13th-century Jewish cemetery in Paris, on display in the museum's central room.
• See Morgen at the Museum of Jewish Art and HistoryView the work Morgen by Israeli artist Moshe Ninio at the museum.
• Take part in the workshops for children, families and adultsAttend the workshops offered for children, families and adults.
• Attend the weekly guided tours in EnglishJoin the weekly guided tours in English during the tourist season, from April to July.

Near Museum of Jewish Art and History

Source: mahj.org