With COVID-19 restrictions easing, Jewish museums and heritage sites are cautiously reopening. Here’s what we know so far — let us know of others!

Welcome back!

With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in some countries, Jewish museums and other Jewish heritage sites are also beginning  to reopen, with social distancing and other hygienic measures in place. Many events are still cancelled or postponed — but others are still on or are announced.

Here is a list of what we know so far — let us know others so we can add them.

 

AUSTRIA

Eisenstadt – Austrian Jewish Museum

Reopens July 1

But there will be some (mainly outdoor) programs during June, and individual small group visits can also be arranged by appointement. Reservations are required, and face masks mandatory where required by government regulation.

Vienna Jewish Museum

Both branches reopen May 31, 2020

The Jewish Museum Vienna has succeeded in extending the exhibition about the Ephrussi family and the famous “Hare with the Amber Eyes.” With the consent of the national and international lenders, the exhibition can be shown until Autumn 2020. Lady Bluetooth. Hedy Lamarr, the exhibition highlighting the Hollywood actress and brilliant inventor Hedy Lamarr, is being presented at the Museum Judenplatz. Café Palmhof, a lost jewel in Vienna’s city history, can be discovered at the exhibition Let’s Dance. The Viennese Cafetier Otto Pollak in the Annex of the Jewish Museum on Dorotheergasse.

Hohenems Jewish Museum

Reopens June 1, 2020

Its current exhibition “End of Contemporary Witness?” wil be extended until August 16. The exhibition “The Last Europeans,” which was planned to open in May, has been postponed to autumn, it is expected to open on October 4. Events also will only take place again in autumn. It is still unclear when the museum will again be able to invite groups to tours. If you are planning a group visit to the museum, please send an email to the secretariat: Gerlinde Fritz, office@jm-hohenems.at

BELGIUM

Jewish Museum of Belgium, Brussels

Reopens March 19

Masks are required; number of visitors is limited, tickets can only be purchased online, and other hygiene measures are in place.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Prague Jewish Museum

Reopens May 11, 2020

Visitors to the museum will once again be able to see the world-famous Old Jewish Cemetery, permanent exhibitions dealing with Jewish history and traditions in the Maisel and Klausen Synagogues and the Ceremonial Hall, as well as the Memorial to the Victims of the Shoah in the Pinkas Synagogue and an art exhibition at the Robert Guttmann Gallery. You can visit all these sites within our “Jewish Museum in Prague” tour enjoying a limited-time offer of discounted individual admission.

 

Holešov — Schach Synagogue

Possible reopening: May 26

According to the city web site tours of the synagogue and its permanent exhibition on Jewish history and heritage may begin as of May 26 if conditions allow.

Turnov — synagogue

Opens June 2, 2020

From Tuesday, June 2, the Turnov Synagogue will be open to the public for the time being with limited opening hours, daily except Mondays from 9:00 to 16:00 (beginning of the last tour). Just call the telephone number 484803041-2, which will also be listed on the entrance gate and the guide will arrive within five minutes. On the weekend of June 6 and 7, it is open from 9:00 to 16:00 without the need to call. Depending on interest and situation, it will be open daily from 13 June to 17:00 to 17:00 from 13 June. Opening hours may vary depending on the situation in the country in connection with COVID-19.

FRANCE

Bouxwiller — Alsace Jewish Museum

Reopened June 16, with a temporary exhibition opened on June 28

Cavaillon — Jewish Museum/Synagogue

Reopened June 1

Limited number of visitors, other hygienic measures

Paris — Museum of the Art and History of Judaism

Reopens June 6

Visitors must wear face masks.

GERMANY

Berlin — Centrum Judaicum New Synagogue

Reopened July 6

Berlin Jewish Museum

After being closed for a full revamp since January 2019, the museum opens its new core exhibition on August 23

Emmendingen Jewish Museum

Reopened May 17

Franconia Jewish Museum

All three venues of the Franconia Jewish Museum are reopening:

Fürth: May 14 | Schnaittach: May 16 | Schwabach: May 17

Masks and social distancing are required, and there are other restrictions; no group visits, no audio guides or interactive exhibits.

Frankfurt – Judengasse Museum (branch of Frankfurt Jewish Museum)

Reopened May 5, 2020

No groups; masks and social distancing are mandatory. (The main branch of the Frankfurt Jewish Museum remains closed for renovation.)

Munich Jewish Museum

Reopens Tuesday, May 12, 2020.

Now we can welcome you back to the museum itself where the new exhibition “From the Isar to Jerusalem. Gabriella Rosenthal (1913–1975)—Drawings” is on show. The artist, who was born in Munich, provides an insight into her life in Jerusalem after she emigrated there in 1935 together with her then husband, the writer and publisher of religious texts, Shalom Ben-Chorin.

Westfalen Jewish Museum, Dorsten

Reopens May 12 2020

Winnweiler: Jewish Museum of Nordpfalz

Reopens June 14

Open on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month; masks and social distancing are mandatory

Worms:

Jewish Museum in the Rashi House

Reopened May 12

Synagogue

Reopening May 18

Masks and social distancing are required at both sites, with number of visitors limited and other hygienic measures in place

Wuppertal Old Synagogue

Reopened May 19

The synagogue, which has a permanent exhibition, has reduced hours and strict hygienic measures are to be followed, including mandatory face masks

HUNGARY

Balatonfured – House of Jewish Excellences

Reopened June 20

Szeged Synagogue

Reopened May 31

Discounts on tickets during the first 2 weeks of June. Face mask or scarf required.

ITALY

Museums in Italy were permitted to reopen on May 18, and the country’s more than a dozen Jewish museums are beginning to resume activities.

Bologna Jewish Museum

Opened June 3

Reduced hours,  changed ticketing procedure, and hygienic measures are in place

Bova Marina — Archeoderi archaeology park, with ruins of ancien synagogue

Reopened July 1

Open Wednesday-Saturday, and for the time being will be free of charge

Casale Monferrato – Synagogue and Jewish Museum complex

Reopens June 2

Strict hygiene and social distancing measures. Guides will accompany visitors to make sure they are respected.

Jewish Museum in Lecce

Reopened on June 5

The Jewish Museum in Rome

Reopened May 18

Hygienic measures are in place

MEIS – Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah

Reopened July 3

The core exhibit “Jews, an Italian story” is now open from Friday to Sunday (10 am-6 pm) and when you buy a ticket you could win a free ticket for an upcoming exhibition.

Padova Jewish Museum

Reopens May 31

Will be open on Sundays, also with guided tours of the Synagogue and Jewish cemetery in via Wiel

 

Synagogue in Sabbioneta

Reopens Myay 30, along with other museums and monuments in the city

Will be open on weekends through June, with other sites — all can be visited on one comprehensive ticket. Hygiene and other measures will be in place

Synagogue in Siena (and permanent exhibit)

Reopens July 5

Venice Jewish Museum

Limited reopening as of May 24 — to date, only on certain Sunday

 

LATVIA

Riga Jewish Museum

Reopened June 1

Number of visitors limited; only individuals and members of a family. Other hygienic measure in place

LITHUANIA

Vilnius — Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History

May — Hygienic measures are in place; number of visitors limited

NETHERLANDS

Amsterdam — Jewish Cultural Quarter

Reopening June 1

Complex of Jewish Historical Museum and several other sites, some in former synagogues.

Synagogue in Winterswijk

Reopens July 7 

Guided tours, by reservation only

POLAND

Tykocin synagogue — Jewish Museum

Reopened May 12

The Jewish Museum in the synagogue in Tykocin is a branch of the Podlasie Regional Museum, all of whose branched reopened

Krakow — Galicia Jewish Museum

Reopened May 16

Leszno — Synagogue museum

Has been reopened

The Jewish museum in the former synagogue is part of the regional museum. Masks are mandatory and other hygienic measures are in place.

Warsaw — POLIN Museum

Reopening Core Exhibition on August 1. (The current temporary exhibit opened June 26.)

Zamosc Synagogue Center

Reopened May 19

PORTUGAL

Tomar — Synagogue and Jewish Interpretive Center

Reopened May 18

Stringent hygienic measures are in place (see list at link)

SERBIA

Nis — National Museum, including Synagogue Gallery and February 12 concentration camp

Reopened May 12

All venues of the National Museum reopened, with physical distancing, masks, and other restrictions. They include the contemporary arts gallery in the form synagogue and the February 12 Nazi concentration camp.

Synagogue in Subotica

The spectacular art nouveau synagogue in Subotica has reopened to visitors as of May 12. Hygienic regulations apply.

SLOVAKIA

Bratislava Jewish Community Museum

Reopened July 17

SLOVENIA

Synagogue in Maribor, Slovenia

Reopened May 5, 2020

The exhibition on Slovenian Victims of Auschwitz is still of view.  Visitors are limited to a maximum 5 people at a time. Masks must be worn, hands must be sanizied at the entrance, and social distancing observed. Planned events have been cancelled until further notice.

SPAIN

Cordoba Synagogue

Reopened June 10

Hygienic measures are in place

Girona — Museum of Jewish History

Reopened June 4

Hygiene measures include face masks, social distancing, use of hand sanitizer. Some groups will be admitted on prior reservation.

Sefardi Museum, Toledo

Reopened June 9

Sanitary measures are in place, and there is free entry in June and July

SWEDEN

Stockholm – Swedish Jewish Museum

Reopens June 16

Also is launching weekly guided walking tours of Jewish Stockholm, every Wednesday at 2 p.m.

UK

Waddesdon Manor

Reopened June 3

Reduced # of visitors allowed, reservations required, hygienic measures in place