Cultural Program in May 2014

Special Exhibition and Accompanying Program

4 April to 3 August

The Creation of the World. Illustrated Manuscripts from the Braginsky Collection

The largest private collection of Hebrew manuscripts worldwide includes rare Jewish documents dating back as far as the 13th century. The lender and entrepren€ René Braginsky has been collecting rare historic jewels of manuscript art from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East for more than 30 years.

The exhibition provides the opportunity to discover a true treasure of Jewish tradition. More than 120 objects give an insight into the richness and variety of Jewish book history and demonstrate the importance of text and scripture in Judaism.

After exhibits in Amsterdam, New York, Jerusalem and Zurich, the collection can now be viewed in Germany for the first time, including its most recently acquired items. The exhibition at the Jewish Museum Berlin provides the last opportunity to see the treasures from the Braginsky collections before the exhibits are returned to the private library of the collector.

Location: Old Building, first level

Admission: with the museum ticket

During the full exhibition running time, a Torah scribe will be working in the exhibition at these times:

Mon and Tues: 4 to 6 pm

Wed, Thurs, Sun: 2 to 4 pm

Tour through the Exhibition

Time: Sundays, 2 pm

Duration: 1 hour

Admission: 3 € (plus museum ticket)

In the exhibition, calligraphers will be demonstrating their skills in Arabic, Chinese, and Latin script. The dates can be found on the website.

16 May

Dealing with Images and Prohibition of Images in Judaism and Islam

Symposium as Part of the Jewish-Islamic Forum

More information: Academy Programs

11 May

Art Breakfast on Mothers’ Day! The Arts of Writing and Illustrating

Family tour and workshops with Cornelia Brauer and Michal Zamir

Time: 10.30 am to 2 pm

Meeting point: at the entrance to the exhibition, ground level of Old Building

Costs: Adults 25 €, children under 18 free of charge incl. admission and tour through the exhibition, breakfast buffet, workshop, and materials)

Booking is necessary: g.struve@jmberlin.de or tel. +49 (0)30 259 93 517

25 May

Art Breakfast

Beautiful Pages: Making Paper

Led by Cornelia Brauer, artist and designer

Sunday morning art breakfast is all about scripts, manuscripts and creativity. Participants will gain insight into the crafts of making paper, calligraphy, illustrating, and bookbinding. Following a tour through the special exhibition "The Creation of the World" and breakfast together, participants have the chance to be guided through the process of creating their own written documents, images, or hand-bound books.

Time: 10.30 am – 2 pm

Meeting point: at the entrance to the exhibition, Old Building, ground level

Costs: 25 € (incl. admission and tour through the exhibition, breakfast buffet, workshop, and materials)

Booking is necessary: g.struve@jmberlin.de or tel. +49 (0)30 259 93 517

intonations

7 to 11 May

intonations

The love of chamber music will be at the heart of the festival "intonations" again this year. The artistic director Elena Bashkirova gathers musicians from around the globe – promising young talents, members of top orchestras, and internationally renowned soloists. Two anniversaries this year provide thematic impetus – the outbreak of WWI and its impact on the music of the time and the anniversary of Richard Strauss’s 150th birthday.

With the kind support of Evonik Industries.

Location: Glass Courtyard, ground level

Concert tickets: 24 € / 20 € plus advance booking fee, reduced rate 16 € (reduced rate only available on the evening)

Academy Program

13 May

Theodor Michael: Deutsch sein und schwarz dazu. Erinnerungen eines Afro-Deutschen

(Being German and Black as well. Memories of an Afro-German)

Reading and Discussion in the Series "New German Stories"

Born in 1925 in Berlin, Theodor Michael was the son of a German and a Cameroonian. After the early death of his parents, the boy had to struggle through as an extra in so-called "Völkerschauen" and UFA colonial films until his imprisonment in a forced labor camp in 1943.

He survived and after the liberation, he was first suspected of collaborating with the Nazis. At that time he could not imagine that he might retire as a "Regierungsdirektor" of the Federal Intelligence Service. Theodor Michael’s biography tells German history of the 20th century from a little-known angle.

Location: Academy Hall

Time: 7.30 pm

Admission: 5 €, reduced rate 3 euros

Visitor Bookings on tel. +49 (0)30 25993 488 or reservierung@jmberlin.de

16 May

Dealing with Images and Prohibition of Images in Judaism and Islam

Symposium as Part of the Jewish-Islamic Forum

Are images prohibited in Judaism and Islam? The symposium explores the question of how images have been handled in different eras, regions, and religious currents in Judaism and Islam, how image bans have been theologically justified and what alternative art forms, such as calligraphy, have formed as a result. Speakers include Emile Schrijver (curator of the exhibition "The Creation of the World"), Silvia Naef (Professor for Arab Cultural History, University of Geneva), Felicitas Heimann-Jelinek (Judaist and curator, Vienna), Doris Behrens-Abouseif (Professor for Islamic Art, University of London) and Frederek Musall (Professor for Jewish Philosophy, College of Jewish Studies, Heidelberg).

Location: Academy Hall

Time: 10 am to 5 pm

Admission: free

Registration on tel. +49 (0)30 25993 488 or reservierung@jmberlin.de

Long Night of Museums

17 May

From the Bible to the Bagel

What do specialties made with honey have to do with the Hebrew alphabet? Why is the Shabbat seen in with plaited loaves and sent off with aromatic spices? Which role does the pomegranate play in the Jewish New Year? This tour will reveal the culinary side of Jewish traditions.

Location: Old Building, ground level

Times: 6.30 pm*, 7.30 pm, 8.30 pm, 9.30 pm (*also suitable for children)

Admission: with the Long Museum Night ticket

Duration: 30 minutes