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A laughing woman standing in a room of the exhibition “Welcome to Jerusalem”.

On Site

The hosts at the museum show their favourite spots

They are easily recognized by their red and white patterned scarf: the employees of the Securitas company, who perform their duties at the Jewish Museum Berlin as “supervisors” in a completely different way than through strict looks and admonitions.They are called hosts, here. We met them in their favorite spots in the museum. A portrait.

The photo series was taken on the occasion of our work on the new JMB Journal with the topic Revolutions. We asked everyone involved in the creation of the journal the same question: “What revolution would you welcome?”

  • Gunter Z.: “My favorite place in the old permanent exhibition was the pomegranate tree.”
    Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

  • Gustavo D.: “Speaking with visitors makes the work here unique.”
    Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

  • Stanislava H.: “My favorite place is the Libeskind-building itself; its distinctive shape reminds me of my own zigzag way of life.”
    Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

  • Tabea A.: “Revolution? Make it big!”
    Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

  • Christopher L.: “Many people think working here must be boring and tedious—every day the same museum and similar visitors.”
    Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

  • Claudia M.: “As a single mother, I am very grateful for flexible working hours.”
    Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

  • Anna S.: “There’s something especially emotive about the Memory Void with Menashe Kadishman’s installation Shalekhet.”
    Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

  • Federica L.: “I like two things most: to help people in difficulties and to teach history.”
    Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

  • Roland S.: “I’ve been working here for 17 years—and I love it!”
    Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

  • Stefan M.: “It’s in the axes of the Libeskind-building where I find my job most fascinating.”
    Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

  • Tal G.: “I see the installation by James Turrell as a bridge between the past and the future; it has to do with light and calm.”
    Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

A middle-aged man sits on stairs in the Jewish Museum Berlin

Gunter Z.

“My favorite place in the old permanent exhibition was the pomegranate tree. I very much hope that there will be such a wonderful entrance in the new exhibition as well! I am an enthusiastic cyclist, I not only want a bicycle-friendly city, but also bicycle routes between all Berlin museums. That would really be a revolution!”

Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

A younger man is sitting on an empty coat rack in de Jewish Museum Berlin

Gustavo D.

“Speaking with visitors makes the work here unique. Once, for example, some visitors were outraged that others were taking selfies in the Shalekhet installation—for me, that brought together everything this artwork stands for: it sets our minds in motion. It can also happen that a visitor bursts into tears and simply needs someone to talk to. Because I’ve recently had a child, a social revolution is more and more important to me. Without a social revolution we can’t stop climate change. I am Brazilian, and in my country, this is very clear.”

Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

A woman stands in front of a showcase in the axles of the Libeskind building

Stanislava H.

“My favorite place is the Libeskind-building itself; its distinctive shape reminds me of my own zigzag way of life. I truly appreciate that here, diversity is not just a slogan, but is lived among hosts and visitors alike. At the moment I sense a lot of upheaval. We are already living in a revolution—the digital revolution. I would prefer sustainable development to revolution, visions to ideologies, reforms to upheavals, and a new awareness for people.”

Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

A young woman stands at the Infopoint of the Jewish Museum Berlin

Tabea A.

“Revolution? Make it big! It would be a great revolution if everyone could look into the mirror, smile and say, ‘Yes, that’s me. I was respectful of others, polite and courteous, and didn’t act superior to anyone else.’ That would change a lot.”

Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

A young man sitting in a room of the exhibition Welcome to Jerusalem at the Jewish Museum Berlin

Christopher L.

“Many people think working here must be boring and tedious—every day the same museum and similar visitors. But I find each day can be different, every place within the museum is different! As regards a revolution for the world, well, there is so much that should be changed. For me personally it would be a revolution if I could feel independent, free of all these fixed conditions.”

Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

A woman stands in the Garden of Exile of the Jewish Museum Berlin

Claudia M.

“As a single mother, I am very grateful for flexible working hours. As a revolution, I would like to see greater financial benefits from the state for all single parents.”

Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

A young woman sitting in the Memory Void of the Jewish Museum Berlin

Anna S.

“There’s something especially emotive about the Memory Void with Menashe Kadishman’s installation Shalekhet. I like that. Revolution has something radical about it; I want harmony, tolerance and openness. People often talk more than they do. One should do more than talk!”

Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

A laughing woman standing in a room of the exhibition “Welcome to Jerusalem”

Federica L.

“I like two things most: to help people in difficulties and to teach history. I am involved in the Kreuzberg Initiative against Anti-Semitism and in political education for schools. As a revolution, above all, I’d want accessibility! Everywhere!”

Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

A man in the anteroom of the installation “Ganzfeld Aural” by James Turrell

Roland S.

“I’ve been working here for 17 years—and I love it! Where else in Berlin can you meet Queen Beatrix in an elevator, listen to a private concert by Barbara Streisand, and at the same time participate in scientific congresses, art, culture and politics! A lot of new things are happening at the museum right now, and it's incredible to have the chance to accompany such a great project over such a long period of time. As far as revolutions are concerned, I am in favor of an unconditional basic income, because if the gap between rich and poor widens, there will be no peaceful revolution. Personally, I would also simply like to be able to walk through all parts of Berlin wearing a Star of David, without having to fear vulgarism and discrimination.”

Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

A man is standing on the stairs leading to the axes in the Libeskind Building

Stefan M.

“It’s in the axes of the Libeskind-building where I find my job most fascinating. There you can approach the guests and help them to get an overview. As a revolution I would like to see a love revolution. Love and Peace, that’s what our time needs.”

Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme

A young man sits on the stairs leading to the installation “Ganzfeld Aural” by James Turrell.

Tal G.

“I see the installation by James Turrell as a bridge between the past and the future; it has to do with light and calm. When I stand there, I very often think about my personal history: my family had to flee Berlin over 80 years ago. Now I’m here again. I don’t want any more revolutions, that’s only a single moment in time anyway. More important is what comes after that. I hope for positive, productive stability.”

Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Stephan Pramme
  • JMB Journal 19: Revolutions

    JMB Journal 19: Revolutions

    Some of these portraits have been published in our JMB Journal

    Publication
    2018

  • Man in suit holding a brightly lit flashlight.

    Night Shift

    Insights into the museum at night

    Video Project
    2018

  • Online Showcase

    Digital presentation of our archive collections on different topics, video projects, and more

    At a Glance…

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