The link between Jews and Switzerland isn’t very obvious.
When you think of the idea of Jews being persecuted, Switzerland doesn’t immediately come to mind. I mean, Switzerland is supposed to be neutral, right? All of that horrible stuff only happened in Germany, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, nicht war?
Unfortunately not.
For centuries, the persecution of the Jews was as historically important in Switzerland as it was anywhere else in Europe. And yet — while there are as many Jewish museums as 13 in Germany, 7 in Italy, 4 in Poland, 4 in the U.K., 3 in Austria, 3 in Spain, 1 in Hungary, and 26 in the United States — today there is all but one in Switzerland.
The Jewish Museum of Switzerland is more than 50 years old. Who knew?
Officially opened in 1966, the Jewish Museum in Basel was the first of its kind in German-speaking countries after the second World War. Tucked away just off of the historic center of Basel, the museum has a small but impressive collection of objects dating back as far as the 17th century.
Organized chronologically, the highly curated collection tells an awesome story of hardship and survival spanning three centuries. Historically unique are the monumental medieval tombstones and the Basel Hebrew prints, as well as original letters from Theodor Herzl, the first visionary of the “Jewish state” which he sadly did not live to see. One stand-out document was a tax notice stating that the cost of a Jew to enter a city was more than that of a horse.
While the museum has been quietly accepting curious patrons at its current location for more than four decades, today the museum is under the artistic vision of its new director, Naomi Lubrich, formerly of the Berlin Jewish Museum. Since 2015, Lubrich has breathed new life into their permanent collection, editing and re-purposing an impressive collection of objects while attracting new visitors and much over-due attention.
Did you know that Anne Frank’s family lived in Basel?
With an eye to the future, Lubrich has recently expanded the JMS to a new, modern space located directly opposite the bustling square of the University of Basel.
Newly renovated with neon signs and fresh graphics, the second location opened with an emotional exhibit titled “The Diary: How Otto Frank brought Anne‘s Voice from Basel to the World.” Originally from Germany, the Frank family separated in 1940 with half of the family fleeing to Amsterdam, Holland, and the other half to Basel, Switzerland.
The exhibit chronicles Otto, his family, and the aftermath of Anne’s death in a way that is both understated and overwhelming.
The simplicity of folded tables displaying newspaper clippings and various family memorabilia that carefully pull you through an open space filled with gut-wrenching memories and horrific facts about our lack of humanity is something that is hard to forget. So unforgettable, in fact, that now the Frank exhibit is traveling to select museums throughout Europe.
Jüdisches Museum / Main
Kornhausgasse 8
CH-4051 Basel
Jüdisches Museum / Galerie
Petersgraben 31
CH-4051 Basel
juedisches-museum.ch | +41 (0) 61 261 9514
