The Jewish Museum of Greece in Athens was first established in 1977 and was housed in a small space next to the city’s synagogue. However, the collection started to grow over the years and needed a much larger space in order to be properly exhibited. Now, the museum has acquired a renovated neoclassical building in the heart of Athens, near Syntagma Square. Over the last 38 years, the museum has come a long way. The curators have collected significant cultural items from various communities across the country, creating an important and innovative center for the exploration of the Greek-Jewish identity. According to the museum’s official website, “the new building is of great architectural interest. Only the exterior walls of the existing 19th century building were maintained; the interior was completely rebuilt in order to meet the demands of a modern Museum.” The 800-square-meter space houses more than 8,000 items, including religious and domestic artifacts that record the history and tradition of the Greek Jews. Furthermore, the building will also house temporary exhibitions, a contemporary art gallery, a photographic archive, a conservation laboratory and an educational programs area. As it is mentioned on the official website, the museum aims: to collect and exhibit all elements of the history, tradition and culture of the Greek-Jewish community; to research, study and record the tangible and intangible heritage of the Greek Jews and communicate such for the purposes of education and enjoyment; to introduce visitors of all ages and nationalities to the diversity of the Greek Jewish heritage, in the context of Greek history; to foster cross-cultural understanding among people and promote public dialogue about tolerance and respect for people of all religions, races, cultures and ethnic backgrounds, using lessons from the Holocaust.
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