Visiting the Magnes Collection of Jewish Arts & Life
If you are looking for a way to celebrate Jewish American Heritage, want to immerse yourself in a beautiful cultural experience, or are just an arts and history enthusiast, you can spend an afternoon at the Magnes Collection of Jewish Arts and Life in downtown Berkeley. Located close to the west side of campus, the museum is conveniently located for students, easy to find, and is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays for most of the late morning and afternoon. Admission is always free! A quiet, peaceful place with friendly staff, the museum routinely presents new exhibits. Discover the current exhibitions.
Time Capsules Exhibit
Passover plate sets from all over Europe.
The Time Capsules exhibit explores Jewish life from a global perspective, showcasing art, artifacts, documents, and objects from the worldwide Jewish Diaspora. Among favorites viewed by Rachel Holmes, Class of 2026, were “Passover plate sets from all over Europe, a beautiful Torah Ark from South India, and the Torah Finials, which included a QR code where you could listen to the music made by these synagogue sound objects.”
In Plain Sight Exhibit: Jewish Arts & Lives in the Muslim World
A glance at the gallery of artifacts on display when you first enter into this exhibition.
“Light and Shadow” is a small piece of a larger exhibit of In Plain Sight. Several other sub-exhibitions live in this room, including “Global Networks” which examine the increase in American and European travelers to the Near East in the late 19th century and beyond. In particular, there’s a focus on inlaid metalware and revived craftsmanship techniques based on old styles and traditional uses.
Archive of Archives Exhibit
The entrance to the exhibit with the title “An Archive of Archives” elegantly painted on the wall.
An Archive of Archives was the final exhibit on display. It celebrates the work of renowned Jewish photographer, Roman Vishniac. The wall was filled with photographs documenting Eastern-European life in the years directly after the Holocaust. The collection was donated to the museum in 2018, so we are incredibly lucky to be able to view this collection of powerful photographs.
Roman Vishniac’s photo series
If you have a class in Li Ka Shing, the museum is a great nearby spot to visit and take a quick break. You can stop by the museum for less than an hour and still get the full experience. The museum gives insight into the diverse backgrounds of our student body here at UC Berkeley. Attending the museum and showing your support and appreciation helps the collection remain open for years to come.
Milana Berhe, Class of 2028, is majoring in astrophysics and political science and minoring in creative writing. This article is updated with current exhibits and details, based on the original story written in 2023 by Rachel Holmes, Class of 2026, majoring in Media Studies.
Want More?
- Learn about all that the BAMPFA has to offer.
- See a show through Cal Performances.