Your Jewish Museum in the Bay Area

As a live band plays, a full Jewish Middle Eastern bridal party dances and sings. Seventh graders from Sacramento peer into a case of ancient Judean coins. UC Berkeley undergraduates discover messages of belonging and community as they research a trove of century-old Jewish postcards. 

For some, stepping into activities like these at the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life evokes warm reminders of their own family history and traditions. For others, it’s an opportunity to better understand and connect with the vast and complex Jewish Diaspora.

“The Magnes stands out as a unique hub, dedicated to showcasing and celebrating Jewish culture, history, and art,” shared Magnes community member and UC Berkeley student, Jordan Ullman. “Its mission of uniting the community resonates deeply with me, and I feel privileged to be able to contribute to it.”

In the heart of Berkeley, the Magnes is home to exhibitions and programs that connect people to the diversity of Jewish life around the world. The museum stewards an unparalleled collection of objects, art, texts, music, and more that supports research, teaching and learning, community engagement, and creative expression.

“The vastness of the collection is incredible in its ability to present a rich image of Jewish history, much of it pieced together from separate family collections,” shared teen volunteer Alex. “I discovered that my late grandmother worked as a board member at the Magnes, emphasizing to me the museum’s impact on the surrounding community across decades.”

“The vastness of the collection is incredible in its ability to present a rich image of Jewish history, much of it pieced together from separate family collections.” — Alex, Magnes Teen Volunteer

Seymour Fromer and Rebecca Camhi Fromer founded the Judah L. Magnes Museum in Berkeley in 1962, making it one of the first Jewish museums in the United States. “The Fromers’ vision of preserving the culture of Jewish communities across the globe lies at the heart of the Magnes’s current mission to generate new knowledge and understanding of Jewish cultures,” said Magnes Executive Director Hannah Weisman. 

In 2010, the museum became part of the University of California, Berkeley and moved to its current location at 2121 Allston Way, just steps from the Downtown Berkeley BART station. Since then, the Magnes has expanded the collection from 10,000 objects, artworks, and documents to 60,000 with the acquisitions of the Peachy and Mark Levy Family Judaica Collection, the Taube Family Arthur Szyk Collection, and the Roman Vishniac Archive, establishing itself as one of the world’s preeminent collections within a university setting.

Current exhibitions include In Plain Sight: Jewish Arts and Lives in the Muslim World, showcasing artworks and objects from the collection that highlight creative engagement among Muslim and Jewish artists, and Time Capsules: Exploring the Permanent Collection, offering visitors a glimpse of the arching spans of time, place, and topics the collections represent. 

“Recent exhibitions share the richness of the [Magnes’s] collections with creative connections to contemporary issues on our campus and our nation,” shared long-time community member, Avi Rosenzweig. “Programming touches both my head and my heart, reminding me of the ties between our community now and the heritage the museum helps illustrate.”

“The Magnes stands out as a unique hub, dedicated to showcasing and celebrating Jewish culture, history, and art. Its mission of uniting the community resonates deeply with me, and I feel privileged to be able to contribute to it.” — Jordan Ullman, Magnes community member and UC Berkeley student

On Sunday, May 4, 2025, the museum will host its first Jewish Arts & Bookfest, celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month. In the Magnes tradition of incubating Jewish cultural events such as the SF Jewish Film Festival and the Jewish Music Festival, the Arts & Bookfest will bring together authors such as Daniel Handler (A.K.A. Lemony Snicket) and Josh Tuininga, a reading by the Yiddish Theatre Ensemble, and presentations on topics including Jewish mothers, Russian Jewish Literature, and a special session with Jeff and Jodie Morgan of Covenant Wines discussing their cookbook “Food and Wine: A Jewish Journey.” Tickets for this full day of programs and activities for all ages can be purchased online. 

Admission to the museum and its exhibitions is free and open to the public on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and late on Thursdays from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. 

The Magnes is proud to be your Jewish museum in the Bay Area. Whether you are a frequent audience member at our programs or haven’t visited the museum since its Russell Street days, we look forward to welcoming you through our doors soon.