South African Jewish Museum

<< back to Cape Town Travel Guide

The South African Jewish Museum is located in what is known as the “museum mile” in Cape Town – in the heart of city bowl, and adjacent to the beautiful Company Gardens. The museum exists alongside the Old Synagogue – the first synagogue ever built on South African soil – and the Albow Centre, which houses the Cape Town Holocaust Centre.

The South African Jewish Museum is one of the most-visited museums in South Africa, and pays homage not only to Jews who died under prejudiced regimes and during the Holocaust, but also to black South Africans who were oppressed during the apartheid era. The museum showcases important historical artefacts and information, which together comprise a repository of stories pertaining to the Jewish community of South Africa. It recognises their contribution to the city and the country, and the role they played in South Africa’s history.

Displays and exhibitions at the Jewish Museum
One of the museum’s major attractions is in fact the structure itself. A feat of architectural design, the museum incorporates the Old Synagogue into the modern complex, which has been intricately built out of glass, wood and steel. As for the displays, some of the most significant include a built-to-scale reconstruction of the village in Lithuania – the Shtetl – from where the majority of Jews in South Africa hail, as well as documentaries about the history of Jews in South Africa.

There is also a fascinating documentary, screened daily, about Nelson Mandela, and the museum also features many artworks and cultural displays. Walk across the courtyard to visit the Holocaust Museum, which is a powerful, moving and at times horrifying account of the persecution of the Jews. It also provides insight into the atrocities of apartheid, shedding light on South Africa’s dark and prejudiced past.

It’s well worth including the South African Jewish Museum – one of the world’s most technologically-advanced museums – on your Cape Town holiday itinerary. And if you’ve yet to book your luxury Cape Town accommodation, be sure to explore the luxurious suites on offer at the new Taj Cape Town hotel, located in the centre of the city’s museum mile.