Jewish Children's Museum

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The Jewish Children's Museum is the largest Jewish themed children's museum in the United States. It aims for children of all faiths and backgrounds to gain a positive perspective and awareness of Jewish heritage, fostering tolerance and understanding. Permanent collections display exhibits designed to educate and entertain children, often using interactive multimedia. On the mini golf course on the roof, for example, every hole represents a stage in Jewish life.

The museum is located in Chabad-Lubavitch Chasidic community of Crown Heights at 792 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York, near 770 Eastern Parkway, Lubavitch movement headquarters. Built by architect Steve H. Wilkowski of Milagros PM, the museum opened in 2004. In 2005, the Museum was among 406 institutions of art and social services of New York City to receive part of a $ 20 million grant from Carnegie Corporation, made possible through a donation by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Video Jewish Children's Museum

Histori

In response to the infamous Crown Heights Riot in 1991 and the assassination of 16-year-old yeshiva student Ari Halberstam at the Brooklyn Bridge in 1994, the Museum was built to create teaching tools for local children to better understand their neighbors.

Planning for exhibition content was conducted with input from various religious and secular educators, with the final word made by the Orthodox Jewish Directorate of Museum.

Community activist Devorah Halberstam, mother of Ari, plays a leading role in the Museum's creations. The museum is officially dedicated to Ari's memory.

The front of the museum features a collage of children's drawings. When viewed from a distance they form a picture of a giant child.

Maps Jewish Children's Museum

Details

The Jewish Children's Museum was designed by Gwathmey, Siegel and Associates Architects.
Construction costs are $ 35 million so far, with an additional $ 5 million projected after the completion of the fourth floor exhibit (expected summer 2011).
The Museum won the Brooklyn Building Award in 2006 because of its design and social impact on the larger Brooklyn community.
More than 250,000 visitors come to JCM in the first year of operation
In addition to computerized and interactive exhibits, the JCM building includes Kosher restaurants, souvenir shops, social halls, 100-seater theater, games studios, arts and crafts centers, and computer rooms.