The Jewish Museum of Australia was established in 1977 by a group of volunteers guided by Rabbi Ronald Lubofski. As the museum initially did not have its own premises, exhibitions were held in the Myer Gallery and the tramways Board building while a search for a location for the Museum took place. At this time the committee also began to procure items for the Museum's collection. In 1982 the museum opened a temporary site in the abandoned classrooms of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation in South Yarra with the patronage of Sir Zelman Cowen. The Museum remained at this location for another 13 years. During this time it held more than forty exhibitions covering a wide range of topics, some of which travelled nationally. The Museum received growing communal support and earned several distinguished industry awards. In 1992 the Museum purchased a building on Alma Road, St Kilda, near the St Kilda Hebrew Congregation synagogue. The Museum's official opening took place on 20 August 1995, and was opened by the then Governor-General, Bill Hayden. It was named the Gandel Centre of Judaica, in honour of John and Pauline Gandel, the Museum's lead benefactors.
Collection
The museum holds more than 20,000 objects, including approximately 9,000 objects from the original Rabbi Lubofski's collection. The collection comprises objects of ritual, religious, historical, cultural, social and artistic significance which encompass Jewish life and history. The museum has exhibits on permanent display as well as temporary exhibitions. It has a number of galleries, including the Zelman Cowen Gallery of Australian Jewish History, the Gross Gallery and the Loti Smorgon Gallery.
Archives and Sub-collections
The Museum has a number of Archives and sub-collections, including,
Photographs and records, dating from the 19th century, documenting Jewish lives in regional Victoria
Permanent Exhibitions
The core of the Jewish Museum of Australia's collection is displayed across four permanent exhibitions.
Calling Australia Home – Zelman Cowen Gallery of Australian Jewish History
Located in the Zelman Cowen Gallery, this permanent exhibition features stories which tell of generations of Australian Jews. The stories give insight into the reasons for migration of Jews to Australia, the lives in which they built there and what it now means for them to be Jewish in today's Australia.
A timeline which explores 4,000 years of key events in Jewish history. The exhibit comprises images, text, film, artefacts and artwork by Heather Ellyard.
The Jewish Year
An exhibition which celebrates the annual cycle of festivals and holy days that make up the rhythm and form of Jewish life. As the year unfolds in the exhibition space, a mix of objects, text and images give further insight, whilst connecting the Jewish calendar to the solar and lunar years. The collection also demonstrates the link between the Jewish festivals and the agricultural cycles of the Land of Israel.
Belief and Ritual
An exhibition examining the foundations of Judaism and the traditions and beliefs which have endured 4,000 years of history, and continue to bind Jews together.
