Oh, How They Try...

The Museum of Jewish Heritage

           I’m going to be honest here. It’s a passing grade only for effort and for the Project Mah Jongg exhibit if you’re visiting New York’s Museum of Jewish Heritage, which incongruously promotes itself as a ‘living memorial to the Holocaust.’ The JHM falls just short in capturing the lives, the fear, the hope of the Jews pre-, post-, and during World War II, and replaces all emotion with pure, unfettered fact. 

           They do all they can with walls  strewn with information and television screens chock-full of interviews of survivors, and children of survivors, and so on and so forth.  They are more technologically advanced than many major museums I’ve ever visited – but precious little of that tech goes into making the exhibits more relatable or fun for kids my age.  

           The high point of my visit was the Project Mah Jongg exhibition, a beautifully designed and researched yellow enclave on the third floor.  This exhibit which runs through January 2, 2011,  researches the relationship between the game and Jewish women of America, and is replete with beautiful pictures and sets.  While we were there, LX First Look was filming a segment about the exhibit.  I also checked out the controversial Egon Schiele painting, Portrait of Wally, which was on display there until August 18.

           I guess you could say I have mixed feelings about it, but if the artifacts, photographs, and personal belongings found and having to do with the Holocaust appeal to you intellectually, then by all means, go.