History New Jewish Museum of Switzerland makes a quantum leap
A Torah scroll and other objects in the new Jewish Museum of Switzerland in Basel, which will open its doors on Sunday, November 30.
Image: Keystone
The artworks Gabin (1972), Bogoria (1974/1996) and Jeziory (1973) by the US-American artist Frank Stella in the special exhibition at the Jewish Museum of Switzerland in Basel.
Image: Keystone
A Torah cabinet from the former Solothurn prayer room in the Jewish Museum of Switzerland in Basel.
Image: Keystone
A Torah scroll and other objects in the new Jewish Museum of Switzerland in Basel, which will open its doors on Sunday, November 30.
Image: Keystone
The artworks Gabin (1972), Bogoria (1974/1996) and Jeziory (1973) by the US-American artist Frank Stella in the special exhibition at the Jewish Museum of Switzerland in Basel.
Image: Keystone
A Torah cabinet from the former Solothurn prayer room in the Jewish Museum of Switzerland in Basel.
Image: Keystone
With the new building in Basel, the Jewish Museum of Switzerland has made a quantum leap. Once confined to two small rooms, the museum has been able to expand its exhibition space to 550 square meters at its new location.
26.11.2025, 15:52
SDA
Founded in 1966, the first Jewish museum in the German-speaking world has three floors, each with a hall for special exhibitions, for the presentation of the Jewish cult and for Jewish culture, which has always continued to exist despite many progroms and ongoing anti-Semitism.
A total of around 500 objects are on display to showcase the diversity of Judaism and the eventful Jewish history in Switzerland, as museum director Naomi Lubrich said at a media tour on Wednesday. It is intended to be a cultural attraction and a lively place of learning for everyone, added Nadia Guth, President of the Museum Association.
Together with a team of scientists, the director has managed to create a permanent exhibition that is as sensual as it is educational. It ranges from a Roman menorah ring from the 4th century, the furniture of the former Solothurn house of prayer and documentation of the Basel Zionist Congress to evidence of current resistance to anti-Semitism and kippas with the logos of Basel and Zurich football clubs.
Special exhibition with works by Frank Stella
On the first floor until January 2027 is an exhibition of paintings and objects from the "Polish Village" series by the famous US artist Frank Stella (1936-2024). These include the work "Jeziory", which is displayed in enlarged scale on the façade of the museum.
The new Jewish Museum is located in the premises of a former tobacco warehouse in the center of the city. The wooden building was converted into a museum building by architect Roger Diener. The total cost of the project is eight million Swiss francs, two million of which went on the new exhibition.
The new museum will open its doors on Sunday, November 30.
