EXHIBITION: SYDNEY JEWISH MUSEUM
As my companion and I walked into the Sydney Jewish Museum we were met by two friendly security guards. After a brief search of my bag (they luckily didn’t have an issue with silver coins, lip balms or tissue fragments) and a quick run-through of the, “No cameras, no phones,” rule, we were waved through with a smile. Walking up the stairs, my friend light-heartedly remarked, “Security’s a bit strict …” It is only in retrospect I realise how ironic this comment was, considering the experience we were about to have. The Sydney Jewish Museum in Darlinghurst is not the biggest museum in the area but it is by far one of the most moving, thought-provoking and important ones. The ground floor houses the first of the museum’s permanent exhibits, Culture and Continuity: Journey Through Judaism, an interesting exploration of Jewish history and tradition, and the Jewish community within Australia. But the main focus of the museum is on, “Documenting and teaching the history of the Holocaust so that these events will never be repeated,” and it is on the second level where our journey through one of man’s darkest periods begins. Broken into six equally fascinating sections – Hitler’s Rise To Power, The Ghettos, Transportation To The Camps, The Camps, Liberation And After, and Reflection and Remembrance – the Holocaust exhibit offers visitors more than just a history lesson. It is a sobering reminder of the evil humankind is capable of, and the profound courage and determination so many victims showed throughout this horrific time. With clear information alongside extraordinary photographs, interactive media, unique documents, audiovisual displays, artefacts and relics, this is a museum one could easily spend a whole day exploring. Dotted throughout are stunning sculptures and artworks, as well as some powerful memorials, which add to the richness of the museum. Visitors can also read and hear personal accounts from those who were there. The film Stories of Survival plays on a loop inside the museum’s theatrette, a four-hour doco comprising the testimonies of 35 Holocaust survivors. Their stories are mesmerising, their emotions are real and it is compelling viewing. Run by volunteers, who are all too happy to answer questions and offer assistance, the Sydney Jewish Museum is an incredible and eye-opening experience. I plan on returning to take a tour led by a Holocaust survivor. I recommend you check it out.
Sydney Jewish Museum, 148 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst, $6-10, free on first Sunday of every month, sydneyjewishmuseum.com.au
