On Sunday 17 December 2006, the permanent JHM Children's Museum
will open in the presence of Job Cohen, the mayor of Amsterdam. The
JHM Children's Museum is now an integral part of the Jewish
Historical Museum. Everyone is welcome during a festive open house
from 11.00 to 19.00.
In the JHM Children's Museum, children and adults alike have a
chance to call on the Jewish Hollander family at home. Father,
mother and each of their three children experience being Jewish in
their own way. Meet the family members in films made especially for
the museum by Dutch filmmaker Frans Weisz. In
different rooms of the house, various aspects of Jewish culture are
explored. This provides children with a taste of the versatility of
Jewish life and a chance to see that there are not only differences
but similarities with their own lives and family traditions.
The design of the JHM Children's Museum is playful and interactive.
A 'tasty tough guy' named Max the Matzo, conceived by artist
Ram Katzir, makes visitors feel right at home. He
guides guests through all the rooms, where activities based on
Jewish tradition enable children to learn through firsthand
experience. They can bake hallahs (braided bread), write their
names in Hebrew and play musical instruments. Also everyone is
encouraged to think about and discuss the important theme: Love
your neighbour as yourself. Applying this precept in daily life is
easier said than done. As a wise man named Hillel taught long ago,
begin with basics: What is hateful to you, do not unto your
neighbour.
Though the JHM Children's Museum is especially geared towards 8-12
year olds, all ages are welcome. Visiting teachers are given a
helping hand to better acquaint students with Jewish culture and
history in a clever manner. The content of the JHM Children's
Museum appears both in Dutch and English. Key texts have also been
translated into Hebrew. A text by the Dutch poet and playwright
Judith Herzberg inspired composer Jeff
Hamburg to write a special musical composition. The
Hollanders and their close family friend Frank
Groothof perform this piece in the music room.
The JHM Children's Museum is the successor to the temporary
exhibition Where Mokum Is Home, which fifty thousand
children visited between 2000 and 2005. Thanks to the experience
acquired during this pilot project, the awarding of the Prince
Bernhard Culture Museum Prize in 2002 and the support of many
others, this permanent JHM Children's Museum has now been realized.
Please note: In connection with visiting school groups, the JHM
Children's Museum has special opening hours for individual
visitors. Please call or check our website: www.jhm.nl (also for
info about birthday parties, etc).
For visual materials and/or more information contact the
Communications Department
T 020-5310372
E Communicatie