Museum of Jewish Art and History
The Museum of Jewish Art and History (Mahj) opened its doors in 1998. Located in one of the most beautiful
mansions in le Marais, this museum retraces the history of Jewish communities through their cultural and
artistic heritage. It showcases the history of the Jewish people in France, as well as communities in Europe
and North Africa, who helped shape the heritage of today’s French Judaism. In addition to archaeological
remnants from the medieval period and one of the world’s greatest collections of Jewish religious artefacts,
the museum boasts a rich ethnographic and historical collection, including archives from the Dreyfus affair.
Chagall, Modigliani, Soutine, Kikoïne and others illustrate the Jewish influence on the 20th century art and the
importance of the School of Paris. The collection seeks to document the unity among Jewish communities over
time, in spite of exile, breaks and the diversity of national groups, and it establishes a connection between
tradition and history. The permanent collections explore forms of Jewish art and serve as exceptional resources
for our understanding of Jewish civilisation.
