A new venue and a host of events, both past and future. This is the promise and reality of Jewish cultural life in Basel! Here’s our interview with Barbara Haene, research assistant and events manager at the Jewish Museum of Switzerland…
Jguideeurope: Which events will be organized for the EDJC?
Barbara Haene: The Jewish Museum of Switzerland coordinates the programs of Swiss institutions in 9 Swiss cities and locations (Baden, Basel, Bern, Delémont, Endingen-Lengnau, Geneva, Lausanne, La Chaux-de-Fonds and Zurich). Numerous city, museum, and synagogue tours will take place, as well as Klezmer concerts such as «A Goldene Neshome» by bendorim in Baden. The museum itself will also be holding an attractive program with various events: Taltal Levi will present her illustrations of Switzerland’s most famous children book «Heidi» and speak about love and the mountain motif. Couple therapists Tobias and Laura Goldfarb will present the «13 wolves» that threaten a relationship. Furthermore, there will be a cake tasting and a recipe exchange under the theme «The way to a person’s heart is through their stomach.» («Liebe geht durch den Magen»).
How did you celebrate the opening of the new building?
We already unveiled the reproduced artwork by Frank Stella on our new façade during EDJC 2025, which was our first celebration in the new building. The event was attended by Frank Stella’s daughter, Rachel Stella, and the architect Roger Diener, with Klezmer music and a workshop for visitors.
We then celebrated the official reopening of the museum with five different opening events and more than 1,000 visitors in November 2025. The celebrations featured important speakers, including Federal Councilor Beat Jans, Member of the Council of States Eva Herzog, Mayor of Basel Conradin Cramer, and representatives of Jewish communities in Switzerland and Basel.
The opening program offered a wide range of cultural events, including concerts by Bait Jaffe, Lea Kalisch and Omer Nevo, a historical cabaret performance by Benedikt Meyer, the synagogue choir, and many other contributions. Together, these events created a festive atmosphere and marked an important new chapter in the history of the museum.
What were the changes made in the presentation and sharing of Jewish heritage?
The approach of the new exhibition is more unconventional and participatory than a traditional museum presentation. It focuses on creating a dialogue with visitors and making Jewish heritage more accessible through interactive and personal forms of engagement. The permanent exhibition spans two floors and traces the history of Jews in Switzerland from Roman times to the present, combining historical perspectives with contemporary questions and artistic responses.
There are many interactive elements, such as «Collect in Real Time», which invites visitors to actively contribute to the exhibition by sharing photos and personal experiences related to different topics, celebrations, and cityscapes. These contributions become part of the exhibition itself and create an evolving, living archive.
A central theme throughout the exhibition is diversity: it highlights the many different backgrounds and experiences of Jews in Switzerland, including Jewish families and communities with roots in Alsace, Eastern Europe, the Maghreb, Turkey, Greece, the US, and Israel. The exhibition presents Jewish life in all its complexity, including traditions, migration, self-determination, cultural contributions, but also experiences of antisemitism and challenges.
The new presentation also offers new ways of exploring the content: accessible archive drawers and additional materials provide visitors with deeper insights, while a children’s trail makes the exhibition accessible to younger audiences. The texts are available in German, French, and English, reflecting the museum’s aim to welcome a diverse audience.
Are you planning a new exhibition for 2026-7?
Our current temporary exhibition on Frank Stella will remain on view until the end of January 2027. Installation of our next exhibition will begin in February 2027. It will explore a completely different subject. We’ll be announcing more about it on our online channels in the near future, so stay tuned!