The place where my roommate Sarah and I chose to have our inaugural NYC Bucket List trip was all-encompassing of the ideals of our original mission: cheap, lesser-known, and an all-around gem. We started by going to the very bottom of our island of Manhattan, down to Battery Park, to visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
After a brief turn as Anne Frank in my high school’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank in senior year, I’ve been fascinated by Jewish culture and the Holocaust history. I’ve wanted to go to the Holocaust museum in Washington DC since it was established. Never having made it there, I had to satisfy my thirst for Jewish heritage knowledge at New York’s own tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and the ethnicity that has become a quintessential part of shaping the culture of Manhattan itself.
Sarah and I had wanted to go to the Museum of Jewish Heritage since our freshman year. When we did our preliminary research, the website offered two of the greatest words any college student can see: free admission. It’s only on Wednesdays from 4- 8pm, so the free-ness of it is slightly limited. However every other day, student admission is only $7- and the museum is TOTALLY worth it.
The museum was fascinating. I’m by no means a museum buff either- I’m a quick “glance and go” type of girl…Not really one of those intense people who studies every museum card with voracity. However, the museum presented such interesting artifacts that we couldn’t help but want to know everything about them. The first floor is dedicated to Jewish culture throughout the centuries. The second floor is a living museum to the Holocaust, and the third floor examines the current influence that Jewish traditions has on our society.
Boasting a phenomenal collection of Nazi propaganda, the museum displays anti-Jewish books, magazines, cartoons, and children’s toys. As you walk through the second floor the effects of World War Two becomes visibly more intense. The Jewish hardships of the war are clearly demonstrated in various countries, with increasing force as you walk through the exhibits. The emotional element of the museum culminates during the concentration camp section. I actually got extremely disturbed and upset at the mere sight of a work uniform from the Auswitch concentration camp. Seeing these things somehow made the war more real, an incredibly grounding experience, in contrast with my normal Wednesday afternoon.
 The Museum of Jewish Heritage is something I would highly recommend to anyone looking to fill an afternoon. It’s fascinating, powerfully thought-provoking, and culturally enriching. Take the D train all the way down to Battery Park for one of the most rewarding educational experiences that you can find in New York City.
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