Museum Of The Southern Jewish Experience In New Orleans

Fascinating presentation of the history of Jews in the southern United States. A focus on broader trends as well as very interesting individual life stories and artifacts. The staff was very friendly, and the docents were very helpful.

Beautiful small museum , packed with information. Extremely well presented and easy to navigate I was blown away by all the o formation

Incredible museum. Great learning experience for both Jews (me) and non Jews (friends). Heartbreaking in many ways. Beautiful place.

Creatively-presented and well-illustrated history of Jewish immigration to America, beginning with the Colonial Times. The musem follows the life experiences, accompplishments and individual stories of those who settled in southern states. The museum is self-guided so the visitor can read everything or some in each section.

Very interesting Who knew so many Jewish people settled in various places around the south hundreds of years ago This museum has many interesting topics as part of the permanent exhibit Staff is very friendly and answer questions Highly recommend

This is a great idea for a museum - the Jewish southern experience is much different from that of Jews who came to the Eastern Seaboard. However, this museum is relatively small and could do so much more. There is an opening movie which sets the stage, and then two main displays - one that goes through the early years of Jews in the South and one that picks up in modern times. I feel that it tries to touch on a lot of points but does not go into too much depth. At the end, there are computer screens where you can choose a state and a community and get a deeper dive about the Jewish community there, but it is hard to sit and just read screen after screen with no direction.

An excellent museum about Jewish life in the American South, from the early colonial period when most Jewish immigrants were Sephardic Jews fleeing the Inquisition to the present day. The museum features engaging exhibits on many aspects of the Jewish experience as itinerant Jewish peddlers in the early, expanding United States, Jewish entrepreneurs who founded companies that remain major businesses today, the experience of being a minority in a nation of immigrants, and much more. This year, the museum also hosts a special exhibition on the reception and resettlement of Holocaust survivors who came to the United States, including the Southern states, under special immigration quotas from displaced persons camps in Germany. These were Jewish survivors who had no homes to return to after World War II. The exhibition is based on the stories of the survivors themselves, their descendants, and the many volunteers who helped them build new lives in the American South.

Fabulous! Learned a lot. Spent more time than we had anticipated. Small and lots of details. Definitely a must for a Jewish tourist.

It is great, learned a lot a great incentive for those who know nothing about the South. Professionally done

Just a short walk from the WWII Museum, you can visit if you need to take a break from your all-day visit to that museum. Most people think that New York City was the entry point for European Jewish families, but this museum shows that multiple southern cities also served as starting points for these immigrants. Very interesting explanation about Southern Jews and slavery during the Civil War era, as well as during the Civil Rights movement. Compact museum is well laid out. Interesting stories for people of all faiths.

This is an excellent well-designed small modern museum. The exhibits are honest about how, as individuals, Jews in the South were on both sides of major questions in American history, such as the Civil War and slavery, and civil rights. We particularly enjoyed the section focused on the history of Jewish immigration to the southern United States. The setting within the museum for the Foundations of Judaism section was striking. The third section covering the time period from World War Two to today is also well done.

Coming from New Jersey, I did not really know about jewish Immigration. In the south. Although small, the exhibits were very interesting and very well laid out. I spent almost 2 full hours there so it was well worth the price. A few hands on exhibits for kids, but more for adults.

My family visited this small but interesting museum and felt that we all learned more about the history of Jewish people in the South. Jewish families have lived in the South for hundreds of years and contributed in so many ways to both the United States in general and the South in particular. Displays were well done and explanations were clear and concise. Recommended.

A small museum, it still offered an unexpectedly deep view of southern Jewish life over a century ago. Really made us feel like we understood what life was like back then. Well worth the time spent - and just a few blocks away from the National WWII museum, it could not have been easier to find.

Enjoyed the experience. Learned a lot- lots of interesting artifacts, stories and videos. Well laid out.

Being a museum person with all the history that each display I saw this museum and made it a point to visit while in NOLA. As a Catholic I found the history on display here very interesting. There are displays going back to the 1700's of the Jewish migration to the Southern US. The trials and difficulties experienced are well documented. Artifacts of the travels, commentaries from the 1900's of those who experienced the difficulties. Interactive quizzes on Jewish traditions and Jewish life. There is a third-floor display of the HOME an orphanage in NOLA that provided support for many children.

Easily accessible by car or trolly. It is a small museum packed with lots of info. There is a lot to read and there are some interactive screens as well. This museum is not too well suited for children as it is mostly reading panels. It provides a balanced description of life, challenges experienced, and the growth of the southern Jewish community. The Jews of the south have a long and integrated experience, learning to adapt while holding onto their culture and religion. Well worth the visit, and allow 1-2 hours to fully appreciate , without rushing.

We really and truly enjoyed our visit. The museum surpised us because we may have had an expectation of what we were going to experience. The museum is truly a history lesson throughout time and how the Jewish people helped develop the south. It was totally fascinating. The best part, was speaking with Mark, he helped open our eyes to things we were not aware of and his knowledge truly taught us a thing or two. Thank you to Mark for helping make our visit remarkable.

The MSJE deals with very narrow subject matter quite thoroughly. It has exhibits on the history of Jews in the South with an admirably balanced approach on sometimes complicated history. The theme is that Southern Jews were/are both authentically Jewish and Southern. Usually accepted in the South, but occasionally discriminated against. Adopting Southern culture while maintaining Jewish traditions. Fighting for the Confederacy and owning enslaved persons. A complicated history that is fully addressed. There are also general sections about Jewish religious practices and a special exhibit room. The museum is modern with an excellent presentation. Well-lit exhibits and concise, easy-to-read informational panels. You’ll need at least 1-2 hours to visit this museum thoroughly.

Very interesting museum where one can learn a lot about Jewish life in the southern U.S. Very helpful staff always available ti answer questions or to recommend the special exhibit on the top floor.

Wonderful, insightful, emotional and inviting exhibition with staff to match!! Would absolutely have this as part of any itinerary.

This is a small must see place I learned a lot about Jews in the south I did not know about They have multiple exhibits that you can enjoy About a hour for the whole place

I try to experience one museum when I travel and I opted for the Jewish Museum based on my own research. There are many museum options in New Orleans and this one is not to be missed! It's a small museum, with lots of information and some interactive exhibits. It's definitely great for a quicker experience, but if you want to read everything there is plenty to keep you busy. The staff was very welcoming and pleasant. The giftshop is small but has a tasteful selection. I would highly recommend this museum to anyone in the New Orleans area!

I visited this museum with my orthodox Jewish friend to learn more about Judaism in the American South. Being from New York, I never realized there are large Jewish communities in the south going back to the 1700s. I learned quite a bit, and saw some lovely artifacts. The interactive exhibits were interesting but many of it felt geared towards children. It was inexpensive and we spent about 1.5 hours visiting.

Very well presented. The film was very moving....playing with "Bubbe" was fun. Learned a lot about the southern Jewish experience.

Beautiful small museum packed with 400 years of history. Jews have been in the USA a long time; they fought on both sides in the Civil War, they were big cotton traders and itinerant peddlers, they served other communities without fear or favour. They broke barriers, they got elected, they served on the Supreme Court, they designed the Apollo mission. What’s not to like..?

Interesting and informative. Taught us about a part of history not much is written about. Not a long visit. Perfect in length.

Great exhibition of Jewish life in the south Enjoyable and educational Friendly staff and great gift shop

A wonderful museum. Not to be missed by Jewish or non-Jewish guests. Very informative and in some ways eye opening , especially finding out that many Jews were also tied to the slave trade in the South.

What a very nice way to display the history of the southern Jews, and also include the history of all Jews in America. Thank you so much for a great exhibit and a wonderful museum.

This is a museum not to be missed!! It is rich in history & has interactive exhibits that are truly one-of-a-kind. As a Jewish person, it taught me something I had never thought of before - that Jews weren’t just emigrating to NYC, but were also going to the south where there weren’t as many people & they had to learn to assimilate. Think Chicken noodle soup & grits!

This was a very moving and educational experience for me. I went with a friend who was Christian and she also enjoyed learning about Southern Jewish History. Prior to this visit, I had not known that there were Jewish men who served in leadership and enlisted positions in the Conferacy. I also had no idea that any Jewish people owned any slaves. My friend enjoyed playing a game where one had to guess (multiple choice) what a particular Yiddish word meant in English. Many interesting artifacts. A whole section was dedicated to Jewish involvement in the 1960's Civil Rights Movement. I learned about this museum from having reviewed Trip Advisor in advance of travel to N.O.

This was an unexpected gem. We visited with an 8 year old. There was just enough interactive items that he kept himself busy while the adults were able to fully explore the museum. Spent a little over an hour. Highly recommend.

This is not to be missed! We learned so much about Jewish life, (immigration, southern lifestyle, and more) in a comfortable and calm environment. This is a self guided tour, so you can spend as much or as little time viewing certain exhibits. There are some interactive exhibits, as well. Don't miss the short film the very beginning of the tour. It is a fantastic way to get you going and to give some orientation. Everyone there is very helpful and friendly to guide you or answer questions.

I visited this museum with my 14 year old son and I'm very glad that we put it on our itinerary. It's a short walk from the World War 2 Museum, so it made for a great destination after spending 1 1/2 days at that national museum. The story of Jewish life in America is often told through the lens of the descendants of immigrants who came through New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. But Jews were making important contributions to communities in the South long before huge waves of German and Eastern European Jewish immigrants made their way to cities in the Northeast. This museum does a fantastic job telling the stories of those Southern Jewish communities and how they maintained Jewish traditions while incorporating aspects of Southern culture into their lives. We spent about an hour and a half there. It was well worth it. The museum is deserving of your support as well.

A small museum. A curious subject - and yet: One of the best Museums I ever went to. An introductory movie that is a declaration of love to the South of the United States. And a modest statement about Jewishness in that area. Followed by the most comprehensive and didactically brilliant narration about Jewish immigration to the United States. One could spend hours here - and learn not only about the Jewish Experience in the South - but also about humanity itself. About the common values of Family, Hard Work, Shared joys such as food and celebration. Highly recommended.

Excellent museum with in-depth descriptions of how Jews integrated into and in turn influenced the South. Also have a very good gift shop. The ticket person had a lot of knowledge and gave us (and others) more background. Highly recommend this museum.

Albeit smaller than expected, this museum has an incredible amount of knowledge! The exhibits covered everything from immigration, to Jewish business owners, to summer camps, to Jewish involvement in the civil rights movement. There were a few interactive exhibits that were really fun, including a game to learn Yiddish. I would recommend this for both Jewish people looking to learn more about their own heritage or non-Jews that are interested to find out about the Jewish experience.

Kinda small, but very interesting museum. Tells the story of Southern Jews with lots of interesting information and quite a few impressive artifacts. Definitely worth a visit!

Very interesting, lots of history. Showed the blending of the Jewish traditions into the Southern way of life.

My son and I went to the Museum in December 2022. Although it appeared small from the outside, it was laid out very well, and very comprehensive in telling the tale of Jewish immigrants to the South, with pictures, videos and many artifacts and religious items on display. It was well worth the visit

There is really a great deal to absorb when touring this museum. The displays include photos, documents, and artifacts. There are some interactive areas as well. After 2 hours of learning, I was drained. The museum is a success in teaching that the Southern Jewish experience and history is different from other parts of the country.

This is a gem of a museum. Packs a ton of information using photos, multimedia, artifacts. Has this amazing interactive exhibit where you can get detailed info about the Jewish experience in any one of 100s of towns and cities in the South. Finally we had a volunteer tour guide, Jim (I think) who added a bunch of context.

Museum is very well done and informative. Being Jewish from a northern state, I knew very little about the southern Jewish experience. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I was surprised by how much I was moved by this museum. It dissolved many of my preconceived notions about Jewish life in the South, and dispelled many of my own biases. The displays are excellent and extremely informative, however there is a lot of reading which younger children might find a bit boring. I was amazed that many of the displayed artifacts have survived over time. I felt like I learned so much in my two hour visit. Also, there was a temporary exhibit of black and white photographs and associated audio interviews from around the South that was fascinating.

I'm a Jew who hails from the East and West coasts of the US, one who doesn't think often enough about what the Jewish experience has been outside of it. I heard about the museum at the last minute on my trip to NOLA, and it turned out to be one of the best excursions I had in the city! This thought-provoking, well-curated, medium-sized (but definitely not shabby!) museum starts off with a wonderful short overview film about the Southern migration of Jews, it's a real boost. The mini-exhibits then delve into the breadth of Judaism in the South across a timeline--early arrivals, the Civil War, WWII, the Civil Rights movement, and more, that, as Manager Mark Rubin suggested in advance, would be "nuanced" about Jewish life. He was spot-on. These exhibits brilliantly serves up the complexities of living in the South amongst many less Jews than in the North, provides snapshots of day-to-day life within the above stated periods of time, and gives great food for thought about how Jews maneuvered (or didn't) the multiple political storms and issues that gripped the South. I came out thinking, "Wow!!!" All the things I hadn't known... I have to add that I don't think that this museum should be visited by Jews exclusively, but by anyone with an interest in US or European history, migration patterns, social anthropology, Civil War or Civil Rights buffs, anyone... It's a very human and, yes, very nuanced and erudite museum, no small feat (especially as compared to some of the other smaller museums I've seen here in NO that seem very one-sided in their vision, as well as un-nuanced in their storytelling). Congrats to the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience! I can't wait to come back and take my time next time.

Wonderful museum. Great exhibits and the interactive elements were so creative. We visited from California and Texas and we all felt connected to our heritage. Definitely a must for a great southern Jewish experience! Great cute things in the gift shop too! Kind staff and we’ll located.

This excellent museum lives up to its name—sharing how and what and where Jews made their homes in southern cities in the United States. From whence they came to who they became in little cities spread throughout the south, the visitor views many supporting artifacts. How they integrated themselves and their ways into existing towns to their life today is also documented via a brief, but well done, movie at the start of the museum.

Visited today and thoroughly enjoyed it! The gentleman at the desk and the museum volunteer were so friendly and knowledgeable. The exhibits were very well done and informative. If you are in NOLA, this is a museum not to be missed.