Originally published in The Voice of San Francisco in November 2024
This month the Contemporary Jewish Museum (The CJM) announced it was taking significant steps to ensure its financial stability by reducing public operations, including the closure of its galleries for a period of at least one year along with a phased reduction of its staff over the next several months.
In Judaism, Shabbat—or the Sabbath—is a time of rest, an essential moment carved out of the week for restoration and renewal. Throughout Jewish culture, there are myriad references to moments of pause as a means to rejuvenation. The CJM’s sabbatical will allow for innovative ideation and experimentation, as well as exploration of new ways to reach wider audiences. Creating that space for change will assist in innovating the future of this organization.
“More than fifteen years ago, a dedicated group brought the CJM from a small gallery space to the iconic institution it is today,” said Tom Kasten, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “The Museum’s mandate is as vital now as ever, and our current goal is to design a sustainable model that not only preserves but amplifies its impact. I’m confident that in the years to come, this will be seen as a pivotal chapter in The Museum’s journey.”
Since its founding, the CJM has presented exhibitions centered on Jewish art and values, engaged with thousands of students in exploring Jewish culture, and offered a wealth of programs showcasing diverse expressions of Jewish identity. For years it has educated the public about Jewish life and offered a critical platform for uplifting the voices of Jewish artists.
Between now and December 15th the CJM invites the public to experience its current exhibitions free of charge.
The California Jewish Open features forty-seven artists reflecting on their connection to Judaism through paintings, sculptures, interactive video games, video works, photographs and more. The artists remind us that human connection to the world is a universal human need.
Nicki Green: Firmament is the artist’s fist museum solo exhibition delving into questions of identity, transformation and reinvention. Through her use of clay, Nicki Green reminds us in Firmament that a spiritual journey is one taken by an individual, and during that journey the greatest transformation takes place, the process of becoming oneself.
Leah Rosenberg: When One Sees a Rainbow activates the CJM’s Yud Gallery with light and color. Brightly colored chairs and light celebrate the natural phenomenon of rainbows as a symbol of hope and awe, inspired by the Jewish tradition of reciting a blessing upon seeing a rainbow. Viewers will be invited to create their own responses to colors on view in the gallery.
Looted is a reflection on the history of Polish-owned paintings stolen by the Nazis during World War II. This installation features videos of artists painting reproductions of fifty-nine of the looted artworks documented in Poland’s National database. Just as the final works become realized on camera, the artists wipe away their careful work, an act of erasure that challenges the meaning of authorship, ownership, and recovery. The installation serves to offer new ways to process the impact of these stolen works and experience art as a means for resilience.
This temporary closure will enable The Museum to thoroughly evaluate its financial framework and engage in intense planning and organizational assessment, with the clear goal of emerging as a more resilient organization. The public has played a vital role in the CJM’s history, and the institution feels gratitude for the presence and participation of the community, and hopes for a better future together.