jewish museum of odessa

freedml

this is tucked away in a courtyard so look for the correct address before you look for the entrance. some artifacts sort of jumbled together, not much english translation but even so there does not seem to be much 'there' there.

golem67

Really only historical Jewish site other than a few synagogue. This museum in a courtyard has very interesting artifacts, not just specifically Judaic items. Old typewriters and pictures. Should bra on your list.

532MichaelG532

I only learned about this museum from TripAdvisor and am so grateful that I did. Yes, I too had difficulty finding the building, despite having the address. I couldn't believe it would be where it was!As a Jew from Vancouver Canada, one of Odessa's sister cities, with family roots in the area, I found the museum to be both heart-breaking and heart-warming. You can read about my visit at Michael Gellers Blog under the heading Jewish Odessa.As a result of my visit I am going to try and arrange for a donation from Vancouver's Jewish Community; hopefully the Jewish communities in other sister cities will do the same. Thanks TripAdvisor!

Ella_RM

The museum is hard to find. It’s in a small, dilapidated courtyard. Just like the Jews in Russia or USSR - hidden away by authorities behind an ugly façade and surrounded by unfriendly (putting it mildly) neighbors. The museum is small and does not do justice to the contributions of a persecuted group that made Odessa...Odessa - a cosmopolitan, multi-ethnic city with cultural influence far greater than its population size (Odessa ranked third in cultural and literature influence, after Moscow and St.Pete despite having only 1 million inhabitants out of 300 million Soviet citizens).The museum's curator is a lively young woman who is passionate about the history (she speaks perfect English). One would go there for an experience rather than the exhibits. Museum, which is in old Soviet-era apartment gives a decent idea on living conditions at the time. The atmosphere inside is foreboding. An occasional swastika outside it’s front door adds to it.There are really no signs pointing to the museum. Starting at Tyraspolkaya Square, walk up Nizhinskaya Street on left side. The courtyard is about 100 meters up the street.

marisha5

Interested in Odessa Jewish history? That's the place to see. Make sure you get a tour with a local guide. We listened to Mr.Chaplin - definitely worth listening to.

jermil

As others have written, this private, small museum is very difficult to find. (Start with the website at: www.migdal.ru). We asked many people, including tour guides and people at the Main Synagogue, and no one gave us correct directions. Start by asking for Nezhinskaya Street, and go in the direction of #66. Don't hesitate to enter the old building courtyard, and head straight back. The museum is in a flat that orginally housed 3 Jewish families. The museum has collected hundreds of artifacts from Odessa Jews. This is not the usual collection in Jewish museums of torah covers and passove plates, but many photographs, documents and everyday items found in Odessa Jewish homes. There is a small memorial to the 250,000 Odessa area Jews who perished in the Shoah. The person at the front desk speaks fluent English and will give you a full and personal orientation tour and answer all of your questions as you tour the museum. This museum is the founder's labor of love and respect for the Jews of Odessa. It's well worth the effort to find it.

Terumah

Interesting to see the museum however, on western standards it is poor. Considering the pre war Jewish population and their contribution to the city,it is disappointing.

English_Gary

Me or my partner are not Jewish but love the history. We come to Odessa for 3 days. Friday ,Saturday and Sunday. They are closed Fridays and Saturdays so we went on the sunday. Unfortunately a tour just started and they couldn't do an English speaking tour, so we casually looked around at all the amazing collection that they have. There are lots of personal belongings that have been donated to this museum by different family's. Half way through us looking around the owner came to see us and shown us around some favourite items he's collected and told us in English about them. It was very nice off him and made us feel very welcome. I recommend this museum as it has lots to see. It is hard place too find but once you found it its a gem you wouldn't forget about.

cybertraveller_7

The museum is not the easiest place to find in Odessa. It is in an apartment block along a road going put of town. However the amount of exhibits in such a small place is amazing and they tell the visitor about how Jews lived and worked in Odessa before the Second world war. We had a guide who showed us around for about two hours.

WalterStephen

This small museum is in an apartment and is filled with items donated by Ukrainian Jews who wanted to give us an idea of what Jewish life was like in Odessa. The man who guided us through the 5 or 6 room apartment was very proud of the collection and was quite knowledgeable. We thoroughly enjoyed the visit and would recommend it to all Jewish visitors to Odessa.

starsky18

Good overview and material culture on the Jewish community in Odessa, small place, so they don't have a tremendous amount of things, but helped understand the history a bit better of the jewish community- tour guide had good English skills that day-

eiguov

This is a private museum, hard to find - look for the doorbell on the outside, as there is no other signpost. The museum is inside an old (probably pre-1914) apartment complex - an apartment complex in dire need of maintenance. But the museum itself is ok, at least on the inside. Of the 250000 Odessa jews who were in the city during the Rumenian-German occupation, only 600 survived. The museum shows bits and pieces of what everyday life was like for all those who perished.

BrianPacker

Tour takes a minimum of an hour, but set aside at least 2 if you are truly interested. I'm a Jewish American, but my great grandparents were from Odessa. The museum director was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I am so glad I toured. Among many things, I learned that there was a program to teach skilled trades to Jews in the late 19th century, this directly related to my grandfather being in the upholstery business 50 years later (he made bedspreads for the rich and famous in Hollywood) and so on down to me. 4 generations of business owners - and now I know where it all started!

harrietv

Tucked away on a backyard in a residential area, the Odessa Jewish Museum is a small private museum located in a former flat. However it has a rich and very interesting collection from the past centuries - photos, documents, personal belongings, furniture; many of the objects donated by relatives of Jewish citizens of Odessa who have come back to trace their family history. We took a guided tour which was held by the museum's director - do take this opportunity if it is offered as it was brilliant, and also as you will otherwise miss out on a lot of the stories behind the displays and objects. All in all, extremely interesting and moving, and the museum gives you an essential perspective on Odessa and its history.

Tavropola

Музей находится в настоящей старой квартире, которую ремонт не испортил. Огромное количество артефактов и чудесный персонал.