Jewish Children's Museum

The Making of the Jewish Children’s Museum The creativity expressed in the exhibits at the Jewish Children’s Museum is the result of decades of ex- perience and interaction with children, where an appreciation of their unquenchable desire for knowl- edge was attained. Acquiring this understanding of children began back in 1980 when the organization Tzivos Hashem - Jewish Children International, was founded. THE FIRST STEP – JEWISH CHILDREN’S EXPO ... In late fall 1986, the makers of the Jewish Children’s Museum held its first Jewish Children’s Expo, which started the journey that would lead to the Jewish Children’s Museum. The Expo turned 30,000 square feet of the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City into a wonderland of Jewish experi- ences. Over 30,000 people visited the first Jewish Children’s Expo, a four day event. The Expo, which was patterned after the World Exposition Fairs, portrayed a voyage through Jewish history both joyous and somber. Visitors were guided through the six days of creation, the Mt. Sinai ex- perience, the glory of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem to modern day Israel. Over the next five years the Expo grew. The complete exhibition required 45,000 square feet. More than 75,000 visitors attended annually. It became clear that there is a great demand for a year round Expo ... a museum ... a museum for children .... The Jewish Children’s Museum.