Located in the elegant 17th-century Hôtel de Saint-Aignan in Paris’s Marais neighborhood, the Museum of Art and History of Judaism (Musée d’art et d’histoire du Judaïsme, known as “mahJ”) is a leading institution for Jewish art and history. Since opening in 1998, mahJ has presented important works by Jewish artists and explored the histories of Jewish communities in France, across Europe and around the Mediterranean.
The museum’s collection contains more than 12,000 objects, spanning antiquity to the present, along with extensive archival material. In addition to exhibitions, mahJ runs educational programs for young people and offers events and activities throughout the year for visitors of all ages.
© The Museum of Art & History of Judaism in Paris
Current and recent highlights include “Pierre Dac. King of Lunatics” (through Aug. 27). This first exhibition devoted entirely to French humorist Pierre Dac (1893–1975) brings together more than 250 archival documents and media excerpts that trace his work in cabaret, radio, film and television. Born André Isaac, Dac served in World War I before becoming a central figure in 20th-century French comedy, celebrated for his surreal and absurdist humor and influenced by figures such as Samuel Beckett and Eugène Ionesco.
Through Nov. 5, mahJ is also presenting “Yosef Joseph Yaakov Dadoune. The Cry of Flowers.” Built around works emblematic of the artist’s practice, the presentation takes over several museum spaces to explore recurring themes in Dadoune’s career and to mark his participation in Nuit Blanche.
In October 2023 the museum opened “Joann Sfar, La Vie Dessinée,” the first retrospective devoted to comic-book artist and author Joann Sfar. The show features nearly 250 plates and drawings—many shown for the first time—alongside notebooks, photographs and films. Sfar, author or collaborator on more than 100 books, is known for titles such as Little Vampire Goes to School, The Rabbi’s Cat and a graphic adaptation of The Little Prince. The retrospective highlights how Sfar places Jewish culture at the center of his work, addressing historical memory and the rise of antisemitism. The exhibition runs Oct. 12–May 12, 2024.
“The Rabbi’s Cat” © The Museum of Art & History of Judaism in Paris
mahJ also organizes guided walking tours of the Marais, designed to illuminate the neighborhood’s Jewish heritage, culinary traditions and cultural life. These walks trace the routes of Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazi immigrants who arrived in the late 19th century and the Sephardic North African communities that revitalized the Marais after World War II. Upcoming tours are scheduled periodically; the next tour is on Aug. 20.
Practical information: general admission is €10, and the museum offers free admission on the first Saturday of the month from October through June. Guided tours in English cost €14 and include visits to the permanent collection and neighborhood walks. The museum is closed on Mondays.