Cape Town Mapping Project

South African Jewish Museum

The South African Jewish Museum is one of the most-visited museums in South Africa, and pays homage not only to Jews who died under prejudiced regimes and during the Holocaust, but also to black South Africans who were oppressed during the apartheid era. The museum showcases important historical artifacts and information, which together comprise a repository of stories pertaining to the Jewish community of South Africa. It recognises their contribution to the city and the country, and the role they played in South Africa’s history.

One of the museum’s major attractions is the building itself. A feat of architectural design, the museum incorporates the Old Synagogue into the modern complex, which has been intricately built out of glass, wood and steel.