Wed. 22.10.2025

Black Jews, White Jews? On Skin Color and Prejudice

What skin colors do Jews have – and which are ascribed to them? How do they position themselves? The exhibition Black Jews, White Jews? explores these questions and shows historical and contemporary examples of external and self-perception. It examines the topic of Jewish identity in the charged relationship between self-definition, antisemitism, and racism.
 

Press releases

Portrait of a young man
Man with dreadlocks wearing Superman shirt and red cape stands against beige background next to table with vase and blue flowers.
© Jorit Aust
Let’s talk about Race
Girl in pink and white striped dress with pink hair accessory stands in front of a shelf filled with dolls in various outfits.
© Chris Buck
By Any Other Name
Numerous abstract, leaf-like objects made of orange material hanging from thin strings from the ceiling
© Tobias von Marillac
Untitled
Abstract painting featuring two white mountain-like shapes with black lines and pink hands, one holding a lit cigarette, red square object with black handle on wall
© The Estate of Philip Guston
Witness
Black-and-white photo strips showing a woman with twelve different facial expressions, ranging from neutral to emotional, some with eyes closed or hands on face.
© Ella Cooper
Cover by Art Spiegelman of the Valentine’s Day issue of The New Yorker
Drawing of a kissing couple, a man with top hat and beard holds a woman with dark skin and dreadlocks
© JMW
Negative Portrait
Young man with short dark hair, beard, and serious expression wearing a black V-neck t-shirt
© Eli Petel
Hautfarbentafel
Small rectangular metal box with text and removed tray showing 18 skin color samples in various beige and brown shades
© Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Universitätsarchiv
Black Lives Matter Wrapped in a Tallit
A white tallit with black stripes displaying the text 'BLACK LIVES MATTER'. Hebrew text in black is below.
© Aaron Hodge Silver Greenberg
View of exhibition Black Jews, White Jews?
© Tobias von Marillac
View of exhibition Black Jews, White Jews?
© Tobias von Marillac
View of exhibition Black Jews, White Jews?
© Tobias von Marillac
View of exhibition Black Jews, White Jews?
© Tobias von Marillac



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