Muzeon - Jewish History Museum — Attraction in Cluj Metropolitan Area

A superb gem of a place, hidden in a courtyard, in a little street behind some buildings, you have to keep your eyes peeled to find it. Disclaimer: I visited about a year ago, but I’m sure it’s only gotten better since then. The lady at the reception desk was very pleasant, helpful and polite. They also have a small giftshop (with postcards, keychains, fridge magnets etc.)

The audio guide, which comes in several languages, is free and, in addition to the autobiographical stories of the Shoah survivors, that just draw you in, it also contains samples of klezmer music (both more well-known, like Naftule Brandwein, and ones new to me, like Kaschauer Klezmer Band) and informative bits about kosher cuisine and about Jewish filmmaking, painting and architecture from Cluj back in the day. I’m sure even many otherwise well-meaning non-Jewish local residents underestimate the huge extent to which the vibrant Jewish community has been vital and fundamental to the city’s development.

The hideous, dehumanizing, virulently antisemitic language openly spouted by so many journalists back in the day is an infuriating read, as well as shocking in its boldness and shamelessness (even for someone well familiar with antisemitic comments, having been on their receiving end, and also having found several cowardly and hateful notes from some space laser conspiracy obsessed nut too in my mailbox, also right here in Cluj, where I’ve also seen swastika graffitis around town, but I digress. My point is, this is a very important tool to educate people, because antisemitism never died out unfortunately and we still need to fight it.)

Some of the offending newspapers are displayed, in a beautifully evocative way, on the wall and ceiling, with hands pointing at the viewer in an accusatory manner from the other wall of the claustrophobic room under the oppressively bright artificial lighting.

Then you take a few steps to the side and find yourself on the train of death, in a grim cattle wagon, listening to the sounds of it rattling along the tracks in the dark and the atrocities being described in a stark but factual way, and you look at the silhouettes of people, including children and elderly people, being taken to death camps.

It should be a mandatory educational viewing for all students. We must never let it be forgotten that this senseless, calculated murder of millions was committed deliberately and systematically, nor that it could have been prevented, if only neighbours had been more educated, tolerant, vigilant and willing to stand up against antisemitism in solidarity.

The exhibit is nonetheless not preachy or fatalistic at all, it doesn’t overwhelm you with a feeling of helplessness, instead it’s empowering and eye-opening.

Many parts of the museum are distinctly uplifting, like the paintings and the cleverly designed cinema model. The VR sets were also a very nice touch. You need to take your time (it’s not a very large museum, so no need to rush), and just take everything in. The exhibit ends with a life-affirming display of family photographs. There were also books at the end that you could browse, in a small room with a couch where you can rest for a bit. I especially liked the one about Sephardic folklore and the one with Jewish artists from Romania, full of gorgeous pictures of their works.

I would also encourage everyone to take a look at the museum’s website and social media (especially their very colourful and informative Instagram) for additional resources about Jewish culture...

The power of storytelling.

The first time ever that I saw the right way to share a story that catches the attention and engages you. I strongly feel that we are more likely to absorb the powerful message in a meaningful manner using storytelling, than if the same message is presented simply in statistics, maps, elusive facts and figures. I've listened the story of David. He trappes your mind so quickly with his warm voice that you feel instantly overwhelmed. You're trapped and judged in the sentence room, engaged in the railway travel with other souls, and sentenced to death or work .The used words are not drama oriented, no syrup and honey, not a single word is begging for compassion or used to point the finger against someone. There is no need for that, because the jews from the ground speak louder than any denier's voice. Entirely overwhelming! I think it is an experience that everyone needs. You should step in someone's else's life to fully realize how life can change in a second and sometimes you can't do anything, but accept the fact that you must survive no matter what or you should escape, with every cost, from the Hell which man created on Earth. Truly an awakening experience!...

This museum wasn't in any of the articles & posts I read about visiting Cluj, and I'm so glad I accidentally discovered it through TripAdvisor's list of activities to do in the area. This small museum presents three real peoples' stories through an audio guide available in in multiple languages. Each story takes roughly half an hour to listen to, and the museum staff recommend listening to all three if you have the time and the emotional capacity. The audio guide also has written text for each stop in the museum, which is akin to informational labels that provide background in more traditional museums. The museum's exhibition arc provides some background information on Judaism in general and the history of Jews in this region, and then spends most of its time on what happened to the community in the early to mid 20th century, finishing with what happened after the war. Although this museum is specific to the history of this region, I personally felt that it provided better explanations for non-Romanians about events in Romania in the early 20th to mid century than the Holocaust exhibition...