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Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains near the Getty Center, the Skirball Cultural Center may seem small by comparison to the fortress on the hill. But this delicate, modern edifice of white concrete, pink stone, stainless steel and glass cradles a 125,000-square-foot complex that feels warm, welcoming and full of light. Opened in 1996, the $65-million center is an outgrowth of Hebrew Union College in downtown Los Angeles and is dedicated to serving Los Angeles' Jewish community and educating others about Jewish history and culture. The center features the Skirball Museum, children's Discovery Center, 350-seat auditorium, educational center and conference, banquet and classroom facilities. Lectures, concerts, film series, children's programs and educational events take place throughout the year.
This small museum is host to temporary exhibits and home to a permanent collection that outlines the culture and 4,000-year history of the Jewish people, called "Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America." Viewers wander through a maze of small galleries with softly lit glass-encased displays that span from ancient Israel to turn-of-the-century America. A replica of the arcade and mosaic pavement of a 3rd century synagogue that was excavated in northern Israel provides a vivid glimpse into the past. Artifacts, clothing and writings from China, Turkey, Spain, North Africa and Europe detail the Diaspora of the Jewish people.
The highlight of the synagogue gallery is a replica of the holy ark from Berlin's New Synagogue built in 1866 and destroyed in an Allied air raid against Berlin during World War II. Off to the right, a smaller collection of displays and videos explain all of the Jewish holidays and the ceremonies and objects used to celebrate them. The last gallery captures the Jewish migration to the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
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