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The Pruzan Family Center for Learning

The centerpiece of the Jewish Museum's expansion is The Pruzan Family Center for Learning. Located on the fourth floor of the Jewish Museum, the learning center is a dedicated space for learning and engagement that seeks to expose kids and families of all backgrounds to Jewish art and culture.

This renovated floor features a spacious classroom for family programs and art-making, interactive exhibits, and more than 200 pieces from the Jewish Museum's collection. Kids can enjoy looking at the floor-to-ceiling display of more than 130 Hanukkah lamps from all over the world. The lamps are drawn from the museum's collection of more than 1,000, making it the largest collection of its kind.

A really special feature of the Learning Center is its one-of-a-kind simulated "archaeological dig," where kids use real tools to dig for replica artifacts. There's also a display of real artifacts from the Late Bronze Age through the early 20th century.

The touch wall invites kids to learn about various materials like clay, stone, and metal through tactile experiences. Photo by the author

Another interactive exhibit encourages kids to get hands-on is a touch wall, which explores how artists work with different materials.

Family Programs at the Jewish Museum

The Learning Center currently offers several family programs and events with plans to add more. Kids ages 3-10 can play at being archaeologists at the monthly Dig and Discover Drop-in sessions.

Kids and families can also enjoy family concerts, art sessions, and after-school classes. Bookmark our Family Activity Calendar for upcoming events, including a family-friendly concert on Sunday, November 9 and a grand opening celebration of the new gallery on Sunday, November 16.

The Jewish Museum Collections

There's more to the Jewish Museum, however, than this new gallery. Older kids can explore the third-floor collections, which delve into Jewish identity, culture, and stories. The galleries trace the rich history of migration, assimilation, and the endurance of Jewish people across the globe through large-scale paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects. If your kids like audio guides, the Jewish Museum offers a digital guide on Bloomberg Connects for many of the pieces in its collection. Be sure to download the app before you arrive.

The second floor houses gallery that rotates exhibitions to feature a variety of artists and mediums. Currently on display are the colorful works of Anish Kapoor. While his abstract sculptures and paintings aren't necessarily geared toward children, they'll be drawn to his use of rich pigments and unique shapes. Kapoor's work is on display through Sunday, Februrary 1, 2026.

Know Before You Go to the Jewish Museum

• The Jewish Museum is open Saturdays-Mondays, 11am-6pm; Thursday, 11am-8pm; and Friday, 11am-4pm.
• Admission is always FREE for children ages 18 and younger; all visitors enter for FREE on Saturdays. At other times, adults pay $24 to enter.
• Bathrooms have changing tables, and strollers are allowed in the museum.
• The museum offers sensory-friendly tours and programs for kids and families with special needs.
• There's a small cafe on-site serving Jewish comfort food, like bagels, sandwiches, lox, and salads.

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