What skin colors do Jews have - and which are ascribed to them? The new exhibition at the Jewish Museum Vienna focuses on this seemingly simple but actually highly complex question. Entitled "Black Jews, White Jews?", it examines historical and contemporary perspectives on Jewish identity in the field of tension between self-positioning, anti-Semitism and racism.

For centuries, racist world views have shaped the perception of people. "Racial theories", colonialism, anti-Semitism and other ideologies of superiority have organized the world according to skin color - a construction that continues to have an impact to this day. The exhibition sheds light on how such ideas also influenced and continue to influence the perception of Jewish people. The focus is on stereotyping and exclusion experienced by so-called Jews of Color worldwide - especially in Europe, the USA and Israel.
The exhibition understands skin color not as a biological fact, but as a social and historical construction. It makes it clear that attributions such as "white" or "non-white" are cultural categories that reflect power relations and shape identities. Contemporary works of art, historical documents, interviews and photographs show the diversity of Jewish life realities and the ruptures that arise as a result of external attributions.

Let's talk about Race © Chris Buck

Current debates surrounding the Middle East conflict in particular make it clear how closely anti-Semitism and racism are intertwined. The image of the "white, colonial Jew" is often used - a narrative that hides historical facts and ignores the complex history of Jewish migration and persecution. Jews have lived on all continents for centuries; they are shaped by different cultures, skin colors and histories.
The exhibition therefore provocatively asks: Are Jews white, non-white or black - or does the answer lie beyond these categories? It shows how differently Jews see themselves and are seen, and how these perspectives shape social discourse.
"Black Jews, White Jews?" is more than a cultural-historical show - it is a contribution to the current discussion about identity, belonging and visibility. The Jewish Museum Vienna is thus opening up an important space for reflection and dialog on the question of what it means to be Jewish today - in a world that still sees skin color and origin as a yardstick.
October 22, 2025 to April 26, 2026
www.jmw.at