Te Papa To Berlin

Abstract

WHEN, IN 1997, I accepted the German government's invitation to become the chief executive of a planned Jewish museum in Berlin, I had only a hazy idea of what awaited me. I understood that the project was deeply enmeshed in national politics, and for that I came with a certain amount of experience from my days in Washington. I had also just written a book on German-Jewish history. However, I was not fitted for the task of defining a viable concept and actually translating it into the creation of a living museum suitable for viewing by a broad national and international audience. From the beginning, therefore, I was aware of the critical need to find a partner who would help guide the effort, someone with real museum experience and a proven record of accomplishment in the field. Finding the right one would be the key to the success or failure of the entire project.