How to Tour Spertus Museum Jewish Art Chicago

The Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, home to the Spertus Museum of Jewish Art and Design, is one of Chicago’s most compelling cultural destinations. Nestled in the heart of the city’s Near South Side, this museum offers an immersive journey through Jewish history, art, identity, and resilience—spanning centuries and continents. Unlike traditional museums that focus solely on artifacts, Spertus weaves together visual storytelling, scholarly insight, and interactive experiences to illuminate the richness of Jewish life across time and geography. Whether you’re a local resident, a visitor to Chicago, or someone with a deep interest in Jewish heritage, knowing how to tour the Spertus Museum effectively enhances your understanding and emotional connection to the exhibits.

This guide is designed to help you navigate every aspect of your visit—from planning and timing to interpretation and reflection. It goes beyond basic directions to provide a comprehensive framework for engaging meaningfully with the museum’s collections, exhibitions, and educational mission. By following this tutorial, you’ll transform a simple visit into a profound cultural experience.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Research Current Exhibitions Before You Visit

Spertus Museum rotates its exhibitions regularly, ensuring fresh perspectives and new discoveries with each visit. Before you arrive, visit the official Spertus Institute website and review the “Exhibitions” section. Current shows may focus on contemporary Jewish artists, Holocaust remembrance through visual media, ceremonial objects from Eastern European shtetls, or the evolution of Jewish identity in modern America.

For example, an upcoming exhibition might highlight the work of Jewish women photographers in 1950s Israel, while another could explore the symbolism of menorahs across 2,000 years. Knowing the theme in advance allows you to tailor your visit—perhaps even reading related articles or watching short documentary clips to deepen your context.

2. Plan Your Visit Around Opening Hours and Special Events

Spertus Museum is typically open Tuesday through Sunday, with hours ranging from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., though these may vary seasonally or during holidays. Always verify the current schedule online before departing. The museum is closed on major Jewish holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover, as well as on certain national holidays.

Consider scheduling your visit on a Thursday evening, when the museum often hosts “Night at Spertus”—a special event featuring live music, curated cocktails, and guided gallery talks. These evenings offer a more intimate, less crowded atmosphere and often include access to exhibitions not available during regular hours.

3. Purchase or Reserve Tickets in Advance

While admission to the permanent collection is often free, special exhibitions may require timed-entry tickets. Even if tickets are complimentary, reserving them online ensures entry and helps the museum manage crowd flow. Use the museum’s ticketing portal to select your preferred date and time slot. This step is especially critical during peak seasons such as summer, Jewish holidays, or when major exhibitions open.

Students, seniors, and educators may qualify for discounted or complimentary admission. Bring a valid ID to verify eligibility upon arrival.

4. Arrive Early and Begin with the Orientation Space

Upon arrival, enter through the main lobby, where a welcoming staff member may greet you and offer a museum map or guide. Do not rush past the orientation area. This space often features an introductory video or touchscreen kiosk that outlines the museum’s mission and provides an overview of the current exhibitions.

Take five minutes here to absorb the tone and structure of the museum. Spertus is not a linear experience—it’s thematic, layered, and often non-chronological. Understanding the conceptual framework will help you interpret the artifacts and installations more deeply.

5. Follow the Thematic Flow, Not Just the Physical Layout

Unlike museums arranged by time period or geography, Spertus organizes its exhibits around ideas: memory, ritual, resistance, creativity, and belonging. As you move through the galleries, pay attention to how objects are grouped—not by origin or age, but by meaning.

For instance, a 17th-century Torah pointer from Poland might sit beside a 21st-century digital animation depicting prayer rituals. The connection is not historical proximity but spiritual continuity. Allow yourself to be guided by the curatorial narrative rather than the physical path. Pause at each installation and read the interpretive panels—these are written with care to provoke thought, not just inform.

6. Engage with Interactive and Digital Elements

Spertus integrates technology thoughtfully into its exhibits. Look for touchscreens that allow you to zoom in on intricate Hebrew calligraphy, listen to oral histories from Holocaust survivors, or explore 3D scans of ceremonial objects that would otherwise be too fragile to handle.

One notable example is the “Shtetl Reconstructed” digital experience, where visitors can virtually walk through a recreated 19th-century Eastern European Jewish town. Use headphones to hear Yiddish songs, marketplace chatter, and synagogue chants. These immersive elements are not gimmicks—they’re essential tools for understanding lived experience.

7. Visit the Center for Jewish Culture and Learning

Adjacent to the galleries is the Center for Jewish Culture and Learning, a quiet space with books, periodicals, and multimedia resources. Even if you don’t plan to study, take a moment to browse. The museum’s library includes rare texts, exhibition catalogs, and scholarly journals that provide context beyond what’s displayed.

Ask a staff member if they can recommend a book or article related to the exhibition you just saw. Many visitors leave with a new reading list that deepens their engagement long after the visit ends.

8. Attend a Guided Tour or Lecture

Spertus offers free guided tours daily at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., led by trained docents who are often scholars, artists, or community educators. These tours last 45–60 minutes and provide insights you won’t find on placards.

Alternatively, check the calendar for public lectures or panel discussions. Past topics have included “The Role of Art in Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust” and “Contemporary Jewish Identity in a Globalized World.” These events often feature curators, artists, or historians who answer questions and offer personal perspectives.

9. Explore the Outdoor Sculpture Garden

Don’t overlook the museum’s outdoor space. The sculpture garden features works by Jewish artists that respond to themes of exile, memory, and renewal. One standout piece is “The Tree of Life,” a bronze sculpture by a Chicago-based artist whose family survived the Warsaw Ghetto. The garden is open during daylight hours and offers a reflective pause between indoor exhibits.

10. Reflect and Journal

Before leaving, spend 10–15 minutes in the museum’s designated reflection room. This quiet, softly lit space is furnished with cushions, natural light, and a selection of poetry and spiritual texts in Hebrew, Yiddish, and English. Many visitors find this final step transformative.

Bring a small notebook or use your phone to jot down one object, phrase, or emotion that stayed with you. This act of reflection turns a passive visit into an active learning experience. It also helps solidify memory and encourages future visits.

Best Practices

1. Prioritize Depth Over Breadth

It’s tempting to rush through every exhibit, especially if you’re short on time. But Spertus rewards slow, intentional viewing. Choose two or three pieces that resonate and study them deeply. Ask yourself: What materials were used? Who made this? For what purpose? What does it reveal about the community that created it?

One visitor once spent 40 minutes examining a single 18th-century ketubah (Jewish marriage contract) and discovered intricate floral motifs symbolizing fertility and divine blessing—details invisible at first glance.

2. Respect Ritual Objects

Many items on display are sacred or ceremonial. Even if they are no longer in active use, they carry spiritual significance. Never touch artifacts, even if they appear to be behind glass. Avoid pointing, taking flash photography near religious objects, or speaking loudly in areas labeled as contemplative.

Some exhibits include disclaimers such as “This object is used in prayer. Please observe quietly.” Heed these requests. Respect is part of the experience.

3. Use the Museum’s Educational Framework

Spertus has developed a unique interpretive model called “Three Lenses”: Historical, Personal, and Universal. When viewing any exhibit, try to engage with all three:

• Historical: When and where was this made? What was happening in the Jewish world at that time?
• Personal: Whose story does this reflect? What might the maker or user have felt?
• Universal: What human themes does this connect to—loss, hope, identity, community?

This framework helps you move beyond surface-level observation to deeper understanding.

4. Bring Appropriate Attire

While there is no formal dress code, many visitors choose modest clothing out of respect for the sacred nature of some exhibits. Avoid wearing revealing clothing, large logos, or offensive imagery. Comfortable shoes are essential—exhibits require walking across multiple levels and uneven surfaces.

5. Limit Photography

Photography is permitted in most areas, but flash and tripods are prohibited. Some galleries may have “no photo” signs due to loan agreements or cultural sensitivity. Always check signage and follow instructions.

When photographing objects, avoid blocking other visitors’ views. Consider capturing images not just for memory, but as prompts for later reflection—perhaps to compare with other cultural artifacts you’ve seen.

6. Engage with Staff

Spertus staff are not just security or ticket-takers—they are educators and storytellers. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. A simple “What’s the story behind this piece?” can lead to a 10-minute conversation that transforms your understanding.

Many docents have advanced degrees in Jewish studies or art history. Their insights often reveal hidden symbolism, provenance, or contemporary relevance you wouldn’t find in any brochure.

7. Visit During Off-Peak Hours

To avoid crowds and enhance your experience, aim for weekday mornings (10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.) or late afternoons (3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.). Weekends and holidays draw larger groups, which can make quiet contemplation difficult.

During school breaks, the museum may host family programs. If you’re visiting alone or seeking solitude, avoid these days.

8. Combine Your Visit with Nearby Cultural Sites

Spertus is located near other significant Chicago institutions. Consider pairing your visit with:

• The Art Institute of Chicago (15-minute walk): Explore its collection of European and Asian art for comparative context.
• The Chicago History Museum (20-minute walk): Learn about immigration patterns that brought Jewish communities to the city.
• The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center (25-minute drive): A powerful companion experience for those interested in 20th-century Jewish history.

These sites complement Spertus’s focus on art and design, offering broader historical and social dimensions.

9. Return for Multiple Visits

Spertus is designed to be revisited. Exhibitions change every 4–6 months, and new digital installations are added regularly. Each visit reveals something new. Keep a journal of your impressions over time. You may notice how your own perspective evolves as you grow in knowledge and empathy.

10. Share Your Experience Thoughtfully

If you post about your visit on social media, avoid superficial captions like “Cool museum!” Instead, share what moved you: a quote from an oral history, a symbolic motif you noticed, or a question the exhibit raised. This encourages others to engage with Jewish culture in a meaningful way.

Tools and Resources

1. Official Spertus Institute Website

The primary resource for planning your visit is www.spertus.edu. Here you’ll find:

• Current and upcoming exhibitions with descriptions and images
• Opening hours and admission policies
• Event calendars for lectures, tours, and performances
• Virtual tours and online collections
• Downloadable educational guides for teachers and families

Bookmark this site—it’s updated weekly and is the most reliable source for accurate information.

2. Spertus Mobile App

Download the free Spertus Museum app (available on iOS and Android). It includes:

• Audio guides in English, Hebrew, and Spanish
• Interactive maps with clickable exhibit locations
• Behind-the-scenes videos featuring curators
• QR codes that link to extended readings on each artifact

The app enhances your visit without distracting from it. Use headphones to listen to narratives as you move through the galleries.

3. Digital Archive: Spertus Collections Online

Even if you can’t visit in person, explore the museum’s digital archive: collections.spertus.edu. This database contains over 10,000 cataloged objects, including:

• Manuscripts from medieval Spain
• Photographs of Jewish life in pre-war Lithuania
• Posters from the Zionist movement
• Contemporary Jewish art from Israel and the diaspora

Each entry includes high-resolution images, scholarly descriptions, and provenance details. Ideal for students, researchers, or anyone seeking deeper context.

4. Recommended Reading

Expand your understanding with these foundational texts:

• The Jewish Museum: A History by David B. Levy
• Art and Identity: Jewish Art in the Modern Era by Naomi E. Pasachoff
• Everyday Jewish Life in Eastern Europe by Anita Norich
• Memory, Meaning, and Material Culture: Jewish Ritual Objects by Susan L. Braunstein

Many of these are available at the Spertus Library or through your local public library via interlibrary loan.

5. Podcasts and Documentaries

Supplement your visit with audio and visual content:

• “The Spertus Podcast” – Features interviews with artists, scholars, and community leaders.
• “The Art of Jewish Survival” (PBS Documentary) – Explores how art preserved identity during persecution.
• “Jewish Voices in the Diaspora” (NPR Series) – Personal stories from Jewish communities around the world.

Listen to these during your commute or while reflecting after your visit.

6. Educational Kits for Teachers and Families

Spertus offers free downloadable curriculum kits aligned with Common Core and Illinois State Standards. These include:

• Discussion questions for middle and high school students
• Art projects based on museum objects
• Timeline activities connecting Jewish history to world events

Perfect for educators, homeschoolers, or parents seeking meaningful learning experiences.

7. Virtual Reality Experience

Spertus offers a VR tour of the “Synagogue of the Lost Communities,” a digital reconstruction of 12 Eastern European synagogues destroyed during the Holocaust. Accessible via the museum’s website or in-person at the VR station. This experience is emotionally powerful and deeply educational.

Real Examples

Example 1: The “Shtetl to Suburbia” Exhibition

In 2022, Spertus hosted “Shtetl to Suburbia: Jewish Life in Motion,” an exhibition tracing the migration of Jewish families from rural Poland to the neighborhoods of Chicago’s West Side.

One centerpiece was a hand-sewn quilt made by a Polish immigrant woman in 1912, using fabric from her wedding dress and scraps from her husband’s work clothes. Beside it was a 1950s radio advertisement for a kosher deli on Milwaukee Avenue.

A visitor, a third-generation Chicagoan, realized the quilt was made from the same fabric pattern her grandmother used in her own quilts. She shared her story with a docent, who connected her to the museum’s oral history project. Within weeks, her grandmother’s interview was archived—a living link between past and present.

Example 2: The “Women of the Torah” Installation

A 2023 exhibit featured 12 contemporary artists reimagining biblical women—Miriam, Deborah, Ruth—through sculpture, textiles, and digital media. One piece, “Ruth’s Field,” used projected light to simulate wheat swaying in a field, accompanied by a recording of a woman reciting the Book of Ruth in Hebrew, Aramaic, and English.

Visitors were invited to write their own interpretations on paper leaves and hang them on a tree sculpture. Over the course of the exhibition, the tree grew dense with messages of resilience, belonging, and female strength. One note read: “I am Ruth. I chose my people. I choose my future.”

This interactive element transformed the exhibit from passive observation to communal participation.

Example 3: The “Holocaust Memorial Candle” Project

Each year, Spertus invites visitors to light a virtual candle on a digital memorial wall in honor of a loved one lost to the Holocaust. The project includes a searchable database of names from concentration camp records.

A teenager from a local high school discovered the name of a great-aunt she never knew. She visited the museum with her class, lit the candle, and later wrote a poem about her. The poem was displayed in the museum’s student art corner for a month.

This example illustrates how Spertus doesn’t just preserve history—it activates it, making it personal and actionable.

Example 4: The “Contemporary Jewish Identity” Gallery

In 2024, an exhibit featured a series of portraits by a non-binary Jewish artist exploring gender, faith, and tradition. One photograph showed a person wearing a tallit (prayer shawl) over a gender-neutral outfit, standing before a Torah scroll.

Accompanying text asked: “Who gets to be Jewish? Who gets to pray?”

Visitors responded with over 200 handwritten notes, many of which were compiled into a public zine distributed at the museum’s gift shop. The exhibit sparked campus-wide discussions at nearby universities and was featured in a national arts journal.

Spertus doesn’t shy away from difficult questions—it invites them.

FAQs

Is Spertus Museum free to visit?

Admission to the permanent collection is always free. Special exhibitions may require a timed-entry ticket, which are often free or low-cost ($5–$10). Reservations are recommended.

How long does a typical visit take?

Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2.5 hours. If you attend a guided tour or lecture, plan for 3 hours. For a deep, reflective visit with reading and contemplation, allow 3–4 hours.

Can I bring food or drinks into the museum?

No food or drinks are permitted in the galleries. There is a café on the ground floor open during museum hours, offering kosher-style snacks and beverages.

Is the museum accessible for visitors with disabilities?

Yes. Spertus is fully ADA-compliant with elevators, wheelchair-accessible restrooms, and tactile guides for visually impaired visitors. Audio descriptions and ASL interpretation are available upon request with 48 hours’ notice.

Are children welcome?

Yes. Spertus offers family-friendly activities on weekends and during school breaks. The museum is especially welcoming to teens and young adults interested in art, history, and social justice.

Can I donate artifacts to the museum?

Spertus accepts donations of Jewish art, ritual objects, and archival materials. Contact the Curatorial Department through the website for guidelines and evaluation procedures.

Do I need to be Jewish to visit?

No. Spertus welcomes all people, regardless of background. The museum’s mission is to foster understanding across cultures, and many visitors are not Jewish but deeply interested in Jewish history, art, and ethics.

Can I host a private event at Spertus?

Yes. The museum offers rental spaces for weddings, lectures, and cultural events. Contact the Events Office for availability and pricing.

Is there parking nearby?

Yes. Paid parking is available at the Spertus garage (entrance on S. Michigan Ave) and at several public lots within a 5-minute walk. Public transit is highly recommended—the CTA Red Line and multiple bus routes stop nearby.

Can I volunteer at Spertus?

Yes. Volunteers serve as gallery guides, event assistants, and research aides. Training is provided. Visit the “Get Involved” section of the website to apply.

Conclusion

Touring the Spertus Museum of Jewish Art and Design is not merely an excursion—it is an act of cultural engagement, intellectual curiosity, and human connection. In a world where history is often reduced to headlines and artifacts are treated as relics, Spertus restores dignity, depth, and dialogue to Jewish heritage. Its galleries do not merely display objects; they awaken questions, spark empathy, and invite participation.

By following this guide—from researching exhibitions to reflecting in the quiet room—you transform from a passive observer into an active participant in an enduring story. The menorahs, ketubot, photographs, and digital installations you encounter are not just art; they are testimonies. They speak of survival, creativity, and the unyielding desire to leave meaning behind.

Whether you visit once or return annually, each experience at Spertus adds a new layer to your understanding of what it means to be human. The museum does not ask you to believe its narratives—it asks you to live them, to question them, and ultimately, to carry them forward.

So plan your visit. Bring curiosity. Leave with questions. And remember: the most powerful artifact in the museum is not on display—it’s the change you carry with you after you walk through its doors.