Bavarian Bookends

I came across this funny scene with a bare-chested man in front of the Jewish Community Center at St. Jakobs-Platz, with two female onlookers. I’ve written many times about open nudity throughout Munich, but even this shirtless man seemed a bit out of place in the busy and uptight square. The idea of a Jewish museum in Munich originated likely before the bare man was born, 78 years ago. But it wasn’t until 2007 that it was inaugurated. The facility now houses an elementary school, kindergarten, and youth center. The museum is designed as a freestanding cube with a transparent ground floor lobby. The two top floors house changing exhibitions, a learning center, and a library. The museum had one primary benefactor, the City of Munich – which still manages the facility today.