The opening of the Berlin Jewish museum has been postponed until 1999 after its head was sacked in September 1997.
Amnon Barzel was sacked because of his behaviour, according to Cultural officials in Berlin. However, such sacking caused displeasure among the Jewish community there. Amnon Barzel wanted not only to exhibit Jewish art and religious artefacts but also to stress the role played by Jews in Berlin while the city officials progressively limited his powers last year to a point that the museum simply depended on the Berlin Museum.
Amnon Barzel criticized city officials and accused them of Nazi methods stressing that Berlin did not want to have an autonomous Jewish museum.