The Israel Museum

The Israel Museum is undisputedly the largest and most important museum in Israel. Anyone who travels to the Holy Land and wants to learn about its history and culture should not miss a visit to the museum.

The National Museum is located in the western part of Jerusalem, in the Givat Ram district. It is one of the leading international museums of fine arts and archaeology and consists of four different departments: the art department, a department of Judaica and Jewish ethnography, an archaeological department and a youth department. Thus, it aims to represent and make understandable the entire art history of Israel and its neighbors. At the same time, it houses an impressive collection of works by modern masters that illustrates the currents influencing Israeli art today. Due to this diversity, which covers an area of approximately 50,000 square meters, it is not surprising that the museum is visited by more than 950,000 visitors annually.

In addition to the countless historical legacies of the Holy Land on display and the building’s individual architecture, there are many other highlights to discover:

Shrine of the Book

The Shrine of the Book is probably the most remarkable building in the National Museum. The building, whose roof mimics a clay jar, houses originals and copies of important ancient scrolls of the Old Testament.

Model of Jerusalem and the 2nd Temple

In the outdoor area of the museum you can see a miniature replica of Jerusalem at the time of the Second Temple prior to its destruction by the Romans in 66 AD.
By looking at the model, one can understand very easily the structure of Jerusalem at that time.

Billy Rose Art Garden

Another highlight is the famous Billy Rose Art Garden. Strolling through the oriental landscape adorned with outdoor sculptures of the 20th century, you can experience the history of development of the Western sculptural tradition up close.

Ruth Youth Wing

Young visitors also get their money’s worth during a visit to the Israel Museum.
The Ruth Youth Wing is dedicated to art education and, in addition to age-appropriate exhibition spaces and studios, also offers special programs regarding intercultural understanding for children.

Branch offices

Not everyone knows that the Israel Museum has two other branches. One is the Rockefeller Archaeology Museum. It exhibits an important collection of relics from ancient Israel and the Ticho House.
In the latter, changing exhibitions of young Israeli artists can be admired. Both cultural institutions are definitely worth a visit.