Fine Arts, Ancient Artifacts, and Rare Historical Documents: Jerusalem is home to a host of museums capable of fascination and education for all who visit. For those curious about Biblical archeology or modern Israeli history, or simply looking to soak up some world-class culture, these fascinating establishments are not to be missed. With over 200 museums, Israel has the highest number of cultural institutions per capita in the world. Spanning old streets and thousands of years of history, Jerusalem’s museums hold a wide range of European and Israeli modern art collections, as well as ancient finds that played an important role in its development. of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Keep reading on for the best museums in Jerusalem.

The Best Museums in Jerusalem, Israel

The Israel Museum

The Best Museums in Jerusalem, Israel | The Israel Museum

Any tour of the best museums in Jerusalem should start at the Israel Museum, Israel’s largest and arguably best cultural institution. Ranked among the top museums in the world, the Israel Museum displays nearly 500,000 objects and is home to the world’s richest collection of archaeological artefacts related to the Holy Land. One of the highlights is the Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest surviving biblical manuscript. Other exhibits include a selection of rare and ancient Jewish manuscripts, including one of the oldest surviving illuminated Passover prayer books, known as the ‘Haggadah Bird Head’, and a wing dedicated to modern art, including masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin and Claes Oldenburg. The Israel Museum is located in downtown Givat Ram. Children, seniors and students enjoy discounted admission.

Yad Vashem

Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, Yad Vashem is located on the western edge of the city, on Mount Herzl. Opened in 1953, this vast museum is the largest museum in the world to commemorate the 6 million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis and their allies during the Second World War. In addition, it honors non-Jews who risked their lives to save their Jewish neighbors during the same period in what is known as the Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations. family. family. Yad Vashem’s indoor galleries and outdoor memorials offer a chilling and memorable glimpse into Jewish history, uncovering what happened, why it happened, and how it can be avoided similar horrors in the future. It presents interactive displays and survivors’ testimonies along with a wide range of documents, photographs, artwork and films. Welcoming one million visitors a year, Yad Vashem is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Israel and has no entrance fee.

Museum for Islamic Art

With one of the world’s richest collections of antique watches and Islamic art, the Museum of Islamic Art has created a bridge between Israel’s Muslim and Jewish communities. Located in the Katamon neighborhood of south-central Jerusalem, the museum displays Islamic pottery, textiles, jewelry, and contemporary art from various dynasties, from the first Umayyad kings to the end of the period. Ottoman period. The permanent display is one of the world’s largest collections of rare antique watches originating from Europe and Turkey. Among its treasures are items from Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and India, as well as Iran’s Harari Hoard, a rare collection of intricately decorated 12th-century silver vessels. in inscriptions and arabesques. The museum was founded in 1974 by Vera Bryce Salomons in memory of her professor Leo Aryeh Mayer, who was a scholar of Islamic art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and much of the permanent collection is from his personal collection.

Museum on the Seam

Museum on the Seam | The Best Museums in Jerusalem, Israel
The Best Museums in Jerusalem, Israel

Located on the ‘junction’ between East and West Jerusalem, on what was once the border between Israel and Jordan when the city was divided, Museum on the Seam is an independent institution that defines itself as a ‘museum of contemporary art’. political society’. A Christian Arab architect named Andoni Baramki built the building in 1932 and the museum was founded in 1999 with a focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, gender norms regional and geographical issues. The museum explores these themes through temporary exhibits. Examples of recent shows include an exhibition examining the philosophical and ethical impacts of the 1945 Hiroshima bombing and a group of exhibitions on women’s liberation and equality in the 21st century. Consistently ranked among Israel’s top museums, Museum on the Seam has attracted some of the world’s top artists in recent years such as Anselm Kiefer, Sophie Calle and Jenny Holzer. It is only open on weekdays.

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