Delve deeper into the Bible by learning about the lives of the people who populated the Ancient Near East at the award-winning Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem. Founded in 1992 by the late Dr. Elie Borowski and his wife Batya, the Bible Lands Museum’s extensive collection of ancient art and archaeology helps visitors gain a more intimate understanding of the Bible through discovering the daily practices of the people who lived during that period.
The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem (BLMJ), located on Museum Row, is in the heart of the modern cultural center of Jerusalem. The collection draws from the vast geographic area reaching from Afghanistan in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, from the Caucasian mountains in the north to Nubia (Sudan) in the south.
The collection dates from the dawn of civilization, focusing on the pre-historic era 6,000 years ago to the Early Christian Era, approximately 1000 CE. Displayed chronologically, the Main Exhibition sheds light on the daily lives and beliefs of the rich civilizations that have since vanished, including how they cooked, worshiped, buried their dead, fought their battles, adorned themselves with jewelry, among many other aspects.
BLMJ has earned international acclaim as a universal center for cultural and educational programming. It leads innovative tours for school children, presents weekly lectures, and offers a variety of courses for adults. The Museum is a vibrant cultural institution offering creative programs for families and a rich array of activities throughout the year.
| 21 Stefan Wise St., Museum Row | Open 7 Days a week! |
| P.O. Box 4670, Jerusalem 9104601 Tel: 972-2-5611066 | Fax: 972-2-5638228 Contact us: contact@blmj.orgWeb: www.blmj.org |
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9:30 – 17:30 Wednesday 9:30 – 21:30 Friday, Saturday, Holiday Eves 10:00 – 14:00 Jewish Holidays Closed |
*All programs subject to change.
Exhibitions:
New Exhibition – By the Rivers of Babylon
The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem is proud to present By the Rivers of Babylon, the world premier exhibition of the earliest documents that illustrate the lives of the first exiles of from the pivotal chapter in Jewish history, the Babylonian Exile.
Experience the destruction of Jerusalem, the grueling journey to Babylonia, the daily lives of the Judean exiles in captivity and finally the return to Zion.
On display for the first time are original artifacts dating to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian Exile, including clay tablets from the Al-Yahudu archive (named after the city that the Judean exiles settled, in southern Iraq) which display fascinating evidence of the lives of the exiles. This archive is considered one of the most important archaeological finds relating to the history of the Jewish people. Complementing these artifacts are illustrations from the Medieval and Modern eras of the dramatic events which have become a symbol of the resilience of the Jewish people. Advanced multi-media enhance this exhibition which focuses on one of the most important milestones in the history of the Jewish people.
>Gallery [Credit: Avi Noam]
BLM – Sneak peak nove izložbe ‘By the Rivers of Babylon’. Autor: Olla Vainer. /A sneak peek from the new exhibition ‘By the Rivers of Babylon’. Credit: Olla Vainer. Ustupio: BLM PRESS.
DIONYSUS: Wine & Divine
A brief encounter with the god of wine, intoxication and ecstasy, and his frenzied entourage in this display of enchanting artifacts, many of which are being exhibited for the first time.
Permanent Exhibition
The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem houses one of the world’s most important collections of ancient Near Eastern artifacts, illustrating the world of the Hittites, the Phoenicians, the civilizations of Greece and Rome and the importance of Canaan, Judea and Israel at the cross-roads of the ancient world.
Glories of Ancient Greece – Closing: April 2015
The oldest jewelry in the museum is found in this exhibition, part of a large collection of silver and gold items, which also includes a magnificent gold wreath from the Hellenistic period, necklaces, rare gold and crystal earrings and beautiful bracelets. Gold and silver were relatively rare in ancient Greece until Alexander the Great’s successful campaign against the Persians, when his conquest resulted in tremendous amount of gold and silver booty flowing into Greece, some of which ended up in the museum’s collection. The exhibit also features an extensive collection of Greek pottery from over 3,500 years ago, with vases portraying scenes from Greek mythology that represented the height of artistic ingenuity at the time.
Roman Fresco Room
From Pompeii to Jerusalem: The frescoes in this collection are believed to be from the villas of Boscotrecase, a suburb of Pompeii that was frozen in time with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. Sealed beneath the lava, they were preserved for centuries and still retain their vibrant colors and fine detailed painting. The beautiful frescoes, made in the Roman technique of wet plaster painting, portray magical panoramic views of nature, mythology, erotica and more. One of the prominent pieces from the collection is the “Erotic Scene of a Nude Nymph.” *On view by request only.
Daily Guided Tours: Free with Museum admission
Sunday – Friday English 10:30, Hebrew 11:00
Additional tour on Wednesdays English 17:30, Hebrew 18:00
Saturday Hebrew 11:30
Reserve tours in additional languages and groups in advance: contact@blmj.org
Special Friday – Mother Tongue
Guided tours in the languages of the Jewish people, inspired by the new exhibition – By the Rivers of Babylon.
Friday, March 20, 11:00 – De ke? De kezo!
From Abraham to the Babylonian Exile – Guided tour in Ladino through the museum galleries and the new exhibition.
Guide: Matan Stein
Lectures:
Wednesday at 19:30 | Free with Museum admission | Hebrew
11.3.15 – “For Torah Shall Come Forth From Zion”– To Babylon? , Prof. Avigdor Shinan, Hebrew Univ., Hebrew
18.3.15 – How Will the Exile End, If at All? – Medieval Thoughts, Prof. Israel Yuval, Hebrew Univ., Hebrew
25.3.15 – For more information: www.blmj.org
Purim at the Museum! Free admission for children
BOOK OF ESTHER FAMILY TOUR (Program in Hebrew).
Thursday – Friday, February 5 – 6, at 11:00 and 12:00.
Your family is invited to the fancy palace of King Ahasuerus in Shushan, the capital of ancient Persia! You received your invitation to the banquet, but still don’t know what to wear? What type of gift you should give to the king? What happens to people that attend the banquet uninvited like Esther; how did she get away? In this engaging tour for the whole family, you will discover all the answers to these questions and more when you visit the King’s palace.
Suitable for children ages 5-10.
Tour is included in admission price at no extra cost.
For more information and ordering tickets: www.blmj.org | 02-5611066
Pessach Day Camp
A once in a lifetime experience for your children! (Program in Hebrew)
An enriching adventure for Pessach
March 29 – April 2 | 8:30 – 13:30
500 NIS per child, 450 NIS for members or siblings registered together.
Optional extended day available until 14:30 or 16:00 (additional fee) ideal for ages 6 – 9
Nebuchadnezzar / Nabucco: Reality to Imagination
An exciting and unique event inspired by the exhibition “By the Rivers of Babylon” and the opera Nabucco! Wednesday, March 25
The Bible Lands Museum in partnership with the Israeli Opera, are proud to present a special evening to celebrate the exhibition “By the Rivers of Babylon” and the opening of the opera Nabucco.
6:30 pm – Tours of the permanent galleries and the new exhibition “By the Rivers of Babylon”.
7:30 – A panel session featuring:
* Lecture on the figure Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
* Michael Eisenstadt on Verdi’s opera Nabucco
* Musical selections performed by the soloists of the Israeli Opera production Nabucco
Space is limited, please purchase your tickets in advance: 02-5611066 | www.blmj.org
REVELATION – Closing performance of the Jerusalem Center for the Performing Arts Festival
Monday, March 30, 2015 at 8:00 PM
The Bible Lands Museum and the Culture and Arts Department of the Jerusalem Municipality present a multidisciplinary evening of art and creativity held at the Bible Lands Museum. Jerusalem-based artists will present original works that correspond to the Museum’s unique galleries and artifacts, and inspired by the newest exhibition, “By the Rivers of Babylon.”
The evening will conclude with a musical performance by The Betty Bears with a show that combines swing and Dixieland from the 20s and 30s New Orleans.
Local artists from the fields of theatre, dance, drawing, music, video and animation featured: Miriam Engel, Sofia Krantz, Emanuela Amichai; as well as theatre students from Hebrew University: Mayaan Libman Sharon, Liora Weiss, Ram Mizrahi, Aviv Shein, Oron Elior, Idan Sklar, Guy Cohen, Elinor Fox, Dotan Dvir and Natalia Gomez.
Costume design: Adi Legziel
Production and Artistic Direction: Machol Shalem Dance Center and the Jerusalem Municipality Theatre Department
Executive Producer: Caterina Siliadis
Advanced reservation required, place is limited
Fee: 40 NIS, Students: 30 NIS, Museum Members: Free
Weekend Family Fun
Saturdays | 10:00 – 14:00 | Free admission for children!
Self-guided activity, Ideal for Shabbat observant families (when tickets purchased in advance).
*New! Lost at the Museum- Join the Princess and the Wizard on their spectacular journey in search of their lost heirlooms. Look for shiny jewelry and hunting tools that have vanished in the Museum and discover ancient spells and mysterious papyrus writings. But beware of the lurking demons that are trying to throw you off the trail!
*Tour booklets for children (ages 4-6)
*Mummy Kit – Secrets of Ancient Egypt
Museum Shop
Unique and original gifts by leading Israeli designers
Gifts for the holidays * Jewelry * Judaica * Games * Replicas * Catalogues and books.
Contact us: shop@blmj.org | www.blmj.org/catalog/ | www.facebook.com/BLMJ.Shop
Celebrate your next event with us!
Weddings, Conferences, Corporate Events and Receptions
Hold your next event at the Museum and enjoy a unique atmosphere and a once in a lifetime experience including exclusive tours of the Museum and excellent catering. Exclusive use of the Museum, auditorium, reception halls and the Biblical Garden can all be made available just for you.
Special Program for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs:
King for a Day – The young Bar/Bat Mitzvah guides family and guests in a special tour. Linking the Chain of Generations – An enchanting tour of the Museum ideal for children and adults.
After the Kotel – Enjoy a series of creative activities based on Bible stories, Jewish holidays and more.
For further information and reservations: events@blmj.org
Take Notice:
NEW PARKING ARRANGEMENTS – parking lot between the BLMJ and the Israel Museum is free for museum visitors ONLY. Simply present your museum entrance ticket when exiting the lot to park for free. Please remember to keep your entrance ticket!
Stopping by to pick up holiday gifts in out Gift Shop? Just let us know and we will be glad to provide you with a parking pass with your purchase.
Enjoy special discounts on museum entrance fees. Bring your paid ticket receipt from the BLMJ to the Israel Museum or the Bloomfield Science Museum, to receive discounts on entrance within the same week.
Your BLMJ membership or tickets also grant you discounted entrance at the Israel Children’s Museum in Holon.
Izvor
BLM PRESS
