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Israel Museum

Museums ·Jerusalem ·Closed
4.721.3K
#1Museums in Israel#1Museums in Jerusalem
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About

Israel Museum, Jerusalem: the national art and archaeology museum on Givat Ram hill, near the Knesset, with the Dead Sea Scrolls.

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Israel Museum

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Why go

  • The Dead Sea Scrolls in the Shrine of the Book, among the oldest biblical manuscripts in the world
  • The Venus of Berekhat Ram, on display in the museum
  • The four restored synagogue interiors on the Synagogue Route, from Europe, Asia and the Americas
  • Sculptures by Henry Moore, Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin and David Smith in the Billy Rose Art Garden
  • More than 700 pieces of Dada and surrealist art, donated by Arturo Schwarz

Opening hours

Today10:00 – 17:00Show all
Monday10:00 – 17:00
Tuesday16:00 – 21:00
Wednesday10:00 – 17:00
Thursday10:00 – 17:00
Friday10:00 – 14:00
Saturday10:30 – 16:00
Sunday10:00 – 17:00

Know before you go

  • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday: 10:00 to 17:00.
  • Tuesday: 16:00 to 21:00.
  • Friday: 10:00 to 14:00.
  • Saturday: 10:30 to 16:00.

What's inside

  • Archaeology wing: the largest collection of artifacts found in Israel, from Neolithic ancestors to the Canaanites and ancient Jews.
  • Archaeology wing entrance: anthropoid sarcophagi from Gaza, from the 13th century BC.
  • A floor mosaic of a church from around 600 AD is on show.
  • Shrine of the Book, probably the museum's best-known wing, also holds the Aleppo Codex, believed to be the oldest Bible codex in Hebrew.
  • Mandel Wing for Jewish Art and Life: Jewish material culture from the Middle Ages to today, and ritual objects from around the world.
  • The interior of a 1736 Zedek ve Shalom synagogue from Suriname.
  • Costume and Jewelry theme: Jewish dress and jewelry from East and West.
  • Rhythm of Life theme: birth, marriage and death.
  • Illuminating the Script: rare medieval and Renaissance Hebrew manuscripts.
  • Israeli art collection, from the late 19th century to today.
  • Information Center for Israeli Art: archival information on several thousand Israeli artists.
  • Edmond and Lily Safra wing: paintings and sculptures from the Renaissance onward.
  • Modern art section: works by Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro, and a portrait of Celso Lagar by Amedeo Modigliani.
  • Surrealism collection, including Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray and Max Ernst.
  • Rothschild salon in 18th-century style, a gift from Edmond and Nadine de Rothschild.
  • Weisbord Pavilion, opposite the entrance, with a small Rodin collection and contemporary art shows.
  • Billy Rose Art Garden, designed by Isamu Noguchi, counted among the finest outdoor sculpture settings of the 20th century.
  • Billy Rose sculpture garden: a mobile by Alexander Calder.
  • Ruth Youth Wing for Art Education, opened in 1966.
  • Off-site: the Rockefeller Archaeological Museum, and Ticho House, a historic house and garden with shows by younger Israeli artists.

With kids

  • The Judaica Wing has full replicas of a 17th-century Italian synagogue and an Indian synagogue.

Tips for your visit

  • Only some of the Dead Sea Scrolls are on show at a time, on a rotation, because the scrolls are fragile.
  • The grounds cover about 50,000 square metres.
  • Look for the white dome of the Shrine of the Book; two-thirds of the building sits below ground.
  • The archaeology wing runs in time order, from prehistory to the Ottoman period. Follow it in that order.
  • The Bible Lands Museum stands next to the museum, on Jerusalem's Museum Row, near the National Library of Israel.
  • The Model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple Period stands outdoors, beside the Shrine of the Book.

Interesting facts7

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  1. A nail from Jesus' time is on show as evidence that crucifixion was practised.

    Israel Museum - Wikipedia

  2. A mosaic Islamic prayer niche made in 17th-century Persia is among the exhibits.

    Israel Museum - Wikipedia

  3. Necklaces worn by Jewish brides in Yemen are among the displays.

    Israel Museum - Wikipedia

  4. The museum has the oldest surviving model of a sailing ship in the world.

    Israel-Museum - Wikipedia

  5. A seal that belonged to Baruch, a friend of the prophet Jeremiah, is in the collection.

    Israel-Museum - Wikipedia

  6. A bronze armoured statue of Hadrian from Tel Shalem is on display.

    Israel-Museum - Wikipedia

  7. State and municipal sources supply only 10–12% of the budget; the museum raises most of its funds itself.

    Israel Museum - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

Teddy Kollek, mayor of Jerusalem, was the driving force behind the founding, and Willem Sandberg was its first chairman. The first buildings, in masonry, were designed by architect Alfred Mansfeld. Its collections come mainly from excavations and large gifts, including the Jacques Lipchitz collection. The Jewish art collection traces back to the Bezalel National Museum, and the museum is the heir of the Bezalel art school.

  1. early 20th centuryThe Jewish art collection traces back to the Bezalel National Museum, under Mordechai Narkiss.
  2. 1938The Rockefeller Archaeological Museum opened as an off-site branch, with artifacts from the 1920s and 1930s excavations.
  3. 20th centuryThe Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 11 caves in and around Qumran, among the greatest discoveries of the 20th century.
  4. 1965The museum was founded, and its Shrine of the Book, designed by Armand Bartos and Frederick Kiesler, opened.
  5. 1995The Jewish art departments were united into one independent wing.
Show all
  1. 2006A model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period, first built for the Holyland hotel, is on permanent display.
  2. 2010After three years of renovation by Efrat-Kowalsky Architects, aimed at doubling gallery space, the museum reopened enlarged. A new entrance pavilion links the archaeology, fine arts and Jewish art wings.

Sources: Israel Museum - Wikipedia · Jerusalem/West - Wikivoyage (see) · Israel-Museum - Wikipedia · Musée d'Israël - Wikipedia · checked 19 Oct 2026

Where
11 Derekh Ruppin, Jerusalem

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Questions and answers

Which buses go to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem?

Buses 7, 14, 35 and 66 serve the museum. Its address is 11 Derekh Ruppin, Jerusalem.

What is next to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem?

The Bible Lands Museum and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are next to it. The Israel Antiquities Authority is also nearby.

Are the Dead Sea Scrolls on display at the Israel Museum?

Yes, in the Shrine of the Book, on the grounds. They are among the oldest biblical manuscripts in the world.

Is the Israel Museum suitable for children?

The Ruth Youth Wing for Art Education is for young visitors and people who rarely visit museums.

How many people visit the Israel Museum each year?

More than 950,000 people visit it each year. Its collection holds about 500,000 items.

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