The Jewish tradition has preserved an ancient custom of eating dates on the evening of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) accompanied by the request: "May it be your will, that there come an end to our enemies". While on the Roman coins the date palm is a symbol of Jewish defeat, on the evening of Rosh Hashanah the date expresses the hope for victory over enemies.
("Judea Capta" coin, bronze, minted in Rome, 71 CE)

Free admission for children under 18 Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays. Courtesy of the Friends of BLMJ.

Ancient Jewelry - Re-Created

Replicas from the PURE GOLD exhibition, created by students from the Jewelry Design Department at Shenkar College of Engineering and Design.

3.1.2012 - 31.3.2013

The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem launches a new weekend activity for families this winter, including free entrance for children!

12 meetings, starting February 6, 2013

Have you always dreamt of learning to read Hieroglyphs? Now’s your chance!

We are pleased to announce the opening of a special course introducing the Ancient Egyptian language and the hieroglyphic writing system.

Due to President Barak Obama's visit to Jerusalem
The Museum will be closed Wed. – Friday, March 20 – 22nd 2013
It will reopen on Saturday, March 23rd 2013
We apologize for the inconvenience
 

Kuntillet Ajrud – The Secrets of a Unique Israelite Site in Sinai

Dr. Ze’ev Meshel, Tel Aviv Univ., Hebrew
 

Friday's Guided Tours
(Free with Museum Admission)

May 10, 11:00 – "Now mount Sinai was altogether on smoke" (Exodus 19, 18) – Rituals and ceremonies in Ancient Times, Hebrew

May 17, 11:00 - PURE GOLD, Hebrew

May 24, 10:30 - PURE GOLD, English

May 31, 11:00 – Angels and Demons, Hebrew

June 7, 10:30 - Angels and Demons, English

June 14, 11:00 – Women and Beauty in the Ancient World, Hebrew

June 21, 11:00 – In the Shadow of the Great Empires, Hebrew

June 28, 10:30 – Secret Rooms at the Museum, English

Shavuot – No Lecture

This International Museum Day, The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem invites you to enjoy the variety of activities that the Museum has to offer… FREE!
The entire family is invited to enjoy the self guided activity, To Dress it and to Keep it Sustainability Then and Now.
Discover the connection between humankind and the planet from ancient times through today, including utilization of the environment, the development of cultures and the role of the Museum in understanding our past in building a better future
Special Guided Tours The Trilogy: a Tour in Three Religions.
Discover the common heritage of the three monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – through examining the stories of the cultures and civilizations of the region. At 11:00 and at 15:00.
And finally: at 12:00 – a last chance to tour the special exhibition PURE GOLD, closing May 30th.

For details: 02-5611066 www.blmj.org

 The Role of Wisdom Literature in the Development of Jewish Mysticism

 Dr. Ronit Meroz, Tel Aviv Univ., Hebrew 

Join us in Jerusalem
May 26 – 30, 2013

The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem invites you to the anniversary event

Visionaries and Dreamers
Celebrating 21 years

Take part in exclusive tours and events from May 26-30 and participate in a spectacular Gala Dinner on Thursday, May 30, 2013.

Reserve your place today for the BLMJ 21st Anniversary celebrations in Israel, May 26-30, 2013. Join us in recognizing the dream of Dr. Elie Borowski, as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth and mark 10 years since his death. The week of exclusive tours and events will focus on those individuals who have dreamt, inspired and influenced the Israeli cultural, intellectual and social landscape.
The exclusive tours, led by experts in the field, will explore individuals and communities who followed their dreams to the land of Israel and left their mark on Israel to this day.

Sunday, May 26th, 2013
Dreamers of Ancient Rome and Visions of Modern Israel
7:00 – Coffee & cake at the Museum. 7:30 departure
Heading north from Jerusalem, we will explore some of the dreams of the land of Israel. We will start at Jabutotinski Park and the Roman Archaeological Site at Shuni, which combines fascinating elements of both modern and ancient visionaries; The Roman theatre, used for the Water Feast, an especially erotic Roman holiday, the home of an Ottoman Sheik and a small archaeological museum featuring finds from the site, the training ground for the Lechi in the militia's struggles against the British Mandate and a sculpture museum featuring modern Israeli art.
Tracing the path of the ancient water supply to Caesarea, we will visit Beit Hanania and wade through the ancient water tunnels at Mei Kedem where we will cool off before we head to Zichron Yaakov for lunch. There we will see key sites in the picturesque town built by the people of the 1st Aliyah in the late 19th century such the synagogue, Beit Aharonson and more.
Guided by Avner Hilman, Supervisor Archaeologist, IAA
Late return to Jerusalem

Monday, May 27th, 2013
7:00 – Coffee & cake at the Museum. 7:30 departure
We will travel to the beautiful town of Tzippori, home of Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, redactor of the Mishnah. This mosaic capital of the Galilee is a town that combines Roman culture and architecture and a thriving Jewish life. We will walk down the ancient roadways, see public structures such as synagogues, churches, a building that has been identified as the city's library, and a magnificent Roman villa that likely was the residence of Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi himself.
From Tzippori we will continue to Yodfat, the place where Josephus was the first to surrender to the Romans during the great revolt in 70 C.E..
We will have lunch overlooking the scenic views of the beautiful Galilee, before we head over to the German Templers' colonies from the early 19th century.
Guided by Dr. Oren Gutfeld, Professor of classical archeology, Hebrew University
Late return to Jerusalem

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013
7:00 – Coffee & cake at the Museum. 7:30 departure
Pioneers of their Days
The Jezreel Valley, more than any other place in Israel, represents both the Biblical stories and the dreams and visions of the Jewish pioneers at the beginning of the 20th century. We will begin our tour at Mt. Gilboa, the battlefield where King Saul lost the dramatic battle against Philistines. We will continue our journey to Tel Jezreel, the summer palace of the Kings of Israel.
Harod Spring perfectly represents the juxtaposition between the biblical stories and the modern history of the state of Israel. In this same site where the biblical judge Gideon held his famous Water Test, we will visit the Yehoshua Hankin House, home of one of Israel's greatest pioneers.
Following lunch in one of the region's wonderful restaurants, we will visit the first Tower and Stockade settlements in Nir David (Tel Amal) and explore the visions and the struggles of Israel's earliest pioneers.
Guided by Yardena Alexander, Senior Archaeologist, IAA
Late return to Jerusalem

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013
New Archaeological discoveries surrounding Jerusalem
8:00 Coffee and cake at the Museum. 8:30 departure
The vicinity of Jerusalem in the Crusader period: Nabi Samuel, Motza and Abu-Gosh
The tour will concentrate on the activity of the Crusaders in the vicinity of Jerusalem and its impact on the landscape. The tour will examine some modern pioneer's activities in some of the sites, and the impact and contribution of these extraordinary individuals.
During the tour we will visit at the site of Nabi Samuel with its magnificent observation point. Then we will proceed to the site of Motza, on the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway and conclude at the Crusader Benedictine Monastery with its magnificent Crusader wall paintings.
Light lunch and early afternoon return to Jerusalem
Guided by Dr. Zvi Greenhut, Director of the IAA's Artifacts Treatment Department.
Early return to the Museum

Special Guest Lecture
7:30 p.m. In the auditorium of the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem
A Triumph of Dionysus, Prof. Sir John Boardman, Beazley Archive, The Classical Art Research Centre, Oxford University, in English

Thursday, May 30th, 2013
Jerusalem - Preserving the future
8:00 Coffee and cake at the Museum. 8:30 departure
We will begin our tour of Jerusalem with one of Israel Antiquities Authorities' greatest preservation projects to date the conservation project of the Great Suleiman Wall of the Old City of Jerusalem. We will receive a VIP tour of The Rockefeller Archaeological Museum.
Following lunch in the Old City, we will explore The Tzikiyahu Cave, filled with many wonders and mysteries surrounding the ancient city of Jerusalem.
Guided by Yoram Saad, Co-Director of the Conservation Project, IAA
Early return to the Museum

Thursday Evening, May 30th
21st Anniversary Gala Dinner – Visionaries and Dreamers
The week culminates with the 21st Anniversary Gala Dinner in honor of Dr. Elie Borowski's Centennial, the fruition of his dream and a look into the future.
7:00 p.m. – Reception and cocktails, followed by dinner in the garden (please dress accordingly)

ALL TOURS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN ENGLISH.
All programs subject to change. Advance reservations required.

BLMJ 21st Anniversary Celebrations
VISIONARIES AND DREAMERS
May 26 – 30, 2013
The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem invites you to celebrate 21 years of fulfilling the Dream. 

Join us in recognizing the dream of Dr. Elie Borowski, as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth. The week of exclusive tours and events will focus on great individuals who have dreamt, inspired and influenced the Israeli cultural, intellectual and social landscape.

The exclusive archaeological tours, led by experts in the field, will explore individuals and communities who followed their dreams to the land of Israel and left their mark on Israel to this day. We will visit sites in and Jezreel Valley following Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi (Judah the Princein) in Sepphoris, the fascinating story of the Templars, the vision of the people of the First Aliyah and the inspiration that they took from the biblical heritage of the region. In Jerusalem, the city that has inspired millions throughout the millennia, we will visit the extended preservation project of the Old City Walls and explore some of the city's unique architectural gems and much more.
The week culminates in May 30th with the 21st Anniversary Gala Dinner in honor of Dr. Elie Borowski's Centennial, the fruition of his dream and a look into the future.

For details, information and reservations: aaron@blmj.org | 972-2-5611066

*All tours will be conducted in English. All programs subject to change.
Advance reservations required.

Special Guest Lecture Celebrating the Museum's 21st Anniversary

A Triumph of Dionysus, Prof. Sir John Boardman, Beazley Archive, The Classical Art Research Centre, Oxford Univ., English

 21st Anniversary Gala Dinner will be held on Thursday, May 30, 2013

Archaeological tours will begin on Sunday May 26 through Thursday May 30th…