History. Culture. Experience

“We Hereby Declare”
Screening and talk with director Shmuel Elmalich
Wednesday | April 29 | 19:00 | Included in museum admission
Josh, an American immigrant, takes his family camping on the eve of Israel’s Independence Day.
At 2:00 AM, a group of Israeli teenagers sets up nearby and begins a karaoke party.
Josh’s Zionist dream begins to unravel as he confronts the realities of life in Israel.
In a fascinating conversation, director Shmuel Elmalich will share insights into the creative process behind the film, as well as clips from the series “Kai Vanunu,” which follows a boundary-breaking young Jerusalemite convinced that the only way to bring his father home is to become a television star.
With the help of an unsuccessful agent, a former ultra-Orthodox friend, and a great deal of self-belief (perhaps too much), Kai embarks on a journey toward fame—balancing between humor and emotion.
About the Director:
Shmuel Elmalich is a Jerusalem-based filmmaker, director, and creator. He immigrated to Israel from New York and grew up in Beit Shemesh.
At the age of 21, he served in a digital media unit as a military photographer and director.
He studied acting at the Aspaklaria Theater and completed four years at the Ma’ale School of Film.
Today, he runs a digital production company and works as a full-time director. He also plays the saxophone and is an avid fan of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
18:00 – Guided tour: From the Tower of Babel to Jerusalem – from different languages to a shared identity.

26 Iyar (ahead of Jerusalem Day) | Lecture In Range of the Legion’s Cannons: The Security Reality in Israeli Jerusalem, 1948–1967
Dr. Eldad Brin, University of Haifa and the Open University
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 | 19:00 | Included in museum admission | Hebrew
During the era of divided Jerusalem (1948–1967), the Israeli side of the city was surrounded on three sides by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The armistice agreements were supposed to prevent hostilities against the city and its residents, but daily life was rife with friction that led to constant anxiety and even bloodshed.
Not widely known is the fact that the army even drafted contingency plans for evacuating the city’s residents in the event of a major outbreak of violence.
Based on a recently published book about Jerusalem during those years, this lecture will detail the security reality faced by the city’s residents and how it shaped the city’s growth, planning, and development.