The Museum as a Bridge – The Past as a Shared Space

You are warmly invited to a day of connection, dialogue, and hope, inspired by International Museum Day, held this year under the theme “Museums Unite a Divided World.”

Since its founding, the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem has been committed to serving as a bridge—making the shared heritage of the region’s peoples accessible as a foundation for mutual understanding and intercultural encounter.

On this special day, we will focus on two themes that connect the distant past with the realities of today:

As Soon as the War Is Over
War has been a constant in human existence, particularly in the history of our region—and recent years have served as a powerful reminder of this reality.
The museum’s new exhibition, “As Soon as the War Is Over,” explores the concept of war and its related ideas through perspectives drawn from key historical narratives of the region: What is victory, and who defines it? What is the fate of the defeated? What is the relationship between war and peace? And what does hope for peace look like?
A visit to the exhibition invites reflection on the challenges we face today—viewed through the lens of history and with the hope that it may help guide us toward the long-awaited day after the war.
Tours: Hebrew 11:00, 13:30 | English 12:00

In the Footsteps of Abraham
A bilingual tour and encounter inspired by the museum’s flagship coexistence program, active for nearly three decades.
Join us for a shared journey through the galleries, following the story of Abraham – the father of many nations – as a cultural bridge between Jewish and Arab communities.
The tour will be co-led by Majd al-Din Sidawi and Sarit Hasidim, who have led the program in recent years — two languages, two narratives, and shared roots that connect them.
Tours: 10:00, 12:00 (Hebrew & Arabic)
Following the tours, participants are invited to an informal gathering over coffee and an open panel discussion with the program team, addressing the challenges and vital importance of coexistence initiatives within the museum space today.
Participation in the tours and panel is free of charge and based on availability (no pre-registration required).