Beit Hatfutsot – The Museum of the Jewish People (formerly The Diaspora Museum) Core Exhibition – Center for Jewish Culture and Arts

Overview

Founded in 1978,  Beit Hatfutsot is a  three-floor, multi-faceted museum, built on the Tel-Aviv University campus in northern Tel Aviv. Established as part of the vision of Nahum Goldman, who was the president of the World Jewish Congress at the time, the museum offers a wide variety of educational experiences that attempt to convey the 4000 year-old story of the Jewish people, strengthen Jewish identity, serve as a learning center for Jewish visitors and promote understanding and support for the Jewish people to all visitors.

The three-floor Core Exhibition presents Jewish history through different eras and across different lands with a focus on Jewish continuity, creativity and diversity via murals, reconstructions, dioramas, audio-visual displays, documentary films and interactive multi-media presentations.  The Core Exhibition is divided into seven sections: (1) The Family section, begins with a slide show depicting contemporary Jewish families from around the world participating in the Jewish Life Cycle and holidays. See also Judaica, art and photographs that illustrate the Jewish family. (2) In the Community section, learn about different types communities such as the 13-14th century German Rabbinical Courts, see also films, artifacts and pictures. (3) The Memorial Column is an abstract metal sculpture suspended from the ceiling that represents the oppression and tragedy that has befallen the Jewish people. Included in the exhibit are excerpts from the book “Scrolls of Fire,” written by Abba Kovner (one of the museum’s founders) about Jewish martyrdom and heroism. (4) The Gate of Faith section features a world-renowned display of 18 historically accurate miniature synagogues. See replicas of a synagogue built in China in 1163, a Torah niche from Syria (245 C.E.), and a painted ceiling from the oldest known wooden synagogue (17th century) located in the Ukraine. (5) The Culture section begins with a large Hebrew letter “Aleph” against the backdrop of the Ten Commandments and evolves into various displays of individuals, families and Jewish leaders such as Albert Einstein and Shai Agnon, that have influenced Jewish intellectual thought and culture from the Second Temple Era until today. (6) In the Among the Nations section, explore 13 different stations of Jews and their host country, tracing their paths back to the State of Israel. Finally, the last section is (7) Return to Zion which depicts Jews yearning for the land of Israel through the centuries, the establishment of modern day Zionism and the waves of Aliyah (immigration) that led up to the establishment of the State of Israel. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, courses, film workshops, and special programs during the holidays and summers for children and families.