Independence Harry Wilf Park: bounded by King George St., Hillel
St., and Agron St., the Park may be approached by crossing King George St. from
Hechal Shlomo. New Yorkers have been known to refer to it as ``Jerusalem's
peaceful Central Park.'' The large reservoir at the tip of the triangle
furthest from King George is the Mamilla Pool (Bus. Nos. 15, 22) which is
thought to have once provided a part of the Old City's water supply by being
connected to Hezekiah's Pool and Sultan's Pool. There is a mediaeval Moslem
graveyard around the pool.
(Bus Nos. 4, 7, 8, 9, 14, 17, 19, 22, 31, 32, 38)
International Cultural Centre for Youth: 12a Rehov Emek Refaim. Cultural
programmes for youth exhibits folklore shows for tourists on Tues. and Sat.
nights. Open Sun. and Fri. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Mon. and Thurs. 4-6 p.m. Sat. 10
a.m. - 1 p.m.
(Bus Nos. 4, 14, 18)
*Islamic Museum: see L.A. Mayer Memorial Museum for Islamic Art.
(Walk No. 2. Bus No. 1)
Israel Museum: The largest displays are devoted to Archaeology of the
Land of the Bible, Jewish Ceremonial Art and Jewish Ethnography. Other halls
and galleries display permanent and changing displays of Israeli Art,
Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art, Paintings before 1900, Pre-Columbian
and Ethnic Art, Design, Photography, East Asian Art and Prints and Drawings.
Several fine period rooms include an 18th-century French Empire Grand Salon
which formerly belonged to the Rothschild family a Venetian rococo room and an
English 18th-century dining room, all of which show the formality of bygone
eras.
Situated close to the entrance is the Shrine of the Book which houses the Dead
Sea Scrolls. Its white dome resembles the shape of the lids of the jars in
which the scrolls were found and contrasts with the black basalt wall nearby,
recalling the title of the scroll, ``The Sons of Light and the Sons of
Darkness,'' possibly written by the Essenes who lived in the vicinity of
Qumran. All of the manuscripts here are some 2,000 years old, ante-dating the
fall of the Second Temple during the Roman occupation. The oldest, as well as
the longest, of the scrolls is the Book of Isaiah. It is the oldest complete
manuscript of a biblical book in existence, over a thousand years earlier than
any other known. The Shrine is open until 1.30 p.m. on Sun, Mon, Wed and Thurs.
The Jewish Ceremonial Art section has the most complete collection of Judaica
from all corners of the world where Jewish communities once flourished.
The Department of Ethnography is devoted to the collection, research and display
of material culture and folk art from the different Jewish and non-Jewish
ethnic groups currently living in Israel. On display are examples of costumes
such as the attire of a bride from Yemen, ceremonial garments from Morocco and
Bukhara as well as jewellery and other objects from Jewish communities,
especially from Islamic countries.
The Youth Wing offers exciting and challenging exhibitions, changed
periodically, which are equally enjoyable for adults and children. The museum
is open 7 days a week: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m.-5
p.m. Tuesday from 4 p.m.- 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Summer hours are usually extended. Please enquire about special hours on
holidays. Entrance fees.
Free guided tours in English are available. Special ramps and lifts are
available for the disabled to most museum areas. A programme of art films,
theatre performances and concerts, for adults and children, continues
throughout the year.
(Bus Nos. 9, 17, 24)
The U. Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art, 27 Rehov Hillel. The museum
presents all aspects of Jewish life in Italy, both religious and daily, from
the Middle Ages to our time. It includes the interior of the synagogue of
Conegliano Veneto, dating from 1701, which is still used. Services are held on
Friday evenings (20 mins. after candle-lighting) and Saturday mornings (8
a.m.), as well as on festivals. Open: Sun.-Thur. 10 a.m.-l p.m., Wed. 4-7 p.m.
Entrance fee.
(All buses to the centre of town)