The Israel Museum

This morning, we made our way to the Israel Museum, which is -- amazingly -- about a fifteen-minute walk from our house. The temperature had cooled down to the mid-60s, and there was a brisk breeze, so it was a great day for a walk. To get to the museum, we make our way through Gan Sacher and go up Givat Ram (High Hill) toward the Knesset; the museum is on the top of the hill. Recently, the museum underwent an extensive renovation and expansion, and the result is a sprawling building that looks, from afar, like a bunch of interconnected stone and glass boxes. It's quite striking.

Going to an art museum with a toddler can be a nerve-wracking experience, so we weren't sure how this excursion would work out. But we had a great time at the Israel Museum, and that's in large part due to the fact that the museum has not only outstanding galleries, but also wonderful outdoor spaces. In fact, right after you buy your ticket and go through the turnstile, you don't walk into a gallery; you walk outside, and face a series of stone staircases flanked by fountains, sculptures, and gardens. Immediately, Alexander gave his trademark affirmation for something new by saying, "Wow!" He started wiggling to get out of his stroller seat, and in this outdoor setting, we could actually set him free. In the space of about a minute he checked out a large statue, sniffed some blooming rosemary, and became mesmerized by a fountain. As he stared at the moving water, he said "Mayim," which is the Hebrew word for water. He's beginning to pick up a few Hebrew words, which is pretty cool.

We did eventually make our way into some galleries, and while we didn't get to see the special exhibition on King Herod, we spent a good chunk of time in the modern and contemporary galleries. It had been a long time since I'd been in a museum and it felt really nice to be able to browse and take it all in, and I was impressed with how patient and calm the boys were. When Alexander did eventually start to get antsy, we could easily get back outside again, and we spent some time exploring the "art garden." Part of the garden has pathways through shade trees, and part of it is out in the open. Paved with gravel, the open section has panoramic views of the surrounding city, as well as long stretches of open space for kids to run around in. You can touch the sculptures, sit on stone benches, or simply take in the view. This place is perfect for kids, and Alexander had a great time out there. Here he is with Eric near one of the more prominent sculptures, by Henry Moore:

 

And here is with me in front of a huge sculpture of an apple, by Claes Oldenburg. It was great to hear him say, "apple," when we approached it; I wasn't sure he would recognize the fruit in such an outsize form!

 

Here's Alexander again, next to a sculpture of the Hebrew letters that spell "AHAVA" in Hebrew or "LOVE" in English. Maybe some of you have seen the English version of this piece in Philadephia. It's made by the same artist, Robert Indiana.

And lastly, here is a picture of Alexander and me in front of the Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are among the oldest known biblical documents. The scrolls were discovered in the 1940s and 1950s on the shores of the Dead Sea.

But wait! I'm adding in one more photo, just so you don't think we left our other child behind on this trip. Here is Benjamin, taking it all in from his favorite seat:

We only skimmed the surface of the museum; there are many more galleries we'd like to see, and there's a children's art education wing that we didn't even get a chance to check out. So we're pretty sure we're going to get a membership to the museum so we can go back as often as we like. The Israel Museum is fast becoming one of my new favorite spots in Jerusalem!