Eretz Israel Museum’s Ceramics Pavilion

As we already have known, the Eretz Israel Museum is one of Mel Lifshitz’s favourite spot  when he’s visiting Israel.  One of the many attractions inside the museum that always lures him to come back is the Ceramics Pavilion.

The Ceramics Pavilion shows how pottery was made, decorated, and used throughout the ages, and has a reconstructed dwelling from biblical times complete with pots.  The small Ethnography and Folklore Pavilion holds a wealth of Jewish ethnic art and handicrafts -- household and religious items, jewellery, and costumes, set in scenes from daily life.

Mel Lifshitz noted that one of the special features of the Ceramics Pavillion is the wall of antique Chanukah menorahs from all over the world.  This kind of exhibit can’t be found anywhere.

The Nechushtan Pavilion is another great artwork inside the Ceramic Pavilion.  It is devoted to mining and metallurgy as practiced during biblical times in the Timna Valley, Arava, and Sinai.  The "Man and

His Work" Center holds truly fascinating displays showing how men and women have earned their daily bread in Israel since ancient times.

Another great piece of historical remains that fascinates Mel Lifshitz are in the Mosaic Square.  In it you can see the mosaic floor of a Samaritan synagogue (discovered in situ on the grounds of the museum) as well as mosaic floors brought from a Roman villa in Bet Guvrin, a synagogue from Tiberias, and a mosque from Ramla.

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Mel Lifshitz Goes to Eretz Israel Museum

One of the best parts of traveling that Mel Lifshitz enjoys a lot is the endless museum visits and tours.  As a history lover, he always finds time to learn the place’s culture and people by checking their museums.  In his last visit to Israel,  he went to the Eretz Israel Museum.

Mel Lifshitz noted that  the Eretz Israel Museum complex lies within a large enclosure that also encompasses Tel Qasile, an ancient mound in which 12 strata of past civilizations have been discovered. Selected artifacts from Tel Qasile are displayed in the museums, but especially fascinating is the archaeological site, where you can enter and explore a rebuilt typical house from the pre-Israelite Canaanite period.  

Besides Tel Qasile, Eretz Israel has eight attractions. The Kadman Numismatic Pavilion has exhibits chronicling the history of coinage and monetary systems. The Glass Pavilion has a fine, rare collection of glass vessels spanning 3,000 years of civilization, from 1500 B.C. to A.D. 1500, the largest collection of ancient glass in Israel.

On the other hand, the Lasky Planetarium and its astronomy shows is one of Mel Lifshitz’s favourite attractions inside the Eretz Israel Museum.  It  also displays its collection of moon rocks.

 Another pleasant addition to the complex is a park called Landscapes of the Holy Land. The museum shop is well stocked with reproductions, jewellery, crafts, and other great gift choices. There’s also a  kosher cafeteria is open from 11am to 2pm.

Mel Lifshitz recommends the museum’s gift shop as the best place to buy interesting souvenirs and gifts in Israel.