The ANU Meseum of the Jewish People
The ANU Museum of the Jewish people at Beit Hatfusot advertises itself as the only museum in the world dedicated to telling the ongoing story of the Jewish people from the Biblical period to the present. It is located on the campus of Tel Aviv University in Ramat Aviv, a northern suburb of Tel Aviv. Its name ANU, which is Hebrew for we, is meant to embrace inclusion. The museum was formerly known as Beit Hatfutsot, or the Diaspora Museum, but received a $100 million donation for expansion and reopened in March 2021 under its new name.
Directions and parking: Enter “ANU” in Waze and click on “ANU Museum of the Jewish People”. Entrance is through Matatia Gate 2. There is paid parking for museums opposite gate #2. On Saturdays and holidays parking is only allowed on Klauzner St. outside the campus.
Public transport: There are close-by bus stops. Enter “ANU Museum of the Jewish People into Moovit.
Admission: The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday, Thursday 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m., Friday 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and Saturday 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Regular admission is 52 NIS and for seniors 26 NIS. Olim, college students and persons with disabilities 42 NIS. There are 75-minute guided tours in English at 1.00 p.m. on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday that focus on one floor at no additional cost. This needs to be booked in advance through their website. Admission is free on Friday, but should be booked in advance. Tourists and non-Israeli citizens must present a passport or proof of ID to enter the museum. Audio guides are available in a number of languages with 6 themes at no additional charge. There is a cafeteria and kiosks on the ground floor. Their telephone number is 03 500 8080. This is the museum’s website.
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The aims of this museum are to strengthen Jewish identity, celebrate Jewish pluralism and diversity, provide Jews a sense of their legacy, and engender a sense of belonging. Technologically the museum is very advanced with 54 movies and 23 interactive displays. There are three floors of exhibits. The first floor is about Jewish foundations. It celebrates the fact that Judaism has a universal message and discusses in varying degrees of detail the Covenant, Jewish Calendar, Shabbat, and the influence of the Bible on world culture. Synagogue Hall displays its renowned synagogue models from around the world. The second floor is about the Journey or migrations of the Jewish people, up to and including the State of Israel. Interestingly, the Holocaust has only a small room. This can be justified in that the holocaust is covered in other museums and this is a museum about Jewish life and not Jewish death. The third floor or Mosaic is about modern Jewish identity and culture and includes exhibits about theater, dance, cinema, music and luminaries. All explanations are in Hebrew and English.
It is worth appreciating that this museum does have a philosophical direction. Multiculturalism is considered a means of Jewish inclusion rather than a stage of assimilation and opting out. Judaism remains on the first floor and is separate from the Journey and Jewish Mosaic. The continuing changes in Jewish life are worthy of exhibition but not its consistency. It’s all a matter of perspective!