Menachem Begin Heritage Center
Encyclopedia
The Menachem Begin Heritage Center is the official state memorial commemorating Menachem Begin
, Israel’s
sixth Prime Minister. The Center is located on the Hinnom Ridge, overlooking Mount Zion
and walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.
passed the Menachem Begin Commemoration Law as an official state memorial project to establish a Center that would preserve the achievements and legacy of Menachem Begin and serve as a Research Institute of the Struggle for the Independence of Israel and its future security and development. The Center was officially opened by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
, on June 16, 2004.
The museum tells the story of the life of Menachem Begin, from his childhood in Poland, his years as the commander of the Irgun
, the Leader of the Opposition
in the Knesset, and as Prime Minister
of the State of Israel, by means of multimedia
exhibits that include historical reconstructions and reenactments, documentary
videos, interactive touch screen
exhibits, presentations and surround sound
narration.
The library contains books on various research areas connected to the museum, and also holds books from Menachem Begin’s personal library.
.
.
The center operates varied programs and tours for students, soldiers, and youth visiting from abroad. It also offers the “Junior Knesset” educational program, for middle school pupils, to enhance civic education
and the study of Israel’s parliamentary system
.
period are preserved in the Al Reich Archeological Garden, including ancient burial caves, in which a silver scroll pendant containing the biblical
Priestly Blessing
in ancient Hebrew script
was found.
Menachem Begin
' was a politician, founder of Likud and the sixth Prime Minister of the State of Israel. Before independence, he was the leader of the Zionist militant group Irgun, the Revisionist breakaway from the larger Jewish paramilitary organization Haganah. He proclaimed a revolt, on 1 February 1944,...
, Israel’s
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
sixth Prime Minister. The Center is located on the Hinnom Ridge, overlooking Mount Zion
Mount Zion
Mount Zion is a place name for a site in Jerusalem, the location of which has shifted several times in history. According to the Hebrew Bible's Book of Samuel, it was the site of the Jebusite fortress called the "stronghold of Zion" that was conquered by King David, becoming his palace in the City...
and walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The museum
On March 28, 1998, the KnessetKnesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
passed the Menachem Begin Commemoration Law as an official state memorial project to establish a Center that would preserve the achievements and legacy of Menachem Begin and serve as a Research Institute of the Struggle for the Independence of Israel and its future security and development. The Center was officially opened by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
, on June 16, 2004.
The museum tells the story of the life of Menachem Begin, from his childhood in Poland, his years as the commander of the Irgun
Irgun
The Irgun , or Irgun Zevai Leumi to give it its full title , was a Zionist paramilitary group that operated in Mandate Palestine between 1931 and 1948. It was an offshoot of the earlier and larger Jewish paramilitary organization haHaganah...
, the Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Israel)
The Leader of the Opposition , is the politician who leads the Official Opposition in the Israeli legislative body, the Knesset.-Until 2000:Until 2000, the role of the Opposition Leader was not an official position, but rather an honorary role...
in the Knesset, and as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Israel
The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
of the State of Israel, by means of multimedia
Multimedia
Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
exhibits that include historical reconstructions and reenactments, documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
videos, interactive touch screen
Touchscreen
A touchscreen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touching the display of the device with a finger or hand. Touchscreens can also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus...
exhibits, presentations and surround sound
Surround sound
Surround sound encompasses a range of techniques such as for enriching the sound reproduction quality of an audio source with audio channels reproduced via additional, discrete speakers. Surround sound is characterized by a listener location or sweet spot where the audio effects work best, and...
narration.
The library contains books on various research areas connected to the museum, and also holds books from Menachem Begin’s personal library.
Archives
The onsite archives collect all historical material directly connected with the life and achievements of Menachem Begin and are part of the Israel State ArchiveIsrael State Archive
The Israel State Archives is the national archives of the State of Israel. It is attached to the Prime Minister's Office....
.
Research and education
The Research Institute of the Begin Heritage Center sponsors conferences, lectures and colloquia in cooperation with universities and other research centers. The Center presents an annual prize, known as the Begin Prize, to a person or organization for extraordinary acts that benefit of the State of Israel or the Jewish peopleJews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
.
The center operates varied programs and tours for students, soldiers, and youth visiting from abroad. It also offers the “Junior Knesset” educational program, for middle school pupils, to enhance civic education
Civics
Civics is the study of rights and duties of citizenship. In other words, it is the study of government with attention to the role of citizens ― as opposed to external factors ― in the operation and oversight of government....
and the study of Israel’s parliamentary system
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
.
Archeological garden
Archeological discoveries at the site of the museum dating back to the First TempleSolomon's Temple
Solomon's Temple, also known as the First Temple, was the main temple in ancient Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount , before its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar II after the Siege of Jerusalem of 587 BCE....
period are preserved in the Al Reich Archeological Garden, including ancient burial caves, in which a silver scroll pendant containing the biblical
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
Priestly Blessing
Priestly Blessing
The Priestly Blessing, , also known in Hebrew as Nesiat Kapayim, , or Dukhanen , is a Jewish prayer recited by Kohanim during certain Jewish services...
in ancient Hebrew script
Paleo-Hebrew alphabet
The Paleo-Hebrew alphabet , is an abjad offshoot of the ancient Semitic alphabet, identical to the Phoenician alphabet. At the very least it dates to the 10th century BCE...
was found.
External links
- Menachem Begin Heritage Museum website