To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

Massive Museum of the Bible Readies to Open in D.C.: Visitors Will Literally Be Able to Touch Jewish Temple

Julie Stahl, Chris Mitchell : Nov 15, 2017  CBN News

"I think one of the most emotional artifacts in the exhibition will be a one-ton stone from the Western Wall that people can touch." — Israel Antiquities Authority Curator Debora Ben Ami.

(Jerusalem, Israel) — [CBN News] The minds behind Washington, D.C.'s new Museum of the Bible are making sure to include the historic Land of the Bible to give visitors a more complete experience. There couldn't be a more natural fit. (Photo Credit: CBN News)

Visitors to most museums are greeted with "Don't Touch" signs when it comes to ancient artifacts… but not here.

"I think one of the most emotional artifacts in [the] exhibition will be a one-ton stone from the Western Wall that people can touch," said Israel Antiquities Authority Curator Debora Ben Ami.

For centuries, people have traveled from around the world to Jerusalem to pray at the Western Wall. Now, one of these stones, from the Roman destruction of the Jewish Temple made the journey to the U.S. to be part of the new Museum of the Bible.

"We have actually a label [that says] 'Touch Me' because we think people would like to see and feel the connection between being in the States and touching a stone from Jerusalem from the first century BC," Ben Ami told CBN News.

There are some 800 artifacts on permanent exhibit, all excavated in Israel.

"The idea of the exhibition is to show the archaeology of Israel and history in the times of the Bible, in the times of the Old Testament and the New Testament showing the people of the Land," said Ben Ami.

"This is the name of the exhibition—the People of the Land, showing the different cultures of the Land from the Canaanites, Philistines, Israelites, Edomites, Second Temple Period, Byzantine Times," she added.

Ben Ami's specialty is the Iron Age and Persian Period National Treasures.

CBN News spoke with Ben Ami at the IAA warehouse in Beit Shemesh, outside Jerusalem, where workers crated the items and shipped them to the U.S. (Photo Credit: CBN News)

"We have a special crate and we get it in a plane and [it] is sometimes challenging to put in place but they have now a new and nice place to be. It's difficult but not impossible," she said.

Ben Ami helped design the museum's Israel exhibit. They installed the Western Wall stone and other artifacts like this piece from King Herod's palace at Masada.

"My favorite part—being the First Temple period curator—I of course love all the exhibitions—the house in the First Temple period, the administration. But also I think there are very important view[s] of the Second Temple period—seeing a house, a Jerusalem house from the times of Jesus," Ben Ami said.

There's also an area that ensures return visitors see something new.

"We call [the] gallery, New Discoveries from Israel, so this will be a temporary gallery to show new discoveries each year, to show the people in the States the new discoveries from Israel," she said.

The first will feature glass production in Israel.

"This is not only important but a beautiful one and a new discovery of a hoard of artifacts from the Roman period from a ship from under water in Caesarea," she added.

While artifacts are often loaned for temporary showings, this is the first time the Israel Antiquities Authority has created a permanent exhibition outside of Israel.

It's an opportunity to get a glimpse of the Holy Land without visiting the Middle East.







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

California Town Tears Down Beloved Hillside Cross

Danielle Smith Again Defends Alberta's Coming Ban on Transgender Mutilation of Children

Detransitioners: We Were Pushed to Transition as Teens, Now We're 'Vindicated' By Study Showing Kids Grow Out of It

US Supreme Court Says Idaho Can Enforce Ban on Child 'Sex Changes' as Lawsuit Continues

How Bidenomics Shattered the American Dream of Homeownership

Bill Aims to Stop Illegal Aliens from Squatting in US Homes

Soros-Linked NGO Distributes Flyers in Mexico Telling Illegal Immigrants to 'Vote For Biden': Report

Long-Awaited Articles of Impeachment against DHS Secretary Mayorkas Finally Arrive in Senate

Justices Gorsuch and Alito Highlight Biden Admin's Glaring Double Standard during J6 Hearing

Louisiana House Passes Bill That Requires All Schools Receiving State Funds to Display the Ten Commandments Inside Classrooms

NPR Suspends Editor Who Blew Whistle on Left-Wing Takeover of Newsroom

Sri Lanka: Pro-Family Activists Successfully Derail Effort to Turn Country Pro-LGBT, But Now There's a New Fight in Parliament over Broad 'Gender' Bills

50,000 Join Polish March for Life in the Midst of Government Push to Overturn Abortion Ban

Hamas Remains Obstacle to Gaza Ceasefire, Israel Has Moved in a 'Significant Way,' US Says

Wow. Joe Biden Approved Iran's Assault on Israel 'Within Certain Limits'

'Unjust Scam': Trump Says He Will Likely Miss Son Barron's Graduation Due to 'Conflicted and Corrupt' Judge

Maine Governor Allows National Popular Vote Legislation to Become Law

Election Integrity: Trump, Mike Johnson Back Bill Assuring Only US Citizens Vote in Elections

Fox News Host Lawrence Jones Delivers Powerful Gospel Message: I'm 'Proud to Be a Believer'

California Mom Wants Child Castrated Without Father's Consent



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



BCN Plus

Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com