Recommended for:

The Bible Lands Museum site is recommended for teachers and students in grades 7-12 interested in exploring historical, Biblical and Mishnaic artifacts, in addition to Greco-Roman artifacts and modern cultural exhibits, to deepen their understanding of the context of history and modern Israel. There are also series of video playlists on the roots of Israeli entrepreneurship and how the topics remain relevant today.

Jerusalem in Babylon tells the story of the destruction of the First Temple and Jerusalem and the exile of the Judeans to Babylon.
The exhibition concludes with the echo of Psalm 137, “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept when we remembered Zion”, touching on the quest for return that has echoed in the hearts and prayers of the Jewish people for millennia.
The Al-Yahudu tablets reveal the names of dozens of Judean exiles, and their offspring, and bear a stunning testimony to their lives in Babylonia over a period of some one hundred years.

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Dr. Elie Borowski has left a legacy for future generations in the museum that he founded, together with his wife Batya, for the study understanding and appreciation of biblical history and the history of the ancient world. The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem is the only museum in the world dedicated to the history of the Bible and the Ancient Near East. The Permanent Exhibition, which is made up almost entirely of the former private collection of Dr. Elie Borowski, spans from the earliest signs of civilization to the Early Christian era in the Land of the Bible.

Born in Warsaw, Poland, he studied at the prestigious Tachkemoni and Mir Yeshivas. His unquenchable thirst for knowledge led him to study at many of Europe’s leading universities including: the Collegio Rabbinco of Florence, the Pontificial Biblical Institute in Rome, the Sorbonne, and the Ecole du Louvre in Paris, and the University of Geneva.

Prior to the outbreak of World War II, in August 1939, he joined the “Jews of France Committee of Combatants and Volunteers”, and enlisted in the Polish Division within the French Army which was forced to retreat into Switzerland. There he was interned for the remainder of the war. Devastated by the Holocaust, he was left with nothing but the education he had acquired in the pre-war years.

He used his extensive knowledge and understanding of ancient art, history and languages to become a world renowned expert on ancient art and inscriptions, with emphasis on the biblical period.

Over a period of more the 50 years he assembled a priceless collection of ancient Near Eastern art reflecting the cultures and civilizations of the biblical period. This collection was first published in 1975 in the catalog, Ladders to Heaven, which accompanied an exhibition that traveled extensively in Europe and Canada.

The collection continued to grow, and the dream began to formulate: to create an institution of learning, a unique resource of universal stature, where people of all faiths would come to learn about biblical history. Shaped by the shadow of the Holocaust, this concept began to take shape as a way to encourage future generations to understand the morals and ethics of the Bible.

In 1982, Elie married Batya, whom he met at an exhibition opening in Jerusalem the year before. This incredibly dynamic and energetic couple began to put their talent together to transform his tremendous dream into a reality. Together they overcame skeptics and bureaucratic stumbling blocks, ultimately establishing a world-class museum in the heart of Jerusalem’s Museum Row.

Former Mayor of Jerusalem, Teddy Kollek understood the vision of Dr. Borowski and the incomparable collection he donated to establish the museum.

The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem opened its doors to the public on May 11^th, 1992, and has since earned international acclaim as a universal center for cultural and educational programming. It is the only museum in the world dedicated to the history of the biblical period in the ancient lands of the Bible.

Tracing history from the dawn of civilization to the early Christian era, this priceless collection of rare and exquisite ancient treasures is displayed chronologically allowing the visitor a walk through history. A guided tour through the museum traces the development of religious beliefs, worship. Trade, commerce and communication, from the beginning of urbanization through the Talmudic period; innovative educational programs for school children, weekly lectures and courses for adults, and creative programs on the holidays are part of the active programming offered at the museum.

Elie Borowski’s work was never finished. He left this world while in the midst of preparing for the future. He was a man of action—always planning, working, and dreaming. Plans for the expansion and growth of the museum have been developed in order to accommodate needed exhibition space, a research library and educational facilities.

This was his dream for the future – it is now in the hand of all those who have supported the museum in the past, and those who will be inspired to join it in the future. To this aim, we have initiated the Elie Borowski Memorial Fund. This fund will help to protect the future of the museum and all its vibrant programs.

Elie Borowski dedicated his life to nurturing a dream from its conception to its realization.The Bible Land Museum, surpassing all initial expectations, became the ideal vehicle for his legacy, which will continue to touch many generations to come.

“The future of mankind has his roots in the past – only through understanding our history we can build a better future.”