By the Rivers of Babylon - new exhibition!
The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem is proud to present By the Rivers of Babylon, the world premier exhibition of the earliest documents that illustrate the lives of the first exiles of from the pivotal chapter in Jewish history, the Babylonian Exile.
Experience the destruction of Jerusalem, the grueling journey to Babylonia, the daily lives of the Judean exiles in captivity and finally the return to Zion.
On display for the first time are original artifacts dating to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian Exile. These ancient clay tablets, known as the Al-Yahudu Archive, contain the written evidence of the Judean people who were exiled from Jerusalem and were forced to rebuild their lives in Babylonia – southern Iraq of today.
This archive is considered one of the most important archaeological finds relating to the history of the Jewish people. Complementing these artifacts are illustrations from the Medieval and Modern eras of the dramatic events which have become a symbol of the resilience of the Jewish people. The exhibition is enhanced with original animations, touch-screen information stations and much more that bring to life the dramatic story of this chapter in Jewish history that changed the Jewish people forever.
Important works are on loan from The Israel Antiquities Authority, Gross Family Collection, Green Family Collection, Israel Museum, Shalom Sabar Collection, Haim Grossman Collection, Aliza and Shlomo Moussaieff Collection, Beit Hatfutsot – the Museum of the Jewish People and private collections. The exhibition was made possible with the generous support of Cindy and David Sofer, David Berg Foundation, George Blumenthal, Eugene and Emily Grant, Naomi and Peter Neustadter, Beth Sanders, Mary and Saul Sanders, The Dr. Elie and Batya Borowski Foundation, CBH Compagnie Bancaire Helvetique, American Friends of the BLMJ, British Friends of the BLMJ, German Friends of the BLMJ, Lands of the Bible Archaeology Foundation, Ministry of Culture and Sport, Ministry of Education, and the Jerusalem Municipality.