Page 32 - Holyland Magazine - 2025 Edition

A NEW JERUSALEM ICON
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY O
A “well of knowledge” for
the history and culture
of israel and the jewish
people, set within a
modern architectural gem
Discover the National Library
of Israel (NLI), a venerated
133-year-old institution, and
Jerusalem’s newest must-see
destination. The Library is a
dynamic hub of culture and history that
captures the essence of Jewish heritage and
the rich diversity of Israel, offering a unique gallery showcases a selection of rare books,
journey through the past and present of
the Jewish people, Israel, and the broader
region.
You are invited to explore NLI’s five core
collections: Israel, Judaica, Islam & the
Middle East, Humanities, and Music. The
Library boasts the world’s largest collections
of Judaica, Jewish and Israeli music, and
historical maps of Jerusalem and the Holy
Land, alongside exceptional collections of
manuscripts, rare books, photographs, and
much more.
Other rare treasures range from texts
handwritten by personages like Maimonides
and Sir Isaac Newton to beautifully preserved
Islamic manuscripts dating back to the ninth
century. Dive into the personal archives of
luminaries like Martin Buber, Franz Kafka,
Natan Sharansky, and Naomi Shemer.
A tour of the National Library of Israel is
more than just a visit; it's an experience.
Wander through the stunning new building
that now joins the list of Jerusalem’s most
iconic landmarks. Designed by award-
winning architects Herzog & de Meuron, and
positioned adjacent to the Knesset, Israel
32 l HOLY LAND
The Stewart and Lynda Resnick Entrance Plaza. Photo: Aviad Bar Ness
Museum, and the Supreme Court of Israel,
this architectural masterpiece is a beacon of
national pride.
The magnificent permanent exhibition
ancient manuscripts, historical posters,
and personal archives of outstanding
historical, cultural, and literary figures. The
permanent exhibition, "A Treasury of Words,"
demonstrates how text has the power to
change the world, formulate ideas and
move them forward, and define, sometimes
even create, a place, community, and nation,
as well as express the spirit and talent of
thinkers, writers, and key cultural figures.
The rotating exhibition gallery hosts a range
of special exhibitions that change every few
months. Currently on display through June
2025 is “Kafka: Metamorphosis of an Author,”
presenting an exceptional collection of
original Kafka manuscripts, Hebrew exercise
books, drawings, letters, and papers.
Following the Kafka show will be an
exhibition showcasing the beauty and variety
of the flora of the land of Israel, from antique
albums of pressed flowers sold as souvenirs
for travelers on a pilgrimage to the Holy
Land, to documentation of the history and
development of nature conservation and
preservation in modern-day Israel.
As you explore the Library, you'll also encounter seminar center (including in English), plus
significant contemporary artworks, including
pieces by leading artists like Edmund de Waal
and Michal Rovner. And don't miss Micha
Ullman’s striking Letters of Light sculpture
that welcomes visitors at the entrance to the
Library campus.
Letters of Light is anchored in the deep and
ancient layers of Jewish tradition and the
Hebrew language, while also drawing on
other cultures and on the essence of the
invention of the alphabet. Letters of Light
centers on the letters of the Hebrew alphabet
hewn in stone, and the Hebrew "Alef," the
Latin "A," and Arabic "Alif" projected through
openings into an underground chamber,
with light and shade responding to the ever-
changing angle of the sun’s rays. It dialogues
with another renowned Ullman installation,
the Bibliotek memorial on Bebelplatz square
in Berlin, where the Nazi book burnings
began in 1933.
Another must-see is the Main Automated
Stacks, an“infinite library”located five stories
underground that safeguards treasures
valuable to Israel and Jewish people
worldwide. This robotic warehouse employs
a specialized oxygen reduction system that
preventatively inhibits fire, preserving over
four million books, archives, and other items
in optimal conditions for the enrichment of
future generations.
The National Library of Israel is also a hub of
activity. There are fascinating lectures at the
events such as a summer concert series and
an annual documentary film festival.