THE ERETZ YISRAEL MUSEUM. A veritable eight-ring circus, the Eretz Yisrael
museum consists of eight pavilions covering vastly different topics spread over an
archaeological site that is still being excavated. The most famous attraction in the
complex is the Glass Pavilion, with one of the finest collections of glassware in the
world. The Nehushtan Pavilion, with its cave-like entry way, holds the discoveries of
the excavations at the ancient copper mines of Timna, better known as King
Solomon's Mines, located just north of Eilat. Across the patio, the Kadman Numis-
matic Museum traces the history of the region through ancient coins. The Ceramics
Pavilion contains ancient Canaanite pottery, exhibits explaining its production, and
artist Moshe Shek's ceramic sculptures. Across the entrance area, past the grassy
amphitheater, is the Man and His Work Center, an exhibition of Middle Eastern folk
crafts and techniques. Follow the road to the right and go up the stairs to reach the
Tel Qasile Excavations, which have revealed a 12th-century ВСЕ Philistine port city
and ruins dating from around 1000 ВСЕ. The area at the top of the hill contains the
remains of three separate Philistine temples built on top of each other. Down the
hill to the south are scattered remnants of the residential and industrial quarter of
the city. Past the Philistine town is the Folklore Pavilion, with Jewish religious art,
ceremonial objects, and ethnic clothing. The Eretz Yisrael complex also houses a
library of over 30,000 books and periodicals (some in English) and the Lasky Plane-
tarium. (2 Levanon St, in Ramat Aviv (the northernmost part of the city). Buses #7, 24, 25, or
74 from the New Central Bus Station stop at the museum.Open Su-Tu and Th 9am-
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3pm, W 9am-5pm, F-Sa 10am-2pm. NIS28, students NIS22, children NIS20; includes access to
all 8 pavilions and the Eretz Yisrael Library, Planetarium NIS20, in Hebrew.)
BEIT HA-TFUTZOT (THE DIASPORA MUSEUM). Also in Ramat Aviv, this out-
standing museum chronicles the history of Jewish life outside the land of Israel,
from the Babylonian exile (596 ВСЕ) to the present day. A display of synagogue
models shows how Jews incorporated local architectural ideas in building their
houses of worship; they resemble Italian villas, American ranches, and Chinese
pagodas. There's even a model of a synagogue designed by architect Frank Lloyd
Wright. Short films and multimedia displays throughout the museum highlight
everything from the culture of the Yemenite Jewish community to the evolution of
Yiddish theater. The museum also has a Genealogy Department that can trace the
family trees of Jews whose relatives have registered. The Chronosphere, offering
English multimedia presentations at 12:30 and 2:30pm, is a good introduction to
the museum. (On the Tel Aviv University Campus in Ramat Aviv. Buses #24 and 25 stop at the
closest gate to the museum (Gate #2), but #2 7 stops near the rear gate not far away. Open Su-Tu and Th 10am-5pm, W 10am-7pm, F
9am-2pm. NIS22; students, children, and seniors NIS16.)
TEL AVIV MUSEUM OF ART. The museum holds a sizeable collection of Israeli
and international art. The handsome lobby boasts a Lichtenstein, and the museum
itself runs the gamut from Impressionism (Renoir, Monet, Corot, and Pissaro) to
Surrealism (including de Chirico and Magritte) to cutting-edge multimedia instal-
lations by more recent artists. Rotating thematic exhibits are exceptionally well-
curated and range from "Music in Art" to "Stage Design." An English program list-
ing special exhibits and events is available in the ticket booth or the This Week in
Tel Aviv insert in Friday's Jerusalem Post. (27 Sha'ul Ha-Melekh Blvd. Buses #7 and
18. Open M and W 10am-4pm, Tu and Th
lOam-lOpm, F 10am-2pm, Sa 10am-4pm.Gallery tours in English W 11:30am. NIS30, students
NIS24, seniors and children NIS15.)