HA-GANAH MUSEUM. This museum relates the history of the Israeli Defense Force
(IDF). Two movies (in Hebrew and English) tell the stories of the Exodus, the first
ship to make aliya, and the Palmah. (23 Rothschild Blvd. between Allenby St and Nabalat
Binyamin. NIS8; students, seniors and children NIS4.)
RUBIN MUSEUM. Located in the former residence of Reuven Rubin, this collection
of his oil paintings represents the formative years of Israeli art. (14 Bialik St « 525
59 61. Open Su-M and W-Th 10am-2pm, Tu lOam-lpm and 4-8pm, Sa llam-2pm. NIS15, stu-
dents NIS7.50.)
ETZEL IRGUN TZVA'I LE'UMI MUSEUM. The displays trace the pre-1948 history of late
Israeli prime minister Menahem Begin's military movement that struggled against
British Mandatory rule. (38 King George St, in the Likud party headquarters. «528 40 01 or
525 33 07. Open Su-Th 8am-4pm. NIS8, students and seniors NIS4.)
BEIT BIALIK MUSEUM. The former home of Hayim Nahman Bialik, one of Israel's
greatest poets, now houses his manuscripts, photographs, articles, letters, and 94
books (with translations in 28 languages). The building is maintained almost
exactly as it was when he died. An English brochure is available, but there are no
English translations on the displays. (22 Bialik St. a block up Allenby, across from the
shuk. Free.)
DAVID BEN-GURION HOUSE. Peruse books, pictures, and mementos (including
letters from Ben-Gurion to John F. Kennedy, Winston Churchill, and Charles de
Gaulle) of Israel's first prime minister. In the Hillel Cohen Lecture Hall next door,
invade Ben-Gurion's privacy even further as you examine his passports and one of
his salary slips. (17 Ben-Gurion Ave. House and lecture hall open Su-Th 8am-
3pm, F8am-lpm. Open erratically on Sa llam-2pm. Free.)
fg BEACHES
Tel Aviv may party night after night, but somehow it manages to fit a busy day of
sun and surf in between. Beaches have lifeguards on duty. (May-June and Sept-
Ocam-5pm, July-Auam-7pm, and Nov.-Apam-2:30pm.) Since all of Tel
Aviv's beaches are rife with theft, use the free safes at most hostels.
From north to south, the beaches are Sheraton, Hilton (behind those hotels),
Gordon, Frischmann, Trumpeldor (at the ends of those streets), and the Jerusalem
beach at the end of Allenby Rd. (originally set up to give people from Jerusalem a
place to play); the last four are almost one continuous beach. The southern coast-
line, with fewer amenities and no luxury hotels, tends to be quieter during the day,
though this is gradually changing now that the tayelet (promenade) has been
extended all the way to Jaffa. The Sheraton beach is also quite peaceful. Gordon
Beach overflows with foreign tourists and people trying to pick them up, while the
Hilton beach swarms with native surfers and people trying to pick them up. Avoid
that whole scene altogether at Nordau Beach, a religious beach. (Men: M, W, and
Sa; women: Su, Tu, and Th.)
The Octopus Diving and Sport Center, at the marina, provides scuba diving courses
and equipment. (5-day course NISI 100 but expect to pay at least
NIS410 more for a certificate, mask, and log book.) Surfboards can be
rented near the marina at Kikkar Atarim for NIS80 per hour.