Getting into character at the Bible Lands Museum

Originally built by Elie Borowski, a wealthy collector of antiquities, The Bible Lands Museum presents its collection with more historical context than the average glass-and-pins history museum. One of the most noteworthy methods through which the museum keeps itself lively is by hosting a constant procession of educational events for children, striking a sort of historical counterpoint to all the hands-on science at the nearby Bloomfield Science Museum.

 

The talented crew of actors and curators bring history to life around the holidays with a bit of that aforementioned context (and perhaps a few silly costumes too), and this coming Chanuka will be no exception. Actors will portray the conquering Hasmoneans, the decadent Greeks, and even apocryphal Chanuka personae like James Bond, the Amazing Cagliostro (pictured) and King Dave of the Vampires. It’s all to maximize the eight days of oh-so-miraculous oil for the delight and edification of the kids, followed by a series of mystery-solving activities in the museum galleries and arts-and-crafts style creative workshops.

According to Yehuda Kaplan, head of the museum’s education department, these holiday events help make the museum more accessible to the mini-backpack crowd. “When we do these programs for kids, it’s not just an exhibit, it’s more like a theater performance,” he told GoJerusalem.com. “And it’s usually very popular. The Bible Lands is an archeological, historic museum that kids can’t always relate to, but these performances are a means of transmitting the museum’s offerings to children.”

Kaplan says that the characters are all portrayed by professional actors. “We draw the sketch of the story, and the actors themselves fill in the details, create the characters etc.,” he explains. “This Chanuka, we have created a James Bond-style event [called A Mission in Greece] where the childred have to solve a mystery and in the process they meet the characters from the Chanuka story and learn about its history. We are also having a special exhibit of chanukiot this year, which should be of interest to children, because they have the opportunity to make their own as well.”

And while your young Indiana Joneses are off solving the mysteries of antiquity one scavenger hunt at a time, you can avail yourself of a free guided English language tour of museum highlights. Not a bad way to spend a Chanuka day. Performances begin each Chanuka weekday at 12:00.