News of the Museum
January - March 1998
We concluded the year 1997 with 21,560 virtual visitors to our web-site. We invite all virtual visitors to visit us at the Museum.
About our Collection
1. The Current Exhibition: "The Olive Tree - The Past That is also the Future"
We prepared a special activity for schoolchildren on the subject of the two olive branches that appear in the emblem of the State of Israel. (See under "Educational Activities"). We advertised in the "General Manager's Circular" brought out by the Department of Education and we hope this will bring us an increase in visitors to the Exhibition.
2. The Permanent Exhibition - Titles in the Arab Language
The Department of Museums granted us a sum of money for this purpose. We have begun adding titles to the showcases in Arabic and are continuing with the translation of the explanations to the artefacts.
In the entrance to the Museum Hall we have added showcases on the theme "The Meeting of Stone, Man and Earth". In the preparation of this we are receiving assistance in crystallizing the idea and in the explanations from Peter Pisarro of Kibbutz Yizreel.
We are about to reorganize the dispay of artefacts in the Roman and Byzantine Periods and will give details in coming News Bulletins.
Educational Activities
We have prepared an activity around the theme of the Exhibition "The Olive Tree - the Past That is also the Future". This deals with the Emblem of the State of Israel and deliberates the question why the designers of the Emblem chose the components: the Menora (Temple Candelabra), the olive branches and the name "Israel".
The activity lasts for three hours and includes studying the Museum Displays and playing a game centred on the Menora over the different historical periods. It concludes with creative work, preparing a single candlestick decorated with different types of of the Menora.
"Gods as Men" - is another activity for schoolchildren and deals with the examination of figurines of gods that are to be found in the Museum. This is followed by a theoretical workshop on the Pantheon of the Canaanite gods. The whole activity takes some two hours.
Adult Lecture Series
- In January we heard Professor Avi Gofer from the University of Tel Aviv on the subject "The Beginnings of Agriculture and the Domestication of Animals".
- In February Dr. Yossi Garfinkel from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem gave a lecture on "Dance and Ritual in the Period of the Beginnings of Agriculture".
- In March we will hear Nimrod Gatzov from the Antiquities Authority on the subject "The Formation of the International Society".
- In April Dr. Rafi Greenberg will lecture on "The Beginning of Urbanization in the Fertile Crescent and in the Land of Israel".
Family Outings
On March the 13th, for Purim, the participants will visit the Museum and examine the artefacts dealing with the ancient trade routes. We will then go the Nahal Tabor to enjoy the profusion of wild flowers blooming there and to learn about the remains of volcanic lava in the area.
Meetings
Directors of Archaeological Museums
On January the 29th, the Museum held a Meeting of the directors of Archaeological Museums in Israel. There were about 40 participants from 20 museums. It was decided to set up a Forum of Archaeological Museums. A guiding committee was elected with Carmela Arnon (Ein Dor Museum) as Chairman and as representative of the Forum in Icom, Alon Goldberg (Gan Hashlosha Museum), Bracha Zilberstein (Nachsholim Museum), Asnat Mish-Brandel (Israel Museum) and Ofra Rimon (Hecht Museum, Haifa).
Olive Oil Tasters
During the period 2-5th March over 60 people from all parts of the country took part in the first such course for Olive Oil Tasters, arranged by the Department of Agriculture and the Olive-Growers Council. During the course the participants learned to distinguish between the tastes of different olive oils, their varying qualities and character.
Settlement of the Lower Galilee and the Jezreel Valley
Towards the end of April and the beginning of May, a Meeting is planned around the subject of "Fifty Years of Settlement". The Meeting is under the auspices of the Department of Information and will include a tour of the area, visiting different sites and a number of lectures.
Development
The Staff of the Museum is developing in two further directions:
- Marketing
- Economic Research
These two processes are being carried out with the help of outside advisors, aaccompanied by the Department of Tourism. They will help the Museum to prepare for the year 2000.
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