The Place of Evolution in Israeli Natural History Museums and Public Discourse

Rachel S.A. Pear, Nigmeh Abu Toameh Kadan, Israel Belfer

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

The three Israeli natural history museums we discuss in this chapter could not be more
different one from the other. The state-of-the-art Steinhart Museum of Natural History at Tel
Aviv University opened to the public in July 2018, and while it is not on the scale of museum
giants such as the Natural History Museum in London, it impressively combines the three main
aims of research, display and education. The allure of the Museum of Natural History in
Jerusalem , tucked away on a side street in the 'German Colony' neighborhood, is completely
different. Housed in an enchanting aging mansion with adjacent community gardens that always
seem to be going through some refurbishments, the draw of the experience is only partially due
to the exhibitions, some of which date back to 1949. The third museum we will discuss, is one of
a kind. Off the highway adjacent to the suburb of Beit Shemesh, Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin
established The Biblical Museum of Natural History in a rented commercial facility, describing
itself as “part zoo, part natural history museum, and part Torah education center.”
Original languageAmerican English
Title of host publicationMost Adaptable to Change
Subtitle of host publicationEvolution and Religion in Global Popular Media
EditorsAlexander Hall, Will Mason-Wilkes
PublisherUniversity of Pittsburgh Press
Chapter11
Pages201-216
ISBN (Print)978-0822948285
StatePublished - 22 Oct 2024

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