This is a very special year for me. One reason is that the Biblical Museum of Natural History has reached its ten year anniversary. In the first twelve months of operation, we received 7000 visitors; in the last twelve months, despite the steep drop in international tourism due to the war, we’ve received over 45,000!
We also reach a wider range of people than any other institution. It spans the spectrum from schools so secular that they refuse to step foot in our Hall of Kosher Classification, to the most extreme Charedi groups for which all our female staff have to disappear from view and all the TV screens need to be switched off. We’re not thrilled about these adjustments, but we’re very proud of how the former group are getting exposed to Jewish identity in a unique and positive way, and the latter are discovering that learning about the natural world can enhance your understanding of Torah.
You can read a review of our accomplishments and see some amazing photos in our annual report for 2024, which you can read as an online flipbook by clicking the image below:
Meanwhile, in light of the unique challenges presented by the war for Jews worldwide, we’ve been working on how the museum experience can strengthen young adults’ sense of how the Land of Israel has always been a fundamental part of Jewish identity, by showing how the animals and plants of our culture and heritage are those of the Land of Israel.
To this end, for our 10th anniversary, we're seeking 100 donors - ten squared - to strengthen the Jewish identities and connection to Israel via subsidizing visits to the museum for students:
• $100 sponsors 5 students
• $500 sponsors 25 students
• $1,000 sponsors an entire group
Please join our "Ten² for Ten" campaign today - click here to donate. Thank you for connecting people to Torah, nature and Israel!
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I like how you included a picture of female visitors, to counterbalance the demand of some groups that your female staff disappear!