Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Elkan and was a gift from the
British parliament. The relief
work on its branches depicts
crucial moments in Jewish
history and is accompanied
by biblical quotations. Nearby
is a monument with an eternal
flame, commemorating the
dead of the Holocaust and
Israel's wars
(see pp53-5)
.
The reception area inside
the Knesset was designed and
decorated by the Russian-
Jewish artist Marc Chagall
(see
p33)
. It is adorned with his
mosaics and a triple tapestry
which depicts the creation of
the world, the exodus of the
Israelites from Egypt, and the
city of Jerusalem. The main
chamber ends in a stone wall
that is a very clear reference
to the Western Wall
(see p85)
.
the building's design - by
Ram Karmi and Ada Karmi-
Melamed - which manages to
depict the concept of justice
in architectural terms. The
two copper pyramids on the
roof are powerful symbols of
the immutable nature of the
principles of law. The long
sweeping stairway seems to
represent the accessibility of
the law to ordinary people,
and at the top it offers an all-
embracing view of Jerusalem.
Motifs from the past, such
as the Islamic elements in
the inner courtyard and the
Byzantine-era mosaic outside
the entrance, recall the cul-
tural and historical influences
that have shaped contemporary
Israel. They are given a mod-
ern context to link the past
with the present and reflect
the universality of justice.
The sculpted menorah near the
entrance to the Knesset
the millennia before the
Christian era. The many
fascinating and unique objects
include ancient inscriptions,
jewellery, mosaics, seals,
ivory carvings and scarabs.
The exhibits are displayed
in a way that enables the
visitor to build a clear and
illuminating picture of the
cultural context in which the
biblical texts were written.
The items are arranged
according to both chronology
and region. The result is a
clear illustration of the way in
which different cultures
influenced each other and
new societies evolved.
Mahane Yehuda
and Nakhlaot
7
@
6, 8, 13, 14, 18, 21.
The district of Mahane
Yehuda, which means
Y
Field of Judah, was built in
1929 to house Jewish immi-
grant workers. It is famous for
its vibrant and very colourful
market, selling mainly food-
stuffs. It is also home to a
large number of popular local
restaurants, which specialize
in Middle Eastern salads and
kebabs. To the south of
Mahane Yehuda is the older
Y
district of Nakhlaot. This lively,
warren-like jumble of low
houses and narrow alleyways
is fascinating to explore.
The Supreme Court, one of the
city's architectural highlights
Supreme Court
6
Shaarei Mishpat St, Givat Ram.
Tel
(02)
l
675 9612.
@
9, 24, 99.
#
8:30am-
2:30pm Sun-Thu.
8
noon daily in
English (ring in advance to book).
Knesset
5
Rothschild St, Givat Ram.
Tel
(02)
l
675 3333.
@
9, 24, 99.
#
8:30am-
2pm Sun & Thu.
8
compulsory
(ring in advance to book).
In the absence of a formal
constitution, Israel's Supreme
Court plays a pivotal role in
the lives of ordinary citizens.
Its significance is reflected in
The Knesset (
( ssembly) is
the seat of the Israeli
Parliament. It takes its name
from the Knesset ha-Gedola
(Great Assembly) of 120 men
that governed the political and
civic life of Jews in the Second
Temple period
(see p42)
. The
building, inaugurated in 1966,
was designed by Joseph
Klarwin. His design makes
use of classical elements and
is inspired by the Parthenon
in Athens and various recon-
structions of the Temple.
Opposite the entrance is a
large, seven-branched menorah
(candelabrum), symbol of the
State of Israel. It is the work
of British sculptor Benno
Displays of fruit and vegetables at the market in Mahane Yehuda
