2005-04-26
Preserving Cultural Heritage
In Jerusalem Yad Ben Zvi is engaging in a gigantic effort to preserve the heritage of the Land of the City and the traditions of Oriental and Sephardic Jewish communities. Its work is immensely popular with the general public and earned it the prestigious Israel Prize but has irked some at the academic community which claim it is not up to par as far as academic standards are concerned.
Is it a path-finder or just a popular science institute?
Is it a path-finder or just a popular science institute?
Yad Ben Zvi is definitely a leader in lost causes. It is now engaged in a monumental effort to track the life of the Jewish community in Jerusalem as reflected-of all places- in Muslim religious court records from the 16th to the 19th centuries. As one can expect the records are a revelation to scientists and laymen alike. The way they were obtained from their Orthodox Moslem guardians, scanned and returned is not entirely clear but it is typical of the way the institute operates.
On its way to become a powerhouse of heritage YBZ created the following departments:
- Land of Israel Studies
- Institute for the studies of Jewish communities in the East
- The Center for Jerusalem Studies and coming soon The School for Jerusalem Studies. This center attracts some 100,000 visitors per annum.
- A major specialized Library in its areas of interest
- Adult education and Teacher training
- A publishing house which publishes a book or a periodical every ten days .
- A huge program of tours around the country. Its tours book sold for 100,000 copies in a country where 10,000 copies is considered a major success.
YBZ is called after the second President of Israel-himself a noted scholar in some of the above mentioned areas of interest.
It was chartered by law and receives annual grant from the government which consists about 30% of its USD 6 Mil. annual budget.
Some 60% it derives from operations (book sales, tours and popular courses). This is a significant proportion very unusual in such institutions and probably the cause of the complaints about its academic records.
However sometimes it is do or die situation for such institutions.
Ybz-2-
The rest of its income is from donations and this is probably the only channel of significant potential for future increase of income.
The new school for Jerusalem Studies is its next step of expansion and for that purpose it acquired an adjacent building of about 2000 Sq.Mt.
In addition to the academic functions this building will contain a street facing bookstore, a small exhibition hall and a coffee shop which between themselves can become a new and popular hangout spot for local residents as well as visitors. They will increase the exposure of YBZ and consequently its ability to raise funds.
Some of YBZ important English publications:
*The History of Jerusalem: The early Muslim Period, 638-1099.
*The Armenian Ceramics of Jerusalem
*Jerusalem-A walk through Time: Yad Ben-Zvi 's Walking tour Guide
More information: http://ybz.org.il
Dr. Zvi Zameret, Email: ybz@ybz.org.il
Author: dissentshik@artsmanagement.net
On its way to become a powerhouse of heritage YBZ created the following departments:
- Land of Israel Studies
- Institute for the studies of Jewish communities in the East
- The Center for Jerusalem Studies and coming soon The School for Jerusalem Studies. This center attracts some 100,000 visitors per annum.
- A major specialized Library in its areas of interest
- Adult education and Teacher training
- A publishing house which publishes a book or a periodical every ten days .
- A huge program of tours around the country. Its tours book sold for 100,000 copies in a country where 10,000 copies is considered a major success.
YBZ is called after the second President of Israel-himself a noted scholar in some of the above mentioned areas of interest.
It was chartered by law and receives annual grant from the government which consists about 30% of its USD 6 Mil. annual budget.
Some 60% it derives from operations (book sales, tours and popular courses). This is a significant proportion very unusual in such institutions and probably the cause of the complaints about its academic records.
However sometimes it is do or die situation for such institutions.
Ybz-2-
The rest of its income is from donations and this is probably the only channel of significant potential for future increase of income.
The new school for Jerusalem Studies is its next step of expansion and for that purpose it acquired an adjacent building of about 2000 Sq.Mt.
In addition to the academic functions this building will contain a street facing bookstore, a small exhibition hall and a coffee shop which between themselves can become a new and popular hangout spot for local residents as well as visitors. They will increase the exposure of YBZ and consequently its ability to raise funds.
Some of YBZ important English publications:
*The History of Jerusalem: The early Muslim Period, 638-1099.
*The Armenian Ceramics of Jerusalem
*Jerusalem-A walk through Time: Yad Ben-Zvi 's Walking tour Guide
More information: http://ybz.org.il
Dr. Zvi Zameret, Email: ybz@ybz.org.il
Author: dissentshik@artsmanagement.net
An article by Ronnie Dissentshik, correspondent, Tel Aviv
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