Israel Museum, Jerusalem

With almost 300 full-color reproductions and fascinating in-depth commentaries by the museum's curators, the book is both beautiful and informative. Its four main sections correspond to the museum's organization - Art, Judaica, Archaeology, Youth Wing. The Israel Museum collection of Judaica and Jewish ethnography is considered the most comprehensive in the world. Included are a number of whole synagogues from historical communities around the world and a rich assortment of ritual and religious objects, as well as clothing, jewelry, and other material. Together, they offer an illuminating overview of Jewish ritual, custom, and day-to-day life in many cultures. The Archaeology Wing houses the largest and most important collection of antiquities from the Holy Land, and its permanent archaeological exhibition takes visitors from the prehistoric period and the emergence of Homo sapiens up to the Middle Ages. Many of its exhibits are of profound universal significance since it was in this region that the world's first organized religions were born more than 10,000 years ago.
The Youth Wing, which draws half of the Museum's visitors every year and has established an international reputation for its innovative activities, is presented in the book's fourth section.