Free and Cheap Museums in Jerusalem

The Chamber of the Holocaust was the the world’s first Holocaust memorial and is a powerful yet little known museum by Israelis and tourists alike.

It was built as a symbolic cemetery, as a place for Holocaust survivors to cry and mourn for their families, especially if they didn’t know where their loved ones were buried.

The memorial was established in 1949, four years after the end of World War II and a year after Israel was founded, as Holocaust survivors who came as refugees to the country sought a place to grieve.

Built in a Crusader dungeon, the chamber was a place for Holocaust survivors and victims’ descendants to light memorial candles, recite the Kaddish, remember, and mourn.

Today, it is a museum and the objects, on display were donated by Holocaust survivors and victims’ families as a memorial to those who perished.

Yad Vashem is the Holocaust History Museum and Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.

Established in Jerusalem in 1953, Yad Vashem has become the most visited site after the Western Wall.

It is dedicated to preserving the memory of the dead, honoring Jews who fought against their Nazi oppressors, and Gentiles who selflessly aided Jews in need.

The focus of this museum is remembrance, education, documentation, and research related to the Holocaust.

I think, together with the Chamber of the Holocaust, it tells a very important part of Jewish History.

Ammunition Hill is the site of one of the most hard won and important battles fought during the Six-Day War leading to the reunification of Jerusalem.

Today it is a memorial and a museum to the men who sacrificed their lives in battle and a museum of the Six-Day war.

The fighting that took place on the night of June 6, 1967 lasted four hours.

Ultimately, Paratroopers took the hill, but 36 men were lost in the process.

The victory led to the opening of the road to Mount Scopus and the Old City.

Jerusalem was ultimately reunified, however, 182 soldiers from Armored Harel, Paratrooper Divisions, and of the Air Force fell in the battle for the cause.

On-site, are battle canals, bunkers, armored vehicles from 1948, and half-track tank.

There are also 182 olive trees which were planted to commemorate the each Israeli soldiers who fell in the war. 

The guided tour tells the story of the battle on Ammunition Hill and you walk the paths of the paratroopers who fought there.

You also learn about morals that guided the soldiers during this crucial battle: heroism, courage, initiative, and more. 

The tour includes a visit to the trenches and bunkers and a touching interactive presentation about Jerusalem’s Six Day War.

The Heritage Center also includes an audio-visual presentation of veterans telling their personal war stories and hear the excited voices announcing “The Temple Mount ours!” 

Jewish Quarter Defender’s Memorial features rare images which capture the last days before the fall of the Jewish Quarter.

A photographer from Life Magazine captured the progress of the Jordanian fighters as well as the dramatic moments the decision to surrender and the signing.

Sixty-nine fighters and thirty residents of the Jewish Quarter fell in the War of Independence.

Forty eight of them were buried in a mass grave where the Gal-Ed memorial monument now marks, Batei Machseh Square.

After the Six-Day War, their burial place was located and they were brought to rest on Mount of Olives.

The Herodian Quarter, also called the The Wohl Museum of Archaeology, is one of the largest underground archaeological sites in the world.

There you can see the incredible remains of the homes of affluent Jews and ashes from the holy cities destruction nearly two millennia ago.

It was once the great Upper City, where palaces of the Hasmonean kings and King Herod stood, and the large elaborate homes of the high priests and of the local aristocracy overlooked the Temple.

During excavation of they the Herodian Quarter they discovered extraordinary houses of the Kohanim, beautiful mosaics and artwork, household items including lounges, mikvahs, and more.

Visitors can walk through the underground courtyards and the rooms of houses, in which the stone furniture and vessels used by the inhabitants 2,000 years ago stand intact.

The Isaak Kaplan Old Yishuv Court Museum tells the story of the inhabitants of the Old Yishuv, displayed through their original belongings, objects, and tools.

It also tells of the struggles they had to face; stories of birth and marriage, happiness and sadness, and faith in God.

The museum depicts the period décor and aspects of daily life in the Jewish Quarter from the mid-19th century to the end of the Ottoman rule just after World War I.

Each room shows the Old City of Jerusalem during different time periods and different rulers, including the Ottoman Empire, 19th Century, British Mandate and the HaAri Synagogue.

The Herzl Museum gives visitors insight into the life and activities of Theodor Herzl, the founder of the modern Zionist movement.

It details his life and many contributions to the Zionist cause.

It also provides a glimpse into Herzl’s analysis of the Jewish condition, a portrayal of his ambitions, vision, disappointments and achievements, and the challenge of his legacy.

The museum is split into four exhibition spaces, three of them showing different eras of Herzl’s life.

From the beginning of his life in Vienna and the Dreyfus trial, through the Zionist Congresses in Basel, until his early death at the age of 44.

The highlight of the tour is the fourth room where visitors are given a view of the accomplishments of the Jewish state, despite the many difficulties and hardships.

The Plugat HaKotel Museum tells the seldom mentioned story of the Western Wall Platoon, a group of 24 young men and women who risked their lives to keep a Jewish spark alive at the Western Wall.

It is due to the unrelenting determination of Plugot HaKotel, the shofar continued to be blown at the Western Wall  every Yom Kippur until the establishment of our Jewish State of Israel.

Museum tells the storiy of their bravery and of the heroism of the Irgun members who were brought up on the same values ​​instilled by the platoon.

The Museum of Underground Prisoners is located in the old central prison during the British Mandate.

Alongside criminals, hundreds of underground warriors were imprisoned: Haganah, Etzel, and Lehi.

These were people who had been captured by the British on various actions, while fighting against foreign rule.

They were charged with offenses that ranged from putting up posters, training in and possession of weapons, to physical assault.

Here they were held for several months or years, or until they were transported to Akko for execution.

Guided museum tours explore the prison cells, an introduction to the story of the underground prisoners and the story of their struggle for the benefit of the Jewish population of the Land of Israel during the British Mandate.

Here you could see the prison cells, the escape room, the synagogue cell, the solitary confinement cells, the execution chamber, telling the sacrifice story of Meir Feinstein and Moshe Barazani, and an information center.

The tour also includes a film following a new prisoner at the prison.

The prison was evacuated towards the end of the Mandate and was conquered by the Haganah with the assistance of the Etzel and Lehi during Operation Kilshon on 14th May 1948.

The Begin Museum tells the life story of 6th Prime Minister of Israel Menachem Begin.

The exhibits explore Begin’s childhood in Poland, his years as the commander of the Irgun, the leader of the Opposition and finally, as Prime Minister of the State of Israel.

The museum uses Begin’s life story one also learns the story of one of the most fascinating episodes of Israel’s history: the Zionist struggle for the establishment of the State of Israel and it’s early years.

The museum includes historical reconstructions and reenactments, rare dramatic documentary videos, interactive touch-screen exhibits, striking presentations and a surround sound narration.

The Roman Plaza Museum is located on the remains of the Roman plaza at what was once the entrance Aelia Capitolina.

Aelia Capitolina was the pagan city Roman emperor Hadrian built on Jerusalem after the Romans razed it about fifty years earlier.

Jews were forbidden to enter the city on penalty of death after the Bar Kochba Revolt, where the Jews recaptured Jerusalem and which took Hadrian three years to put an end to.

The Museum shows the history of Damascus Gate, displays remains of a Roman plaza and gate dating back almost 2,000 years.

There is also a fully preserved tower, standing about 40 feet high, there visitors can climb up the original stairs.

From here you can enjoy the view and connect to the Ramparts Walk.