What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?

The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of Jewish texts discovered between 1947 and 1956 in caves near the Dead Sea. Dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE, they include the oldest surviving manuscripts of every book of the Hebrew Bible (except Esther), and are among the most important archaeological finds in history.

How much time does the Israel Museum take?

The campus is very large — a thorough visit takes a full day. If time is limited, prioritise the Shrine of the Book and the Archaeology Wing (2–3 hours). The art wing and Billy Rose Art Garden can be added for a full-day visit.

Middle East

Israel Museum

Jerusalem · Israel · Founded 1965

Israel's national museum — home to the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Shrine of the Book, and the world's most comprehensive collection of biblical and Holy Land archaeology spanning 10,000 years.

About Israel Museum

The Israel Museum in Jerusalem opened in 1965 and is Israel's national museum, the largest cultural institution in the country. The sprawling campus on Givat Ram holds encyclopedic collections of archaeology, the fine arts, Jewish art and life, and the world-famous Shrine of the Book.

The museum's most celebrated space is the Shrine of the Book — a distinctive white dome designed to echo the lids of the jars in which the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Inside, the Great Isaiah Scroll (the oldest surviving complete manuscript of any book of the Bible, dated c.125 BCE) is displayed in its entirety. The outdoor Archaeology Wing traces 10,000 years of human history in the Holy Land; the model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period gives visitors a vivid impression of the city at the time of Herod the Great.

Collections & Highlights

The Shrine of the Book — the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Great Isaiah Scroll

Archaeology Wing — 10,000 years of Holy Land history, from prehistory to the Byzantine period

Scale model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period

Art Wing — Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Israeli art across four floors

Frequently Asked Questions

Jerusalem, Israel

Yad Vashem

A small ask before you go

You've just explored one of humanity's greatest collections of beauty. Art has the power to move us, inspire us, and change how we see the world. But millions of people will never see beauty like this — not because the art isn't there, but because they can't see at all.

Preventable blindness, caused by conditions like cataracts and trachoma, affects people of all ages across the world's poorest communities. A small gift — for the cost of a museum ticket — can provide a simple surgery to restore someone's sight and transform their life.

Donate to restore sight