The Biblical Museum of Natural History

The Biblical Museum of Natural History A hands-on museum of Torah and natural history for visitors of all ages!

The Biblical Museum of Natural History is a unique institution that is part zoo, part natural history museum, and part Jewish education center. It showcases the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects of Scripture, as well as related zoological topics from the Talmud. The large species are exhibited as taxidermy specimens, while live exhibits are maintained for smaller species, and there

are also a large number of biological artifacts of religious significance. Through the exhibits, visitors learn how to identify the animals of Scripture, the symbolism of animals in Scripture and Midrash, lessons in Jewish values, law and history, and the natural history of the Land of Israel. "The Biblical Museum of Natural History connected us both to Nature and to Tanach (and Chazal) in ways our modern lives often don't allow. The tour also reminds us of the rich wildlife that used to roam Israel-- even as we celebrate the country's renewal and resettlement, a museum like this reminds us of a lost world, in which daily life could involve encounters with lions, bears, jackals, leopards, and more. It's Torah, it's Nature, it's an enjoyable, informative, and illuminating experience for family members of all ages!" - Rabbi Gidon Rothstein


מוזיאון הטבע התנ"כי הינו מוסד ייחודי שהוא בחלקו גן חיות, חלקו מוזיאון טבע, וגם מרכז חינוכי ייחודי. המוזיאון מציג את היונקים, ציפורים, זוחלים, דו-חיים, וחרקים המופיעים בתנ"ך, וכן את הנושאים הזואולוגיים המקבילים מן התלמוד. בעלי חיים גדולים מוצגים כפוחלצים, ובעלי חיים קטנים יותר מוצגים חיים. כמו כן ישנם גם ממצאים מן החי בעלי משמעות דתית. דרך המוצגים, לומדים המבקרים לזהות את חיות התנ"ך, הסמליות שבחיות התנ"ך והמדרש, תובנות בערכים, משפט והיסטוריה יהודיים- וכן בהיסטוריית הטבע של ארץ ישראל. מוזיאון הטבע התנ"כי מקבל מבקרים בתיאום מראש. סיור מודרך בין המוצגים תהיה חוויה נפלאה ומעניינת!

15/06/2026

Join a unique summer program for ages 9–13 at the Biblical Museum of Natural History:

🦎 Scales & Tails

🦆 Feathers & Flight

🐾 Fur & Claws

Meet amazing animals up close, take part in feeding and animal care activities, go behind the scenes, and discover the museum in a whole new way!

📅 Dates:

• July 7, 2026 | 2:00–5:30 PM
• July 15, 2026 | 2:00–5:30 PM
• July 21, 2026 | 2:00–5:30 PM

💰 Pricing:

• ₪360 for the full program (all 3 sessions)
• ₪150 for a single session
• 10% Family discount for the second child and beyond (for the same activity)

👧👦 Ages 9–13

📍 Biblical Museum of Natural History, Beit Shemesh

Space is limited – Register now to save your spot.

The Biblical Museum of Natural History is here to help you master the zoological background of the Gemara!With Daf Yomi ...
15/06/2026

The Biblical Museum of Natural History is here to help you master the zoological background of the Gemara!

With Daf Yomi approaching the topic of kosher birds, animals, fish, and insects, we’ve put together the ultimate resource package for you:

📘 E-Book download
🎬 Video download
🏛️ Live session at the museum
📦 Printed book (with US shipping available!)

Tag your Daf Yomi chavrusa in the comments!

Did you know the world's largest fish literally has TEETH on its eyeballs? 🦈👀Because whale sharks don't have eyelids, th...
14/06/2026

Did you know the world's largest fish literally has TEETH on its eyeballs? 🦈👀

Because whale sharks don't have eyelids, they developed thousands of microscopic teeth called "dermal denticles" right on their eyes to serve as built-in body armor against ocean debris.

Drop a like if you had absolutely no idea this was real, and follow us for more unbelievable creature features!

Shabbat Shalom! Parshat KorachWhen we read about the ground opening up to swallow Korach's band of rebels, we may well p...
12/06/2026

Shabbat Shalom! Parshat Korach

When we read about the ground opening up to swallow Korach's band of rebels, we may well picture an earthquake. But there is another cause of such phenomena. Sinkholes can be hundreds of feet wide and thousands of feet deep. They occur when subterranean rock such as limestone erodes away, until eventually, and often suddenly, the surface of the ground simply plummets down!

In Israel today, thousands of sinkholes have appeared around the Dead Sea, as a result of its shrinkage. As the level of the Dead Sea drops, the groundwater in the region recedes, leaving behind underground salt that is gradually dissolved and causing the surface to collapse. The shrinkage of the Dead Sea in turn happened due to a combination of Israel and Jordan diverting the waters of the River Jordan for agriculture and drinking water, the extraction of Dead Sea water for minerals, and increased evaporation due to climate change.

The Biblical story should remind us that the earth-shaking consequences of the careless plundering of the natural world can have fatal results.

Well done to everyone who guessed correctly on the last "Museum Mystery"! 👏The answer is… a Chinese water dragon!Close-u...
10/06/2026

Well done to everyone who guessed correctly on the last "Museum Mystery"! 👏

The answer is… a Chinese water dragon!

Close-up, the sides of this semi-aquatic lizard's body look less like animal skin and more like a mosaic of polished jade. Their small, overlapping scales are made of keratin (the same material our fingernails are made of) and create a flexible, waterproof barrier. This unique texture helps them swim smoothly in the water, while simultaneously protecting their skin as they scurry through dense riverbank vegetation.

Think you'll be able to identify our next riddle? Let's see... 🧐

The answer will be posted with the next Museum Mystery

Shabbat Shalom! Parashat Shelach"Speak to the Children of Israel and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the...
05/06/2026

Shabbat Shalom! Parashat Shelach

"Speak to the Children of Israel and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout the ages; let them attach a cord of tehelet to the fringe at each corner." (Numbers 15:38)

In Biblical times, there was a special blue dye called tekhelet. It was used for the covering of the Mishkan/ Tabernacle, the garments of the High Priest, and the fringes on four-cornered garments such as a tallit. This dye was so treasured in antiquity that some Roman emperors decreed that for anyone other than royalty to wear it was punishable by death. The Talmud explains that tekhelet was extracted from the chilazon - a creature with a shell that lived in the ocean. However, the identity of this creature was lost tor thousands of years. But a convergence of discoveries from archeology and marine biology have revealed the identity of the chilazon: a marine snail in the murex family known as Hexaplex trunculus. Scientists have been able to rediscover the technique for extracting and producing the dye, which some Jews wear today on their tallit. Learn more about tekhelet, and see a live Hexaplex trunculus, in our new tekhelet exhibit at the museum!

Well done to everyone who guessed correctly on the last Museum Mystery!  👏 The answer was… the inside of a shofar!The He...
04/06/2026

Well done to everyone who guessed correctly on the last Museum Mystery! 👏

The answer was… the inside of a shofar!

The Hebrew word shofar (שופר) is related to shefoferet (שפופרת), meaning a hollow tube. To make a shofar kosher, artisans must boil the horn to loosen the connective tissue, allowing them to pull this entire bony "plug" right out - leaving behind the hollow keratin shell we are familiar with.

This next one might stump you…🤔

Leave your guesses as to what this photo is in the comments!

Answer will be posted with next week’s Museum Mystery

03/06/2026

Even our monitor lizard wants to beat the heat! 🦎💦

The temperature is rising, and we are officially ready to Dive into Summer! Whether you want to learn about biblical nature and wildlife or hold some really cool critters, our tours are the ultimate summer adventure for the whole family. ☀️🌿

Spaces fill up fast—book your Summer Tour today at the link in our bio! 🎟️

Looking for a unique Israel experience?Biblical Zoology + Exotic EncountersA Friday morning that's part safari, part pet...
03/06/2026

Looking for a unique Israel experience?

Biblical Zoology + Exotic Encounters

A Friday morning that's part safari, part petting zoo, part biblical education, and a whole lot of fun for the whole family.

🐍 Meet fascinating animals up close

🦉 Discover the creatures of the Bible

❄️ Enjoy air-conditioned comfort

⏱️ Amazing location - Mate Yehuda - Outside Beit Shemesh

Save Your Spot - Book a Friday Tour>>
Link in Bio

An Immersive Day In Nature Indoors!

Address

Corner Hoshen And Topaz
Bet Shemesh
9906118

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 12:00
Sunday 09:00 - 17:00

Telephone

073‑213‑1662

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