Dr. Elie Borowski had a dream, saw that dream come to fruition and left a legacy for future generations. He and his wife Batya founded the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem for the study, understanding and appreciation of Biblical history and the history of the Ancient Near East, which is considered the cradle of civilization and roughly corresponds to the modern Middle East.

The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem is unique. The permanent exhibition, which is made up almost entirely of the private collection of Dr. Elie Borowski, spans from earliest civilization to the early Christian era in the Lands of the Bible.

Over a period of more than 50 years, Dr. Borowski assembled a priceless collection of Ancient Near Eastern art. This collection was first published in 1975 in the catalog, Ladders to Heaven, which accompanied an exhibition which traveled in Europe and Canada. The collection continued to grow, and the dream began to formulate: to create an institution of learning, a unique resource of universal stature, where people would come to study about Biblical history. In the shadow of the Holocaust, this concept began to take shape as a way to encourage future generations to understand the morals and ethics of the Bible.

Dr. Borowski’s unquenchable thirst for knowledge led him to study at Mir Yeshiva and many of Europe’s leading universities.

Prior to the outbreak of World War II, in August 1939, he joined the “Jews of France Committee of Combatants and Volunteers,” and enlisted in the Polish Division within the French Army which was forced to retreat into Switzerland. There he was interned for the remainder of the war.

Devastated by the Holocaust, he was left with nothing but the education he had acquired in the pre-war years. He used his extensive knowledge and understanding of ancient art, history and languages to become a world renowned expert on these subjects, with an emphasis on the Biblical period.

In 1982, he married Batya and together they established a world-class museum in the heart of Jerusalem’s Museum Row. The museum opened its doors to the public on May 11, 1992 and has since earned international acclaim as a universal center for cultural and educational programming.

The museum’s priceless collection of rare and exquisite ancient treasures is displayed chronologically, allowing the visitor to walk through history. A guided tour through the museum traces the development of religious beliefs, worship, trade, commerce and communication, from the beginning of urbanization through the Talmudic period. Innovative, educational programs for school children, weekly lectures and courses for adults, and creative programs on the holidays are part of the active programming offered.

Dr. Borowski passed away on January 14, 2003. His dream is now in the hands of all those who have supported the museum in the past, and those who will be inspired to join it in the future. Elie Borowski dedicated his life to nurturing a dream from its conception to its realization. The Bible Lands Museum, surpassing all initial expectations, became the ideal vehicle for his legacy, which will continue to touch many generations to come.

The museum is housed in a modern building. The inside is absolutely beautiful. The permanent collection features many beautiful works of art from Ancient Egypt, Babylon, Syria, Anatolia, Mesopotamia and Persia. The world of the Hittites, the Phoenicians, the civilizations of Greece and Rome and the importance of Canaan, Judea and Israel at the cross-roads of the ancient world come to life before your eyes.

The wide variety of objects include ancient inscriptions, jewelry, mosaics, ivory carvings and scarabs. Specific highlights include a 4th-century sarcophagus; an Egyptian cosmetics container in the shape of a swimming girl; and a 1st-century AD Roman linen shroud painted with the serene image of a woman.

One of the current exhibitions is the Glories of Ancient Greece. Exquisite Greek gold and ceramics are the focus of this treasure-chest exhibition.

On display are three thousand, four hundred year old Minoan necklaces and Greek rings of unparalleled and fascinating beauty. A choice selection of Minoan vases from the Islands of Crete and Santorini, as well as Mycenean vases from the Greek mainland and a rare sarcophagus with its striking, eloquent painting of marine life.

The oldest jewelry in the Borowski collection comes from Crete, dating to the Late Bronze Age.

The Museum is located on Museum Row, across from the Israel Museum, at 25 Avraham Granot Street. Thanks to modern technology, you can take a virtual tour of the museum at www.blmj.org/en/index.php. The Hebrew version of the webite can be accessed at www.blmj.org.