Exhibitions at the National Library of Israel

Permanent Exhibition – “A Treasury of Words"

In our innovative exhibition hall, filled with a sense of mystery and under gentle lights necessary to preserve ancient ink, some of our most precious and important artifacts are displayed to the visiting public.

In the “A Treasury of Words” exhibition, you are invited to embark on a journey through time, and through words.

You will see age-old holy scriptures up close. You will draw inspiration from the handwriting of Nobel laureate S.Y. Agnon, Israeli songwriter Naomi Shemer, and other well-known cultural icons. You will discover what magical words were once inscribed on mysterious incantation bowls, and gain a deeper understanding of how words shaped our history and culture here, in this place.

In this exhibition, you will see with your own eyes the original writings that shaped our reality. Hear the stories behind them and understand why they are so important to us.

This exhibition will leave you with a sense of discovery and inspiration that will stay with you long after you have left the building.

Kafka: Metamorphosis of an Author

An exhibition marking 100 years since the death of Franz Kafka – among the most influential authors of the 20th century. The exhibition will present for the first time 80 original rare items. These items will help tell Kafka's comprehensive life story – focusing on his personality, his family, his social circle, his body of work and his special relationship with Judaism, Zionism and the Hebrew language. The exhibition will also relate the fascinating story of Kafka's literary estate, the publishing of his works by his friend Max Brod, as well as Kafka's influence on the world of literature and culture.

Image: Ron Fahima, from "The Sea of Mice", 2024