The Shrine of the Book houses the Israel Museum’s center for the display and study of ancient biblical manuscripts, including the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Aleppo Codex. The Shrine is arranged in a manner that traces the development of the Hebrew Bible, with older manuscripts placed in the upper galleries and more recent ones in the lower galleries. Architect Frederick John Kiesler’s unique design of the building is symbolic on multiple levels. Thus it serves as a sanctuary—or ‘shrine’—reflecting the deep spiritual commitment of generations of scribes who labored to copy and preserve these holy books. The white dome of the structure is intended to represent the lids of the manuscript jars in which many of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. The Shrine is build two-thirds above ground and one-third below, surrounded by a reflecting pool. In contrast to the white dome is a nearby wall of black basalt. These elements are intended to represent the spiritual struggle between the forces of light and darkness, good and evil. Access to the shrine is through a corridor that suggests a cave—the caves of Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls lay hidden for nearly 2000 years.
The Shrine of the Book is one of the top attractions in Jerusalem, known for its unique features that attract numerous visitors each year.
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