10 October 2005
Due to nature of the contents in the new museum and to protect exhibits, entry to Holocaust History Museum restricted to children over the age of 10
(October 10, 2005 - Jerusalem) Since the opening of the new Museum Complex at Yad Vashem to the public at the end of March, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of visitors - with over 600,000 Israelis and tourists visiting the museum. The Museum Complex includes the new Holocaust History Museum, the Museum of Holocaust Art, the Synagogue, the Exhibitions Pavilion which is currently showing “Etched Voices - Contemporary Art and the Holocaust,” and the “No Child’s Play” exhibit.
In order to ensure an enriching visit and based on the experience since the opening of the new Museum Complex, Yad Vashem is extending the opening hours of the Museum on Thursdays until 20:00 (entrance will be permitted until 19:00) as of October 20, 2005. It is strongly recommended to arrive in the afternoon hours, during the rest of the week as well.
Due to the nature of the contents in the Holocaust History Museum, and in order to protect the unique and authentic exhibits from damage, it has been decided that entry to the museum will only be permitted for children over the age of 10. Families with children under the age of 10 are encouraged to visit other sites and exhibits at Yad Vashem, including the “No Child’s Play” exhibit, the new Synagogue and other sites on the mountain, such as the Valley of Communities.
“Educating about the Shoah must be compatible with the cognitive and emotional ability of the child. The new Holocaust History Museum was not designed with an age-specific approach and is therefore not suitable for children,” explains Shulamit Imber, the Pedagogical Director of the International School for Holocaust Studies. There are, however, educational programs offered by the School for students in grades 4 to 6, which incorporate other sites at Yad Vashem.
To enhance the experience of visitors, Yad Vashem has established new additional guidelines:
- Visiting the new Holocaust History Museum takes approximately 1.5 to 3 hours
- Opening Hours are:
Sunday to Wednesday: 9:00 - 17:00 Entry until 16:00
Thursday: 9:00 - 20:00 Entry until 19:00
Friday and Eves of Jewish Holidays: 9:00 - 14:00 Entry until 13:00
Closed on Saturdays and Jewish Holidays - It is recommended to visit the museum after 13:00, when it is less crowded
- In order to standardize the flow of visitors in the museum, organized groups (including private ones) MUST coordinate their visit in advance with the new Reservations Center (details online www.yadvashem.org or by calling +972 2 644 3802)
- When parking on the Yad Vashem site is full, Yad Vashem will provide complimentary minibus service from the parking lot on Mount Herzl.
- Large bags are not permitted in the new museum - they can be stored in the cloakroom free of charge
Entry to Yad Vashem is FREE.
Guided tours can be booked in advance through the Reservations Center for a fee.
