A Living Archive: Inside the National Library of Israel's New Home in Jerusalem

The National Library Main Hall

Nestled in the heart of Jerusalem, the National Library of Israel (NLI) is more than a collection of books—it's a living monument to Jewish memory, Israeli culture, and global heritage. Here, the past and future converge, offering a powerful experience for scholars, students, and curious visitors alike.

📜 A Library Born in Jerusalem's Heart

Founded in 1892 as "Midrash Abarbanel," the NLI began as a small scholarly hub in Jerusalem. Over the decades, it evolved into Israel's national library, legally entitled to a copy of every publication printed in the country. Today, it stands as the world's largest repository of Jewish and Israeli cultural materials.

The National Library - The Well of Knowledge

🏩 Architecture with Soul

In 2023, the Library opened its stunning new campus near the Knesset. Designed by renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron with Mann-Shinar Architects, the 45,000 square meter space is a seamless blend of form, function, and philosophy.

The structure consists of three main parts:

• A floating monolith resting above

• A transparent two-story base open to the public and gardens

• A vast underground section, comprising 60% of the building

Surrounding gardens feature native Israeli flora and a plaza with a sun dial sculpture by Micha Ullman. Hebrew letters etched into the stone cast poetic shadows throughout the day, echoing the library's dedication to language and meaning.

The National Library - The Automated Storage

💡 Built for the Future

Sustainability is at the heart of the library's design. The building is LEED Platinum-certified and uses:

• A central skylight to flood reading spaces with safe, natural light

• 8-meter-high glass facades that provide both transparency and climate control

• A rainwater collection system that channels runoff to a nearby stream

At its core lies the "Well of Knowledge"—a dramatic vertical column of circular openings connecting all floors. Inspired by architect Jacques Herzog's original sketches, this feature serves as both a literal lightwell and a metaphor for enlightenment.

🔍 A Hidden Treasure Underground

Beneath the surface lies "The Vault," a 20-meter-deep, state-of-the-art automated storage and retrieval system that safeguards millions of the Library's unique items. This subterranean marvel ensures the long-term preservation of vast collections. In a specially reinforced, climate-controlled chamber nearby rests the Library's rare books collection—priceless treasures including original works by Maimonides, Newton, Kafka, and Einstein. A dedicated reading room allows scholars to interact directly with these extraordinary artifacts.

Visiting the National Library

📚 The Collections: By the Numbers

The National Library of Israel's full collection is a cultural powerhouse:

• 5 million+ items in total, spanning a vast range of media and formats.

• 2.5 million+ books, including works in Hebrew, Arabic, Yiddish, Ladino, English, and many other languages.

• 15,000+ manuscripts, from ancient Torah scrolls to medieval commentaries, forming part of the world’s largest collection of Jewish manuscripts.

• 2 million+ historical photographs, documenting everything from early Zionist pioneers to daily life in diaspora communities.

• 100,000+ newspapers and journals.

• 150,000+ posters.

• 140,000+ maps, including some of the oldest known cartographic representations of the Holy Land.

• 100,000+ audio recordings, featuring Jewish liturgical music, Yiddish theater, and Mizrahi and Sephardi musical traditions.

• Home to the world’s largest collection of Jewish manuscripts and rare books.
  

  
  

  

  The National Library - Entrance

🌍 Digital Doors, Global Reach

NLI is redefining accessibility with its digital library initiative:

• 120 million+ digitized pages available for free

• Users from over 200 countries

• Site available in Hebrew, Arabic, and English

• Collaborations with Google Books, the British Library, and Europeana

From digitized Einstein letters to scanned 19th-century newspapers, the NLI’s online archives open up Jewish, Middle Eastern, and intellectual history to the world.

🏫 More Than a Library: A Cultural Campus

Far from a quiet archive, the NLI is a vibrant center of culture and learning:

• Year-round exhibitions, concerts, and lectures

• Educational programs for schools and universities

• Family corners and digital interaction rooms

• Hands-on spaces for learning and exploration

Its archives include personal collections from figures like:

• Martin Buber, philosopher

• Naomi Shemer, songwriter

• Franz Kafka, author

• Albert Einstein, scientist and Zionist thinker

These archives offer intimate insights into the creativity and thought of history's great minds.

The National Library - The Wall of Remembrance

🔮 Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future

The National Library of Israel is a beacon of knowledge, culture, and open access. As it expands its physical and digital presence, it remains committed to intellectual freedom, cultural preservation, and global connection.

Whether you're a scholar researching ancient manuscripts or a first-time visitor discovering a rare map, the NLI welcomes all who seek to explore.

Bavli Talmud 16th Century

Explore the treasures of the past, experience the culture of today, and help shape the knowledge of tomorrow.

 There’s always something new to discover at the National Library of Israel.