Biblical Museum of Natural History
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| Established | 2014 |
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| Location | 5 Ha-Tzaba Street, Beit Shemesh, Israel |
| Type | Natural history |
| Director | Natan Slifkin |
| Website | BiblicalNaturalHistory.org |
The Biblical Museum of Natural History, currently located in the northern industrial zone of Beit Shemesh, Israel, was founded in 2014 by Natan Slifkin, affectionately referred to as the "Zoo Rabbi."
The establishment describe itself as "part natural history museum, part zoo" and is meant to "enhance the appreciation and understanding of biblical scripture and Jewish tradition via the natural world." Visitors are able to gain insight into the animals that lived in Israel during biblical times even if they no longer exist there now, such as bears and crocodiles.
Visitors to the museum are currently directed by special tour by appointment only. Features include live animal, taxidermy and skeleton exhibits, as well as audio/visual presentations. Tour topics include unraveling incidents of misidentification of animals by biblical scholars of species mentioned in both the Five Books of Moses and the Talmud due to their lack of familiarity with different families that are not represented in places like Europe, where much of the Jewish medieval biblical commentary was written.
Slifkin has authored the first volume of what will be a large collection of information related to the interplay of Judaism and zoology entitled The Torah Encyclopedia of the Animal Kingdom. The encyclopedia will attempt to cover all animals mentioned in the Jewish scripture and highlight little known historical facts such as population diversity and habitation during biblical times.
Group presentation to
school children by museum staff
Hands on tour of small animals
Presentation by Natan Slifkin
Coordinates: 31°45′15″N 34°59′43″E / 31.7542°N 34.9953°E
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