Biblical Museum of Natural History, Biblical zoological museum in Mateh Yehuda Regional Council, Israel.
The Biblical Museum of Natural History, founded in 2014 by Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin, occupies a facility on Route 38 in Hartuv, opposite the entrance to Beit Shemesh. Its halls hold taxidermy of mammals named in the Bible, such as lion, cheetah, wolf and fox, plus a cave bear skeleton, models of a Nile crocodile and hippopotamus, a shofar collection, a live-animal corner and a serpentarium with a large Burmese python.
The museum was founded in 2014 by Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin and moved from Bet Shemesh industrial zone to a new location on Route 38 in 2020. The relocation allowed for improved facilities and greater capacity for visitors.
The museum displays animals mentioned in Jewish religious texts and explains their meaning within the tradition. Visitors discover how these creatures held importance in daily life and spiritual teachings.
Visitors should plan visits in advance since tours run in groups with set time windows. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes, as you will move through and around the enclosures.
In July 2023 the museum opened a permanent display of about 100 miniature Noah's arks that Natan Slifkin collected from around the world. The museum also holds a collection of Noah's ark boxes, shown alongside a near-full-size model of an African elephant.
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