National Library of Israel
The National Library of Israel (NLI), founded in Jerusalem in 1892 as a world center for the preservation of books relating to Jewish thought and culture, functions as Israel's principal institution of national memory, collecting and safeguarding materials documenting Jewish heritage from communities worldwide alongside Israeli publications as the country's legal deposit library.[1][2] Its collections encompass archives of institutions and leaders, manuscripts, books, recordings, maps, photographs, and other items central to Jewish history and the State's development.[3] In 1925, the library was designated the Jewish National and University Library in conjunction with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's founding, expanding its role to serve both national and academic purposes.[4] Officially enshrined as the National Library of the State of Israel by legislation in 2007, it achieved full independence while maintaining its mandate to preserve cultural treasures such as approximately 75,000 Hebrew manuscripts.[5] The institution relocated to a new purpose-built facility in Jerusalem's government complex in October 2023, designed to promote cross-cultural exchange and learning amid ongoing national challenges.[6][7]
History
Origins as B'nai B'rith Library (1892–1925)
The Midrash Abarbanel Library, founded by the Jerusalem Lodge of B'nai B'rith on July 15, 1892, served as Jerusalem's first permanent public library for the Jewish community.[8][9] Named after the 15th-century Sephardic biblical commentator Isaac Abravanel to commemorate 400 years since the expulsion of Jews from Spain, it aimed to collect and preserve the treasures of Jewish literature amid Ottoman rule in Palestine.[10][4] The initiative was spearheaded by Joseph Chasanowitz, with support from lodge members H. L. Schapiro, M. Ettinger, and Rabbi S. M. Shapira, who established it as a free lending library to promote education and counter missionary influences.[11][12] Opening with 947 donated volumes from lodge members and local residents, the library quickly expanded; by 1894, it incorporated 2,000 books from a defunct collection.[8] Efforts to secure a dedicated building began in 1894 through international fundraising, culminating in the laying of the cornerstone in 1900 and completion of the structure in 1902 on what became B'nai B'rith Street.[13] Operating initially in rented spaces, it functioned as a reading room and study hall, fostering Jewish scholarship in a city lacking modern public institutions. Over the subsequent decades, the library grew through donations, purchases, and appeals to Jewish communities abroad, reaching approximately 32,000 volumes by the eve of World War I in 1914.[14] It provided access to Hebrew and Yiddish texts, serving scholars, students, and the public while navigating restrictions under Ottoman and early British administrations. This period laid the foundation for systematic Jewish bibliographic preservation, transitioning in 1925 to affiliation with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as the Jewish National and University Library.[1][15]Affiliation with Hebrew University (1925–2007)
Upon the establishment of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1925, the B'nai B'rith Library was incorporated into the university and relocated to its Mount Scopus campus, where it was officially renamed the Jewish National and University Library (JNUL).[16] This affiliation endowed the institution with a dual mandate: serving as the central library for the university's academic needs while preserving and collecting materials of national significance for Jewish culture and scholarship worldwide.[17] The library provided specialized resources for university departments, including background materials for research, alongside its role in acquiring Hebrew manuscripts, rare books, and Judaica collections.[17] The 1948 Arab-Israeli War disrupted operations, as Mount Scopus fell under Jordanian control, rendering the campus inaccessible to Israeli authorities.[16] University functions, including the library, shifted to West Jerusalem, with collections smuggled out and temporarily housed in various sites such as the Terra Sancta College and other buildings to safeguard them.[16] Despite these challenges, the JNUL continued to operate under Hebrew University administration, balancing university lending services with national preservation efforts.[15] In 1960, a purpose-built facility opened on the Hebrew University's Givat Ram campus, providing a permanent home for the collections and accommodating growth in holdings, which reached approximately 1,500,000 volumes by 1968, with over a quarter in Hebrew or related languages.[16] [15] This structure supported expanded reading rooms, storage, and services for both university patrons and the broader public interested in Jewish heritage.[16] Throughout the ensuing decades, the JNUL maintained its integrated status, fostering scholarly access to its unique archives while adhering to national collection policies, until legislative changes in 2007 severed its formal ties to the university, granting full independence as the National Library of Israel.[16]Attainment of National Status and Independence (2007–2016)
In November 2007, the Knesset passed the National Library Law (5768-2007), which formally established the institution as an independent entity separate from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, renaming it the National Library of Israel and defining its mandate to collect, preserve, develop, and promote collections of knowledge, heritage, and culture connected to the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and the global scholarly community.[18][19] The legislation addressed long-standing needs for the library to operate beyond university constraints, enabling broader public access, enhanced national funding, and a focus on cultural documentation unbound by academic priorities.[16] This transition culminated years of discussions, including a 2004 government report recommending separation to align the library's role with that of a state-level repository rather than a university affiliate.[20] The law took effect on July 23, 2008, initially structuring the library as a subsidiary company of the Hebrew University to facilitate a phased handover, though it quickly moved toward full autonomy in governance and operations.[21] Under the new framework, the library retained its legal deposit status—requiring receipt of copies of all publications printed in Israel—but expanded responsibilities to include digital preservation and international collaborations, free from university oversight.[22] By 2010, administrative independence was solidified, with a dedicated board and budget allocations from the Israeli government, allowing initiatives like expanded digitization projects that processed millions of pages annually.[23] Throughout the 2007–2016 period, the library navigated the practicalities of independence while still housed on the Hebrew University campus, focusing on infrastructure planning for a dedicated national facility and enhancing public engagement programs.[24] This era saw growth in collections, with acquisitions emphasizing Hebrew and Jewish manuscripts, alongside efforts to assert the library's role as Israel's primary cultural archive amid debates over funding and scope.[25] Full physical separation from the university occurred later, but the legal and operational autonomy attained by 2016 positioned the institution for modern expansion.[26]Development and Opening of the New Building (2016–2023)
Construction of the new National Library of Israel building commenced in early April 2016, following a switch in architectural firms to Herzog & de Meuron in collaboration with the Israeli firm Mann-Shinar.[27][28] The cornerstone was laid on April 5, 2016, at the site adjacent to the Knesset in Jerusalem's National District, between the Knesset and the Israel Museum.[28] The project, estimated at $200-255 million, aimed to create a 45,000-46,000 square meter facility spanning six above-ground floors and four below-ground levels, incorporating advanced features such as robotic book retrieval systems and spaces for up to 600 readers in the main reading room.[27][29][28] By November 2022, the structure was nearing completion, with visible progress on its prefabricated concrete facade and integration into the urban landscape.[29] In May 2022, the first books and collection materials began transferring to the new building, marking a key phase in the relocation process from the previous site on the Hebrew University campus.[30] The project received significant philanthropic support from Yad Hanadiv, continuing the Rothschild family's legacy of funding cultural institutions in Israel.[28] The building's official inauguration occurred on October 17, 2023, followed by its opening to the general public on October 29, 2023.[31][32] This launch came after the library closed its old facility on September 3, 2023, for final preparations and the move.[33] Despite initial plans for grand opening events in early 2023, delays ensured the facility was fully equipped with exhibition spaces, an auditorium, and digitized access to collections upon public debut.[30][28]Post-October 7, 2023, Adaptations and Documentation Efforts
Following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the National Library of Israel initiated the "Bearing Witness: The October 7 Archive," a comprehensive project aimed at documenting the assault, its immediate aftermath, and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war in real time. This effort, described by library officials as unprecedented in scope, seeks to compile an authoritative database of evidence including video footage, audio recordings, eyewitness testimonies, digital communications such as WhatsApp messages, media coverage, and public responses from Israel and abroad.[34][35][36] The archive prioritizes materials directly tied to the events, such as over 200,000 recordings of the massacres, survivor accounts, and artifacts like memorial stickers, eulogies, and documents commemorating the 1,200 victims killed and the hostages taken. Public appeals have encouraged donations of personal items, including those reflecting global reactions and campus experiences post-attack, to preserve a multifaceted historical record against potential future denialism. Partnerships, including with the USC Shoah Foundation, facilitate the cataloging of additional testimonies, positioning the library as a central repository for posterity.[37][38][39] Operationally, the library adapted by postponing the ceremonial opening of its new building, originally scheduled shortly after the attack, due to national mourning and security concerns, though it opened to the public on December 27, 2023. It also extended support to community archives damaged or destroyed during the assault, aiding in the recovery and preservation of local historical materials. Special exhibits, such as "Every Hostage Has a Story," featuring photographs of abducted individuals displayed in the reading hall, underscore the library's role in fostering public remembrance and resilience amid ongoing conflict.[40][35][41]Infrastructure and Facilities
Historical Locations and Transitions
The B'nai B'rith Library, predecessor to the National Library of Israel, was established in 1892 as the Midrash Abarbanel Library in central Jerusalem, serving as the first public library for the Jewish community in the city with a focus on collecting Jewish literature.[1][16] This initial location operated for over three decades before the library's affiliation with the newly founded Hebrew University of Jerusalem prompted a relocation. In 1925, the library was transferred to the Hebrew University's Mount Scopus campus on the eastern outskirts of Jerusalem, where it was renamed the Jewish National and University Library and integrated into the university's infrastructure, expanding its role to include university collections alongside national deposits.[1][16] The Mount Scopus site remained operational until the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, after which armistice lines rendered the area an Israeli enclave inaccessible from West Jerusalem, necessitating the evacuation of collections and staff. Following the 1948 war, library operations shifted in early 1949 to the Hebrew University's temporary Givat Ram campus in West Jerusalem, where a dedicated Jewish National and University Library building was constructed and served as the primary site for over seven decades, housing growing collections amid shared university facilities.[42] This transition preserved continuity despite logistical challenges, with the Givat Ram structure—completed in the 1950s—featuring specialized reading rooms and storage until its vacating in 2023. In 2023, the library completed its move to a new standalone building in Jerusalem's government complex, positioned between the Knesset to the east and the Israel Museum to the south, near Ruppin Road, marking full independence from the Hebrew University and enabling expanded public access with modern preservation features.[1][32] Over four million books and millions of other items were relocated in the preceding months, concluding the library's long tenure on university campuses.[43] ![B'nai B'rith library][float-right]![The National Library of Israel - New building][center]