From private safes: Treasures worth $100 million revealed in Jerusalem
For the first time in Israel, the "Heichalot" exhibition showcased hundreds of rare items of Jewish heritage, including manuscripts, sacred objects, and historical artifacts, some dating back centuries. The collection, valued at approximately $100 million, includes items from the world of Hasidism, Lithuanian sages, and testimonies from the Holocaust era.
For the first time in Israel, hundreds of rare items of Jewish heritage, many of which are kept in secure safes, private collections, and institutions in Israel and around the world throughout the year, were presented to the public at the "Heichalot" ("Halls") exhibition. The exhibition, which took place at the International Convention Center (Binyanei HaUma) and lasted three days, attracted thousands of visitors from all over the country.
The exhibition was divided into seven halls, each dedicated to a different chapter of Jewish heritage: the Hall of Hasidism, the Hall of Lithuania, the Hall of Eastern Communities, the Hall of Jerusalem, the Hall of Music, the Hall of Holocaust Martyrs, and the Hall of Segulot (blessings/charms). In each of them, sacred objects, documents, and rare items were displayed, telling the story of Jewish history throughout the generations.
Among the prominent exhibits were a reconstruction of the study hall and the grave of the Baal Shem Tov in Medzhybizh, the yarmulke of the Baal Shem Tov, ashes attributed to the Second Temple period, the chair of the Maharil Diskin, personal items of the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, items related to the Chazon Ish, manuscripts hundreds of years old, rare books, and historical sacred objects.
Alongside the exhibits from the world of Hasidism, rare items from the world of the great Lithuanian sages, the sages of the Eastern communities, and Jerusalem were also displayed. In the Hall of Music, Hasidic melodies, piyyutim, and rare recordings were played, and in the Hall of Holocaust Martyrs, documents, objects, and testimonies about the lives of Jews and the observance of the Torah and faith during the Holocaust were presented. In the Hall of Segulot, traditional objects and items passed down from generation to generation were displayed.
Behind the exhibition is heritage researcher Yehuda Breuer, accompanied by a steering committee headed by Tuvia Freund. The collection of items took years and involved work with collectors, libraries, institutions, and owners of rare collections in Israel and abroad.
"We spent years locating the items and building the exhibition. Seeing thousands of people arrive and get excited by the exhibits was the moment that proved to us that all the effort was worth it," said Breuer.
According to the organizers, the total value of the items displayed at the exhibition is estimated at approximately $100 million. Due to their historical and financial value, a special security system was set up at the site, and the exhibits were insured by an international insurance company.
The interest generated by the exhibition was not limited to Israel. After its conclusion, inquiries were received from Jewish communities and organizations around the world requesting to explore the possibility of displaying the collection in other countries as well. Currently, the organizers are examining the possibility of taking the exhibition on an international tour to allow additional Jewish communities to be exposed to the rare collection.
