FOZ - The Friends of Zion Museum

Heard about this after I arrived earlier than expected in Jerusalem and found it just a couple of blocks from my hotel. This private museum has a fantastic and powerful series of exhibits that tells stories of non-Jewish supporters of Zionism and assistance in the establishment of the State of Israel. State-of-art technology makes this a highly effective way to present the stories of many individuals.

The museum begins with the famous "Cloverleaf Map" from 1658 by Heinrich Bünting showing Jerusalem as the hub of the continents and Old Testament quotes about the desire of the Israelites to return home. A series of halls present the contribution of the Friends of Zion such as Harry Truman, Winston Churchill, Orde Wingate and several Righteous Among the Nations such as Oskar Schindler. Raul Wallenberg, Irena Sendler, a Polish nurse, Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese consul general and the Ten-Boom family that saved lives during the Holocaust while risking their own lives. Especially moving was the black and white Lights in the Darkness movie.Read more