The Knesset, Israel’s parliament, sits on a hilltop in the Givat Ram neighborhood of western Jerusalem, overlooking the Israel Museum and the Valley of the Cross. The building, designed by Joseph Klarwein and opened in 1966, was funded largely by a donation from the Rothschild family. The architecture is deliberately austere, a rectangular stone building that draws on the proportions of ancient Near Eastern structures, reflecting the young state’s desire to connect modern democracy to ancient roots. The Knesset building stands as a symbol of Israeli sovereignty and self-governance, and its hilltop location gives it a commanding presence over the cultural and institutional heart of western Jerusalem.
The Menorah
In front of the Knesset stands the bronze Menorah, designed by the British-Jewish sculptor Benno Elkan and presented to the Knesset by the British Parliament in 1956. The 4.30-meter-tall, 4-ton menorah is covered with 29 relief panels depicting key events and figures in Jewish history, from Moses and the Exodus to the Warsaw Ghetto uprising and the Holocaust. Each panel tells a chapter in the long story of the Jewish people, making the sculpture a visual encyclopedia of Jewish memory. The menorah has become one of the most recognizable symbols of the State of Israel and appears on the national emblem. Standing opposite the Knesset building, it creates a powerful dialogue between ancient heritage and modern statehood.
The Chagall Tapestries
Inside the Knesset, the State Hall features three magnificent tapestries and a floor mosaic by Marc Chagall, donated by the artist to the state. The tapestries depict the creation of the world, the exodus from Egypt, and the entry into Jerusalem, rendered in Chagall’s dreamlike style with floating figures, animals, and vivid colors. The tapestries are among the finest works Chagall produced, and the combination of his artistic vision with the setting of a working parliament is unique. The Chagall Hall, as the State Hall is often called, is used for ceremonial occasions including the inauguration of new presidents, making these artworks witnesses to some of Israel’s most important political moments.
The Sessions
The Knesset has 120 members, a number traditionally said to correspond to the 120 members of the Great Assembly (Knesset HaGedolah) in the Second Temple period. Israel’s parliamentary system is built on proportional representation, with multiple parties competing in national elections, resulting in coalition governments that reflect the country’s remarkable political diversity. Guided tours of the building are available when the Knesset is in session, and visitors can observe the debates from the gallery. Israeli parliamentary debates are famously spirited, and watching a session from the visitors’ gallery offers a firsthand look at the energy and passion of Israeli democracy in action.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
The Knesset and its Menorah are a short stop that connects Israel’s democratic present to its ancient past. Hoshen Tours includes it alongside the Israel Museum and the Monastery of the Cross.