Israel Museum Big Birthday Bash

Offering free admission at one of Jerusalem’s favorite sites,

 The Israel Museum’s 50th birthday party

attracted thousands of people.

Special cupcakes

and colorful drinks were provided for visitors.

The children’s wing and new play area were filled with children.

Actors entertained in the passageways.

Not new statutes,

but men were dressed in black and moving

 slowly around entertaining the young crowd.

I was impressed with these two girls

who were entertaining themselves,

using their paper art project to test the water currents

in the flowing waterfall near the steps.

Future scientists? For sure!

What is a big birthday party without lots of balloons?

Former President Shimon Peres was at the opening of the museum

exactly 50 years earlier.

Museum Director James Snyder presented him with his old photo,

as the crowd tried to get a view of the official ceremony.

This heart by Jeff Koons which is on loan to the Israel Museum

for its 50th birthday year took a little help to unveil.

But the huge birthday cake with edible art works on top,

took only minutes to disappear,

 and those who got cake and balloons left smiling.

Teddy Kollek had a vision as mayor of Jerusalem, Israel,

and in 50 years the Israel Museum has matured.

Happy Birthday

and many more great years.