Free Entry to 54 Museums, Parks, and Heritage Sites as Part of 'Poalim Israeli'

The Israeli spirit cannot be defeated: Following the 'Lion’s Roar' war, the project "Poalim for Culture, Beauty, and Nature in Israel," which has been held for 20 consecutive years under the sponsorship of Bank Hapoalim in its regular format during Passover, did not take place this year. However, the commitment does not stop: in light of the complex reality Israeli citizens are facing, and alongside the desire to support and strengthen museums, sites, and tourism businesses across the country that took a hard hit during the war, Bank Hapoalim decided that the project will still take place this year in a slightly different format.

As part of the 'Poalim Israeli' project, museums, parks, and heritage sites from the north to the south of the country will be open for free to the general public in Israel during three weekends (Friday-Saturday) in May on the following dates: May 8-9, May 15-16, and May 29-30 (excluding Shavuot).

The opening of the museums and sites participating in the 'Poalim Israeli' project for the public's benefit allows the people of Israel to enjoy the weekends while enriching the knowledge and experiences of the whole family through Israel's beauty and culture. It nurtures the connection to historical heritage, landscapes, and thriving culture, all while providing significant financial savings for families. The sites participating in the project will be open on Fridays for longer hours than usual to accommodate the general public and families throughout the month of May.

The 'Poalim Israeli' initiative, sponsored by Bank Hapoalim, supports museums, parks, nature sites, heritage sites, and visitor and science centers, with a special emphasis on the North and South, which were affected during the 'Iron Swords' and 'Lion's Roar' wars.

The museums, parks, and sites in the project:

Bank Hapoalim has added particularly attractive museums and sites from across the country to the project, such as: National Parks from the Nature and Parks Authority like Nimrod Fortress and Hippos (Sussita), Technoda Hadera – Museum of Medicine, Science Park and Museum, Petah Tikva Museum of Art and My First Museum, Ramla Museum, Ashdod Museum of Art, and the Neot Semadar site in the Arava, which was selected as one of the 250 recommended tourism villages by the UN World Tourism Organization.

These join the leading sites and museums that already participate in the Passover project every year, such as: The Israel Museum in Jerusalem, Lunada Children’s Museum in Beer Sheva, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, ANU – Museum of the Jewish People, Timna Park, The Ramparts Walk in Jerusalem, Yaacov Agam Museum in Rishon LeZion, Planetanya Science and Space Center, the New Katzrin Park, Ben-Gurion’s Hut, the Zoological Garden in Nahariya, Ein Harod Museum of Art, Janco-Dada Museum, Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem, Ramat Gan Museum, Hasmonean Heritage Museum in Modi’in, Haifa Museums – Haifa Museum of Art, National Maritime Museum, Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art, and more.

Additionally, the 'Poalim Israeli' project, sponsored by Bank Hapoalim, will offer free entry for the general public to sites and activities of small tourism businesses in southern Israel through the Association for the Promotion of Tourism in the Shikma Bsor region, such as: The Palm Farm (Havat HaDekalim), glass-blowing workshops at Ron Art Judaica in Ma'agalim, the Kibbutz Hatzerim Visitor Center, the Iron Sheep Heritage Museum in Kibbutz Tze'elim, 'The Salad Trail' in Moshav Talmei Yosef, the Rishonim Site in Kibbutz Ruhama, and more.

The Passover project sponsored by Bank Hapoalim, which this year will take place in a different format as 'Poalim Israeli', has become a tradition that is part of a continuous investment in society and the community carried out by Bank Hapoalim year-round. As part of the project, hundreds of thousands of people and families in Israel enjoy free visits to museums and sites throughout the country. Entry to all sites, museums, activities, and attractions is subject to advance registration only.

Among the many projects Bank Hapoalim initiates for the community and society in Israel, this project stands out in its uniqueness by representing the diverse human mosaic of the people and land of Israel and nurturing the connection of the people in Israel to the historical heritage, landscapes, and culture of their country.

Accessibility: Information regarding the accessibility of participating sites is provided by the Access Israel association on the website. Additionally, you can visit the "Rolling Experience Center," where you can experience the daily lives of people with disabilities.

When: The sites will open for free in accordance with Home Front Command guidelines during three weekends (Friday-Saturday) in May on the following dates: May 8-9, May 15-16, and May 29-30 (excluding Shavuot).

For details: For the full list of sites and registration, search for "Poalim Israeli" or visit the website: https://poalimatarim.com/

(Photo: Nimrod Fortress National Park. Photography by Yaniv Cohen, Israel Nature and Parks Authority)