The Wilfrid Israel Museum began life with a collection of Near and Far Eastern art bequeathed to the kibbutz by Wilfrid Israel (1899-1943), friend and patron of its young founders. Israel was one of the leading figures in the rescue of Jewish children and young people from Nazi persecution before and during the Second World War. He died on a flight to England from Portugal, when his plane was shot down by the German Air-force.
The museum was founded in 1951 and was the first museum in Israel to exhibit East Asian art from the collection that Wilfrid Israel accumulated during the 1920's, when he was travelling in Asia. The primary collection has grown throughout the years and includes some 2000 pieces from India, Nepal, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Persia, Egypt and Greece.
In the past few years the museum has been focusing on a multi-cultural approach, which draws its origins from the character of Wilfrid Israel himself. The museum offers a permanent exhibition of East Asian art from the museum's collection alongside exhibitions of contemporary artists both from Israel and the Far East that relate either aesthetically or conceptually to Asian Art.
The museum offers a wide range of educational programs for children, youth and adults. In addition, we take part in co-existence educational programs as well as art projects for primary school pupils who come from underprivileged backgrounds.