Soon to be the fourth-largest city in Israel, Modi’in is a thriving metropolis comprising attractive, modern residential areas surrounding ever-expanding commercial and shopping areas as well as many diverse educational facilities. The establishment of the city in 1985 came as a response to the need to establish a significant population center in the heart of Israel that would provide its residents with an abundance of breathtaking landscapes, clean air and nature—a great place in which to raise families. Also in 1985, the adjacent community settlement of Maccabim was established by the Maccabi Olami movement. Nearby, the settlement of Reut was established in 1991 as a family neighborhood for military personnel. On December 3, 2003, the three neighborhoods were merged and the newly created city was called Modi’in Maccabim Reut.
This new city was built upon the ancient area of Modi’in, home to the illustrious Hasmonean dynasty and the site of the Hasmonean Revolt. With this history in mind, the builders of the community had to be sensitive to the ancient artifacts buried in the area and thus worked along with the Israel Ministry of Antiquities to properly excavate them and store them for preservation and study. These extensive collections were gathered and incorporated into a new, state-of-the-art museum that opened, fittingly, on Chanukah 2021.
Located on Rechov Dam HaMaccabim 24 in the City Center, adjacent to the City Hall, the Hasmonean Heritage Museum is a modern, two-story structure identified by its logo featuring pillars of steel in the shape of a modern-art chanukiah. The open, light and airy exhibit spaces convey an interesting blend of old and new.
The first exhibit on the main floor consists of artifacts from the historical periods represented, from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic and Neolithic periods to the Bronze, Iron, Persian and Ottoman Periods. The objects include oil lamps, measuring jugs, glass weights, altars and even a tobacco pipe. When each artifact is lit up with a sliding scanner, the huge map lights up the area where the artifact was found and provides an online short history of the area and its significance. The popular Anglo area called Buchman after the main builder in the area was actually called Umm el Umdan and housed a great ancient synagogue.
From this initial exhibit, the visitors are directed into an interactive wing where piles of sand hide hidden coins and fragments of pottery. When the visitor assembles the fragments and discovers all of the coins, they are placed on a platform and a computer screen provides their background. An underground replication of an ancient cave housing ossuaries, burial boxes and other household items is lit up from above by a joystick, and a recorded message conveys the background.
The upper floor ushers the visitors into a Disney World-style theater where a 15-minute film provides the background of the Hasmonean period through a semi-animated time machine visit. The spectators are treated to a “moving experience” as the story unfolds. Through the charming pairing-up of the modern-day female architect of the city to a Rip-Van-Winkle Hasmonean, oil is found and the day is saved.
The City of Modi’in Maccabim Reut prides itself as a city of service, offering activities for senior citizens, services for residents with special needs, a future elaborate arts and music center, state-of-the-art sports facilities, and beautiful parks and gardens. It is highly accessible alongside Route 1 and Highway 443 to Jerusalem, and Highway 431 to Ben Gurion Airport and the coastal plain.
To learn more about the Hasmonean Heritage Museum and to purchase tickets go to modiinmuseum.org.il or call 08-973-7333.
