The King David Private Museum and Research Center in Tel Aviv held a
special two-day celebration this week in honor of the holiday of
Shavuot, which is also celebrated as the 3,025th birthday of King
David.
The museum, located on 5 Brenner St. in central Tel Aviv, opened just
four months ago. It contains archeological exhibits from First and
Second Temple times and includes artifacts of special significance in
the story of King David.
In another room, a video shows the life of King David, from his
humble beginning as a lonely shepherd until his anointment as king.
Another video explains the art of lyre-making, and based on writings
that describe how King David built the lyres he played.
The museum prides itself on the Genealogy Center, a database that
traces the descendants of King David to this very day. It is centered
on Rashi, a famous descendant of David, and his progeny. It includes
over 100 surnames of present-day families descended from the greatest
king of all. The results of the research are presented in the museum
and can be accessed through a special website.
Susan Roth, founder of the King David Private Museum and Research
Center, is herself a direct descendant of King David.
According to museum curator Yisrael Cohen, the celebration was more
than just about King David’s birthday or Shavuot, but was also meant
to make the public aware that the very special museum has opened its
doors.
“We were able to bring in a lot of people who normally would not have
come, and they were introduced to the many different facets of King
David’s life, and the continuity of our Jewish people – not just the
64 years that we’re here in Israel but the 3,000 years that we’ve
been in Israel,” Cohen told Arutz Sheva.
“We also had a group of actors who came and went through the streets
accompanied by musicians,” he added. “We had kings and queens and so
forth, who got people into the spirit, both of King David and of King
David’s birthday, and brought attention within Tel Aviv’s streets to
a very focal point within the Jewish people.”
Cohen noted that the museum has attracted many visitors, old and
young, adding that every person can find something that will interest
him. He also noted that the museum is unique in Tel Aviv, because it
provides an inside look into history and archaeology, things which
are not normally available in museums in Tel Aviv.
