Knesset
The Knesset, Israel’s Parliament building, sits in the government district (HaKiriya neighborhood) within Jerusalem’s New City. The building was erected in 1966 and sits alongside the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of the Interior; it houses offices for most of the 120 elected Knesset Members. By the building entrance, stands an impressive sixteen foot Menorah with seven branches as was found in the Second Temple. This famous monument was a gift from the British Parliament with decorations meaningful to Jewish history. Within the Knesset building are pieces of art created by Marc Chagall; temporary exhibits change regularly and can be seen in the visitors’ gallery.
Guided tours through the Knesset building are available Sunday and Thursday from 8:30am through 2pm. Tours are not booked in advance, but individual visitors are asked to arrive prior to scheduled tours with appropriate identification; tours for groups of ten or more must be booked in advance. Tours are offered in seven different languages. Participation in a guided tour is mandatory for visitors interested in the Knesset building. Visitors can also arrange sitting in on public Knesset sessions by advance booking. Appropriate attire is required for participation on all Knesset tours.