Batia and Idan, who have been long-term supporters of cultural organizations in Israel, have donated $15 million, by way of The Foundation, to support the redevelopment of the country’s National Library. The impressive new building, was in 2023, covers an area of 45,000 square feet over 10 floors. The new site will also include ‘The Idan and Batia Ofer Park’ which will span 1.5 acres and provide solace and inspiration to those who visit it. Located at the south and east ends of the new building, the park will provide space for outdoor gatherings and will be home to a rich variety of flora, that have been carefully selected and can be admired from pathways that wind their way through the park. The park will also include two further outdoor elements; a paved plaza in-front of the southern façade of the building and a 200-seat amphitheatre, which both allow for contemplation and appreciation of the site.
The library itself, is home to over 5 million books, handwritten works by luminaries such as Maimonides and Sir Isaac Newton, exquisite Islamic manuscripts and personal archives of leading figures including Martin Buber, Franz Kafka and Gershom Scholem. It also houses the largest collection of Jewish and Israeli music, as well as world-class photographs and ancient maps. The sum of these works amounts to the collective memory of the Jewish and Israeli people. The redevelopment of the National Library sees the institution move to a new location, opposite the Knesset building and next to both the Supreme Court and Israel Museum. The National Library of Israel is comparable in status to the great libraries of the world and this new location will underline the importance of history and collective memory in determining the nation’s future. The unveiling of the new museum, which opens up Israel’s national treasures to the public and places renewed importance on this cultural institution, is a cause that resonates with The Foundation’s mission
