Palmach Museum
Located in northern Tel-Aviv, the Palmach Museum is devoted to the Palmach. This Jewish strike force operated in the 1940s and had a critical role in establishing the state of Israel.
The Palmach
The Palmach was founded in 1941 as a Jewish elite fighting force that the British trained. Its members were recruited from the Haganah paramilitary organization, and its original purpose was a rare collaboration between the Jews in Palestine and the British to fight Nazi Germany. When the British left, the Palmach played a vital role in the 1948 War of Independence. They had 2,000 warriors in 3 brigades and a naval, aerial, and intelligence force. They became the core of Israel’s national army during the war – the Israel Defense Force.
History of the Palmach Museum
Opened in 2000, the Palmach Museum is not a museum in the classical sense. There are no artifacts on display and no signs with explanations. It is an experiential museum where visitors join a virtual group of young Palmach recruits. They follow their training, join them in combats, and get acquainted with the Palmach team spirit. The innovative presentation is a masterpiece. The 3D décor, multi-media, and other effects immerse each visitor in the story and its figures, culminating in establishing the state of Israel. The tour ends with a memorial hall commemorating Palmach’s fallen soldiers in the struggle to establish the Jewish nation.
Touring the Palmach Museum
The museum operates every day of the week. A devoted local staff leads tours in small groups and must be pre-booked. The tour takes 90 minutes and is for children over six years only. Visiting the Palmach Archive and meeting Palmach veterans who volunteer at the museum is also possible.
A tour of the Palmach Museum can be combined with a guided day tour of Jaffa and Tel Aviv.
