| The Society for the Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites (SPIHS), established by a 1984 decision of the Knesset Education Committee, set as its objectives the identification, rescue, restoration and preservation of Israel's heritage sites, turning them into activity-filled living sites that educate and impart information. One of its aims is to increase public awareness of the need to preserve Israel's heritage sites, and to teach Israel's history in the last few generations. |
| The reasons for granting recognition to the Bank of Israel Visitors Center as a heritage site are its following features: |
| 1. It preserves ancient Jewish coins, which constitute an historical asset, and exhibits them to the public. |
| 2. It educates about the preservation of Israel's heritage, and imparts values related to identity and identification. |
| 3. It exposes the public to heritage assets by means of seminars and tours, showing the history of coins in Israel and how the heritage of the nation and the state is reflected in its banknotes and coins, and stressing the affinity of Israel's coins with Jewish coins of earlier periods of Jewish autonomy in the Land of Israel. |
| The Visitors Center contains exhibits showing the history of coins and banknotes. Items displayed include those related to pre-coinage periods, the world's first coins, the first coins minted in Israel, ancient Jewish coins, and ancient coins in Israel from all periods, money substitutes, and all banknotes and coins from the time of the British Mandate till today. Exhibits also illustrate the process of issuing money, security features against counterfeits, and an exhibit of "Coins of Jerusalem." Alongside the exhibits in the Center are computer stands with a film on the history of currency and computer games related to the roles of the Bank of Israel. Visitors to the Center receive an explanation of the functions of a central bank and the preservation of price stability, and are shown a film about inflation; special guided visits include comprehensive description of the roles of the Bank of Israel, and talks on various economic subjects. |
| The Bank of Israel will be open to the public on Yom Ha'atzamauth (Israel's 64th Independence Day), Iyar 4, 5772, April 26, 2012. |
| Entrance is free, but visits are by prior arrangement only. The number of visitors per tour is limited, so early booking is advisable. |
| Visits include: |
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A tour of the exhibits of the history of currency |
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Activity on the interactive computer stands on the roles of the Bank of Israel |
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Films on the development of the means of payment and the main goal of the Bank of Israel––maintaining price stability |
| There will be five guided tours for families, as follows: |
| 9:30 to 11:00 |
| 11:00 to 12:30 |
| 12:30 to 14:00 |
| 14:00 to 15:30 |
| 15:30 to 17:00 |
| Visits are suitable for adults and children aged 8 years and over |
| For details: |
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| Tel: 02-6552828; 02-6552718; 02-6552520 |
| Fax: 02-6552858 |
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