About an hour north of Chicago and 10 minutes south of the state of Wisconsin lies a city called Zion. If you were to drive through it, nothing particularly interesting would stand out to you. In fact, the two times that I have been there, it appeared somewhat deserted. However, it had an interesting beginning….
Author: Bet Arkeh
Alcatraz Island
Off the coast of San Francisco, a city in California, stands a rocky island aptly nicknamed “The Rock.” However, it is officially known as “Alcatraz,” based on the name “Isla de los Alcatraces” (Spanish for “Island of the Pelicans”), which is what a Spanish explorer called it in 1775. Today, Alcatraz Island is a popular…
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Although the sixteenth president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was born in the state of Kentucky, Illinois is commonly called the “Land of Lincoln.” In fact, even the Illinois license plate has this phrase on it, as well as a depiction of Lincoln’s head. This is because Lincoln lived in Illinois longer than he…
The Israel Museum
The most famous museum in Israel is the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Founded in 1965, it was primarily built to display the numerous archaeological finds from throughout the country. It is located across the street from the Knesset, Israel’s government building, and houses approximately 500,000 items. Perhaps the most popular display at the Israel Museum…
The Many Homes of the Dead Sea Scrolls
During the mid-20th century, over 900 Jewish texts were discovered at Qumran, which is located in present-day Israel’s Judean Desert. These scrolls are known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, because of Qumran’s close proximity to the Dead Sea. They date to the last few centuries B.C. and first few centuries A.D., and are primarily written…
Syriac Orthodox Monastery of Saint Mark in Jerusalem
The city of Jerusalem has a 16th century Ottoman wall surrounding its Old City. The area within these walls is allotted into four sections: the Jewish Quarter, the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Quarter, and the Armenian Quarter. Although Armenians are Christian, they were the first country to nationally convert to Christianity, so they have kept…
9/11 Memorial and Museum
Most people visit museums to learn new information. However, memorial museums often add an emotional element to the visit. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is no exception. After visiting, the experience will probably stay in your mind for at least the rest of the day. When a country experiences a disaster, most people remember the…
KAM Isaiah Israel in Chicago
If you walk around the Chicago neighborhood of Hyde Park, you might notice a large, domed building with a minaret located across the street from former U.S. President Barack Obama’s home. Until a larger sign was added to the front lawn, most people assumed it was a mosque. However, it is actually KAM Isaiah Israel,…
Civil War Museum of Kenosha, WI
The last time I visited a museum, before COVID-19 caused the United States to shut down, was on March 1, 2020. On that day, I visited the Civil War Museum of Kenosha, WI. Located a little over an hour away from Chicago, Kenosha has certainly been receiving a lot of national attention this week due…
Frances Willard House Museum and Archives
On August 26, 2020, it will be 100 years since the Nineteenth Amendment was adopted into the U.S. Constitution. The Nineteenth Amendment granted women throughout the United States the right to vote. Prior to that, some states permitted women the right to vote (the state of Wyoming as early as 1869), but once the U.S….
Bet Arkeh 