Beit Terezin

A courtyard at the heart of the kibbutz

Beit Terezin is situated within Kibbutz Givat Haim Ihud in Emek Hefer. Its exhibitions, archive and offices are arranged around a small courtyard. The institution focuses on the people who passed through Theresienstadt and the records they left behind. Its different spaces connect historical interpretation with remembrance and education. When setting your navigation destination, use the museum’s name together with Givat Haim Ihud to identify the correct kibbutz.

Built by survivors for future generations

The Theresienstadt Martyrs’ Remembrance Association was registered in 1966. The cornerstone of Beit Terezin was laid on 29 September 1969. Architect Albin Glaser, himself a survivor of the ghetto, designed the building. His proposal for the memorial room used a twelve-sided shape and red bricks recalling the Terezin fortress. From the outset, the founders wanted a place for meetings, the preservation of documentation and education. In 2011, Beit Terezin received recognition as an accredited museum in Israel. This history helps explain why the museum and its archive remain closely connected.

Three permanent exhibitions

Study days built around historical sources

The educational center offers study days and seminars throughout the year for schoolchildren, soldiers and adults. Programs are adjusted to participants’ ages and the length of the session. Inquiry-based activities use primary sources, including journals and drawings. Topics include children and young people, Jewish leadership, dilemmas in prisoners’ daily lives, cultural activity and spiritual resistance. Schools can choose programs and workshops, with separate strands for elementary, junior high and high school pupils. Agree the particular program and its duration with the center rather than assuming a standard tour applies to every group.

An archive for research and family history

The collections include artwork, drawings by adults and children, personal belongings and documents. More than 600 subject files hold biographical information, personal testimonies, research and press material. Archive staff help search for relatives using the ghetto prisoner index and cross-reference other sources. A family-history inquiry calls for different preparation from an exhibition visit, so explain what you are looking for before travelling. The official website has separate sections for searching the archive and requesting help with a relative search. This gives researchers a direct route to the relevant team.

Coordinate your visit before travelling

Address, opening hours and contacts

Address

Kibbutz Givat Haim Ihud, Emek Hefer, 38935. Hebrew place name: גבעת חיים איחוד.

Sunday–Thursday

08:30–16:00. Visits must be coordinated in advance.

Friday and Saturday

Closed under the regular timetable. Additional group times require separate agreement.

Visit coordination

058-6369555 · [email protected]

General enquiries

04-6369515 · 058-6369515 · [email protected]

Official website

https://bterezin.org.il/

Accessibility in the museum

The institution states that all museum exhibitions are accessible to people with physical disabilities. Seating is available in the exhibition spaces. Designated accessible parking spaces are located near the museum, and wheelchair-accessible public toilets are available. If your group needs a particular route from the parking area or assistance at the entrance, raise this while arranging the visit. This lets the team address your requirements before you arrive. The published access information concerns the museum exhibitions; discuss any separate archive appointment with the staff.

Questions about visiting

• Do I need to arrange a visit? Yes. The official contact page requires advance coordination. Call 058-6369555 for visit arrangements.
• What are the regular opening hours? Sunday–Thursday, 08:30–16:00. Friday and Saturday are closed. Groups can agree additional times directly with the institution.
• Where is Beit Terezin? In Kibbutz Givat Haim Ihud, Emek Hefer, postal code 38935. The Hebrew navigation destination is בית טרזין, גבעת חיים איחוד.
• What do the permanent exhibitions cover? The history of Theresienstadt in 1941–1945, cultural and spiritual life, and different aspects of life in the ghetto. The museum lists three permanent exhibitions.
• Are there school programs? Yes. There are programs for elementary, junior high and high school pupils. Activities are adapted to age and the duration of the study day.
• Can a guided tour be included? Yes, guided tours and educational programs can be incorporated by prior arrangement. Confirm language and duration with the center.
• Can the archive help trace relatives? Yes. Staff use the prisoner index and other sources for relative searches. There is a dedicated inquiry section on the official website.
• Is the museum wheelchair accessible? The institution says all exhibitions are accessible to people with physical disabilities. Accessible parking, seating and wheelchair-accessible toilets are available.