Knesset - the parliament of the State of Israel, the center of political life. And yet - a monument of architecture, an imposing building with a very special history.

Until 1966, the Parliament of Israel settled in the cinema "Cassie", the Jewish Agency, and then in the house Beit Frumin on King George Street. In 1956, the government announced a competition to design the new building of the legislative branch. Most Israeli architects refrained from participating, as everyone knew: no money for the project. However, nine days before the end of the contest, it became known that the British politician and philanthropist James Armand de Rothschild bequeathed Edmond to build six million British pounds sterling. The jury unanimously named the winner - architect Joseph Klarveyna, the only one who decided to invest in a power project and has made "a noble appearance of the building structure." Second place award did not: there was no competition. Broke a terrible scandal, the architectural community felt offended, but the results of the competition were not removed.

Low powerful building erected in the center of Givat Ram, where many important institutions: the Supreme Court of Israel, the National Library, the Museum of Israel. Givat Ram known archaeological finds: on the excavated bricks and tiles visible marking of the Tenth Roman Legion, crushed Jerusalem in the year 70, found a Byzantine mosaic. On the hill going into the War of Independence fighting youth groups Gadna, fought for Israel.

Visit the Parliament of a small country, of course, necessary. It is a genuine center of political life, elected by all the people here are choosing deputies and the president and prime minister. The building is equipped with the latest technology, closely guarded by a special Knesset Guard. Is there something to see, and art lovers.

The decoration of the complex was attended by well-known painters and sculptors. Marc Chagall executed magnificent tapestries on the theme of the Old Testament, designed mosaics, ceiling conference room of a hundred thousand wooden cubes. Before the building is a huge menorah, traditional semisvechny lamp (work of British sculptor Benno Elkana) - something similar to what was in the tabernacle of the congregation during the forty years of wandering in the wilderness of the Jews under the leadership of Moses. The decorative grille around the territory of the Knesset created the famous sculptor David Palombo. Near parliament a sculpture of his own work "Burning Bush".

Tours of the Knesset (free, there are in Russian) are usually held in the morning. It is only necessary to take into account the strict dress code: visitors in T-shirts, shorts, clothing with political slogans or with bare belly entrance to the Knesset is prohibited. This is clearly stated on the official website of the Israeli parliament.