We are building a port here • A new exhibition and a film starring Idan Alterman

The National Maritime Museum in Haifa and the Israel Ports Company present:

On Tuesday (December 17, 2024) a new exhibit was launched at the National Maritime Museum in Haifa, which bears the name "We are building a port here". At the center of the display is a film, produced for the museum by the Israel Ports Company (HANI), starring the actor Idan Alterman, which tells the story of the development of ports in Israel.

The film "We are building a port here", which is about 10 minutes long, presents the story of the establishment of the ports in Israel - from the days of the British Mandate, through the first decades of the establishment of the state to the establishment of Hani and the construction of the "Hafaretz" and "Hadom" ports in recent years. Alongside the film Historical exhibits and photographs of Israel's ports from the Haifa museum collection.

The film was produced by Gabish Media, directed by Tom Gabish and based on a script by Erez Polak. A number of key characters were chosen for the film, with the help of which the story of the ports in Israel is told: Sir Frederick Palmer, the planner of the port of Haifa, Zeev Hayam - the mythological figure of the Hebrew maritime industry, Haim Laskov , who founded the Ports Authority, which later became Hani, and David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel, who conceived and promoted the construction of the port of Eilat. The film is led by the actor Idan Alterman, who takes the viewers on a journey during which they meet the various characters. The film uses AI technology and animation to "revive" old archival footage that only exists as stills.

The Land of Israel is located on trade routes that connect three continents - Asia, Africa and Europe - and therefore its ports have been known to have an important place throughout history. Political and security circumstances led Israel to become in practice an "island state" - a Jewish state in a space of Arab states, without peaceful relations with most of them. The seaports serve as a main trading gateway, and most of the goods pass through them, the volume of which has increased consistently over the years. The story of the ports in Israel reflects a process of maturation: from the establishment of the British port of Haifa and the port of Tel Aviv during the Mandate period in the 30s of the twentieth century, through the establishment of the ports of Eilat and Ashdod in accordance with the strategic needs of the country in the 50s and 60s, to the container revolution, the reform of the ports and the establishment The new ports in recent decades. This maturation is the result of a gradual process of acquiring professionalism and developing planning ability.

At the National Maritime Museum, a special complex was established for the screening of the film and quality multimedia equipment was purchased. The new display is part of a permanent exhibition dedicated to the story of Hebrew shipping, which is being built in the museum in stages. It joins another new exhibit that opened this year, "Blood. Money. Ships.", which centers on the story of the development of the Israeli merchant fleet thanks to the reparations agreement with Germany.

Tiko Gadot, CEO of the Israel Ports Company: "I am proud to launch together with the National Maritime Museum in Haifa a new exhibition showing the history of the establishment of ports in Israel. This is part of a series of projects promoted by the Israel Ports Company to increase awareness of maritime education in Israel, expand maritime research and train the future generation in the field of transportation infrastructure and marine engineering. This is not It is a coincidence that the location chosen for the new display is the city of Haifa, which serves as a port city and is an example of a city that combines quality of life and activity An ant. In the new display, the visitor will be exposed in a unique way to the establishment of the ports in Israel, which are an anchor for the country's economy and their important contribution to the Israeli economy.'

Actor Idan Alterman: "As someone who grew up in Haifa, this project is very close to my heart. The maritime museum was one of my favorite places as a child and the harbor was an integral part of the city, so I am happy to participate in a film that tells the story of the ants and hope that the audience will connect with it."

Adi Shelah, curator of the National Maritime Museum: "I am proud and excited with the launch of the film and the opening of the new exhibition. The topic of ports in Israel has not been presented in the museum until now. A port, by its very essence, is a meeting point between sea traffic and land traffic, therefore it is practically impossible to understand shipping in depth without also referring to the topic of ports. We chose to turn our attention For this important episode, which is part of the Israeli shipping exhibition that we are creating gradually and in stages."

Yotam Yakir, CEO of Haifa Museums: "We were looking for a way to convey the complex story of Israel's ports to our audience in a creative way, that would tell a historical story, but do so gracefully and at the eye level of the youth and children. It is very important to us that a young audience can also connect and be enriched. The maritime museum hosts over 50 thousand visitors a year and the development His is noticeable and significant.    

"We would not have been able to tell this story without the special collaboration with Israel Ports Company (HANI) both in the production and the development of the content. It is a cooperation that is win win in the full sense of the phrase. I thank the heads of Hani from the bottom of my heart and wish for continued cooperation in the future as well."

The launch event was attended by: CEO of Israel Ports Company, Tiko Gadot; CEO of Haifa Museums, Yotam Yakir, Deputy Mayor of Haifa, Avihua Han, National Maritime Museum curator Adi Shelah and actor Idan Alterman.

Days and hours of activity of the exhibition for the general public:

As part of the exhibition, a film is shown, which was produced jointly by the Israel Ports Company and the National Maritime Museum and tells the fascinating story of the development of ports in Israel

• Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday: 10:00-16:00
• Monday - closed
• Thursday – 10:00-18:00
• Friday - 10: 00-14: 00
• Extended hours of operation during Hanukkah

Entrance ticket price: NIS 17.5-35

The story of the establishment of the ports in Israel

The Land of Israel has always been a central junction for trade and worship. It is located on my path
A trade that connects three continents - Asia, Africa and Europe - and that's why the ant has a place
important throughout history. Until the beginning of the last century, the ports of Jaffa and Acre were the most important ports
in the land of Israel and were used as gates for the passage of passengers and goods to and from the land. These ants have evolved
For hundreds and thousands of years as an organic part of the cities, similar to other historical port cities in the basin
Mediterranean.
The location of the main ports in the State of Israel is unusual compared to the port cities
The Mediterranean. For political reasons related to the circumstances of the establishment of the state, the historical ports
that operated in its territory were replaced by new ports, around which new cities also developed.
The stories of the ports in Israel reflect a process of maturation: from the establishment of the British port of Haifa
and the Port of Tel Aviv during the Mandate period in the 30s; Through the establishment of Eilat ports
And Ashdod according to the strategic needs of the state in the 50s and 60s, until a revolution
The containers, the port reform and the establishment of the "ports of the future" in the last decades. This ripening is
The result of a gradual process of acquiring professionalism, of developing planning ability and of long-term investment
Long and building economic resilience is essential for the country's future.

Political and security circumstances led Israel to become a de facto "island state" - a state
Jewish in the space of Arab countries, without peaceful relations with most of them. The seaports serve as a gateway to it
main commercial, and most of the goods pass through them, the volume of which has increased consistently over the years. Today the majority
The absolute majority of trade to Israel, 98% of it in terms of weight of goods, is carried out by sea.
Maritime transport is necessary for the existence of Israel, and therefore its ports are the "economic gateway" of the country.
The video in front of you presents concisely and at eye level the fascinating story of the development of
The ports in Israel. We thank Hani, the Israel Ports Company, for their support in its production and for sharing
The fruitful action in his creation.