The International Convention Center ( he, מרכז הקונגרסים הבינלאומי, ''Merkaz HaKongresim HaBeinLeumi''), commonly known as Binyenei HaUma ( he, בנייני האומה, lit. ''Buildings of the nation''), is a concert hall and convention center in

Giv'at Ram Givat Ram ( he, גִּבְעַת רָם) is a neighborhood in central Jerusalem. It is the site of Kiryat HaMemshala (Hebrew language, Hebrew: קריית הממשלה, ''lit.'' Government complex), which includes many of Israel's most important na ...

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

. It is the largest convention center in the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...

History

Binyenei Ha'Uma was first envisioned by Alexander Ezer (who later became its managing director) and planned by architect

Zeev Rechter Ze'ev ( he, זאב \ זְאֵב ''zeév''), also spelled Zeev or Zev, is a name of Hebrew origin which means wolf. The given name is a masculine form used among Ashkenazi Jews. It is a Biblical name, adapted from a reference to Benjamin in Genesi ...

who won the design competition in 1949. The complex was under construction from 1950 to 1963. In 1953, it was the site of Israel's first international exhibition, the

Conquest of the Desert The Conquest of the Desert ( es, Conquista del desierto) was an Argentine military campaign directed mainly by General Julio Argentino Roca in the 1870s with the intention of establishing dominance over the Patagonian Desert, inhabited primar ...

. In 1960, the

World Zionist Organization The World Zionist Organization ( he, הַהִסְתַּדְּרוּת הַצִּיּוֹנִית הָעוֹלָמִית; ''HaHistadrut HaTzionit Ha'Olamit''), or WZO, is a non-governmental organization that promotes Zionism. It was founded as the ...

convened there. The period of economic difficulty and austerity in the first decade of Israeli independence led to frequent disruption in construction due to lack of funds, and the project was sometimes disparagingly called ''Hirbet HaUma'', the National Ruin. Rechter's design was a solid structure faced in Jerusalem stone. Instead of a monumental

relief Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces are bonded to a solid background of the same material. The term '' relief'' is from the Latin verb ''relevo'', to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that th ...

by artists

Joseph Zaritsky Joseph (Yossef) Zaritsky ( he, יוסף זריצקי; September 1, 1891 – November 30, 1985) was one of the early promoters of modern art in the Land of Israel both during the period of the Yishuv (the body of Jewish residents in the Land of Isr ...

and

Yitzhak Danziger Yitzhak Danziger ( he, יצחק דנציגר; 26 June 1916 – 11 July 1977) was an Israeli sculptor. He was one of the pioneer sculptors of the Canaanite Movement, and later joined the "Ofakim Hadashim" (New Horizons) group. Early life ...

as originally planned, the facade was covered with azure-coloured glass panels.

Capacity and functions

Located opposite the Jerusalem Central Bus Station at the western entrance to town, the centre houses 27 halls capable of seating over 10,000 people, and is a member of the

AIPC The All India Professionals' Congress (AIPC) is a wing of the Indian National Congress, focused on working professionals and entrepreneurs. It aims to highlight the needs of Indians who are professionally employed while also serving to connect ...

and ICCA and conforms to their international standards. Its largest hall, the

Menachem Ussishkin Menachem Ussishkin (russian: Авраам Менахем Мендл Усышкин ''Avraham Menachem Mendel Ussishkin'', he, מנחם אוסישקין) (August 14, 1863 – October 2, 1941) was a Russian-born Zionist leader and head of the Je ...

auditorium, seats 3,104. In all, 12,000 square metres of exhibit space extend over two levels and ten display areas. Binyenei Ha'Uma is the home of the

Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra (Hebrew: התזמורת הסימפונית ירושלים, ''ha-Tizmoret ha-Simfonit Yerushalayim'') is a major orchestra of Israel. Since the 1980s, the JSO has been based in the Henry Crown Symphony Hall, part of ...

. The complex has hosted many international events, among them the

Eurovision Song Contest 1979 The Eurovision Song Contest 1979 was the 24th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Jerusalem, Israel, following the country's victory at the with the song "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta. Organised by the ...

Eurovision Song Contest 1999 The Eurovision Song Contest 1999 was the 44th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held on 29 May 1999 at the International Convention Centre in Jerusalem, Israel. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Israe ...

and the Jerusalem International Book Fair. The trial of John Demjanjuk was held there.

Development plans

Plans are being discussed to enlarge the ICC by 30,000 square meters, doubling of the parking space, adding three office towers, commercial space and a hotel.

Cultural references

The Center serves as a historical setting in Robert J. Sawyer's 1997 novel ''Frameshift''. It serves as a post-

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

venue for a

war crimes trial A war crimes trial is the trial of persons charged with criminal violation of the laws and customs of war and related principles of international law committed during armed conflict. History The trial of Peter von Hagenbach by an ad hoc tribun ...

, in which a Nazi camp guard is prosecuted for atrocities against the Jewish prisoners.Sawjer, Robert J. ''Frameshift''. Tor, 1997, pp. 46–51.

Gallery

Sheikh Badr and Jerusalem Convention Center from the air.jpg, Jerusalem Convention Center (Binyenei HaUma) shortly after completion, circa 1960 Yitzhak Ben Zvi Binyaney Hauma1960.jpg, 25th

Zionist Congress The Zionist Congress was established in 1897 by Theodor Herzl as the supreme organ of the Zionist Organization (ZO) and its legislative authority. In 1960 the names were changed to World Zionist Congress ( he, הקונגרס הציוני העו ...

, 1960 Dan Hadani collection (990044380600205171).jpg, The fourth Jerusalem book fair, in the International Convention Center, 1969. From the collections of the

National Library of Israel The National Library of Israel (NLI; he, הספרייה הלאומית, translit=HaSifria HaLeumit; ar, المكتبة الوطنية في إسرائيل), formerly Jewish National and University Library (JNUL; he, בית הספרים הלא� ...

. International Multi-Cultural Festival with Dr. Jaerock Lee(2009, Israel).jpg, International Multi-Cultural Festival with Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee, 2009 Barack Obama at the Jerusalem Convention Centre.jpg, US President

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Obama was the first Af ...

waving students after the speech, March 2013

References

External links

International Convention Center (Jerusalem) official website

Jewish Agency for Israel (owner)
{{Authority control 1950 establishments in Israel Buildings and structures completed in 1963 Buildings and structures in Jerusalem Concert halls in Israel Economy of Jerusalem Convention centers in Israel Jewish Agency for Israel