The Museum of Bedouin Culture, the only museum in Israel devoted entirely to the Bedouin culture, was established in 1985 when it became apparent that the formerly nomadic Bedouin tribes of Sinai and the Negev were in a process of transition to a more settled way of life, moving to established towns and villages. The Bedouin have recently acquired a modern way of life, reflected in cultural, socia
l and economic changes as well as changes in housing, dress etc. As a result, many of the former Bedouin ways of life are disappearing, and with them the objects and traditions of Bedouin society, prompting a need to collect, preserve and record them before they completely disappear. The museum`s collection came from two main sources: Kibbutz Lahav, and a Bedouin museum established in the Sinai Mountains by Orna and Avner Goren. The museum reflects the life of the Bedouin in the Negev and Sinai over the last century. The colorful display includes historical exhibits alongside modern objects, demonstrating both daily life and spiritual aspects of Bedouin tradition. The entrance leads to the upper floor, where exhibits display the means of survival characterizing the Bedouin in the deserts of the Negev, northern and southern Sinai, exposing the complex layers of Bedouin culture. The visitor walks around the display in a circle, resembling the wanderings of the Bedouin and the cycle of the seasons. Displayed here are different types of dwelling, articles of clothing, examples of crafts and traditional economies, pieces of jewelry, toys etc. A display of authentic woven carpets hangs down from the ceiling into the central hall. The visitor continues down a flight of stairs to the lower floor, devoted to more spiritual aspects of traditional Bedouin life: history, society, the cycle of life, traditional medicine, and the customs of the Bedouin market. All are displayed using original photographs alongside rare and fascinating objects. Groups are accompanied by Bedouin guides, who share their unique personal experiences of Bedouin culture with visitors.
