In 1959, the
World Jewish Congress decided to build a museum that would serve both as an educational and cultural center for world Jewry. The institute in Israel was named in honor of
Nahum Goldmann, the founder and president of the World Jewish Congress.
Abba Kovner, one of the founders of the museum, proposed the original concept of the museum's permanent core exhibition. It was based on a thematic principle, representing Jewish history and continuity, according to six themes, or "gates" that portray central aspects of Jewish life: family, community, faith, culture, existence and return. Government budget cuts and a decline in Israeli tourism triggered a budget crisis at the museum. A number of public representatives devoted themselves to saving the museum, among them
Shlomo Lahat, former mayor of Tel Aviv, and
Ariel Sharon, former prime minister. In 2005, the
Israeli Knesset passed the Beit Hatfutsot Law that defines Beit Hatfutsot as "the National Center for Jewish Communities in Israel and around the world". A recovery plan was enacted with two partners: the Israeli Government and donor
Leonid Nevzlin (NADAV Foundation), with a grant from the
Claims Conference. == Exhibitions, programs, education, and research ==