Not sure who Herod was or exactly when the First and Second Temples stood? Can’t seem to place the Maccabees or the Byzantine on the continuum of time? Don’t worry. Now, even the historically challenged can get a clear, informative and fun-filled overview of 3,000 years of Jerusalem’s history in only about half an hour with the Time Elevator, an exciting, simulator-based ride through the city’s past.
Opened in September 1998, the Time Elevator is Jerusalem’s venture into “edutainment” — the integration of education and entertainment. This is reflected in the program, which was developed in consultation with archaeologists, historians and educators, as well as with technological and special effects experts.
Constructed at a cost of $4 million by International Tourist Attractions, an Israeli enterprise that built the popular Oceanarium in Eilat, and sponsored by El Al, the Time Elevator uses state-of-the-art technology to send its audience literally hurtling through Jerusalem’s rich three millennia of history, from the time of King David and King Solomon to the 1967 Six-Day War.
“The idea of the Time Elevator,” says Ori Yardeni, ITA’s creative director, “is to provide visitors with a basic and chronologically well-ordered history of Jerusalem. This helps them place things in context as they visit the city’s many historical sites.”
The Time Elevator uses the latest technological advances to add to the thrilling events of history. Digitally captured video is streamed from computers onto three giant screens for full, panoramic images. Surround sound is piped into individual headsets and is available in six languages — English, Hebrew, Spanish, French, German and Russian. And for the pièce de resistance, nine digitally controlled motion simulators, capable of motion along six axes, ensure full movement of the seats, perfectly synchronized to match screen action. In addition, the simulators allow the intensity of motion to be increased or decreased to suit the type of audience.
The Time Elevator can accommodate up to 102 visitors at a time — with 90 moving seats as well as 12 stationary ones for the less adventurous, pregnant women or those with health problems.
“Because it is both educational and fun, the Time Elevator is for the whole family,” says Yehuda Malimovka, general manager. “The idea of going down a tunnel of history in an elevator is very special.”
Guiding the audience through Jerusalem’s history, amid crashing ceilings, splashing water, billowing smoke, fire and computer-generated animation is Shalem, a fictional character granted eternal life by King Solomon. Played by the internationally renowned Israeli actor Chaim Topol, the star of “Fiddler on the Roof,” Shalem accompanies viewers as they descend into the depths of Jerusalem, coming face-to-face with the city’s builders, destroyers, kings, prophets, Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Along the way, Shalem and company visit King Solomon’s palace and the First and Second Temples, flee the destruction of Jerusalem, and relive the Roman conquest, the birth of Christianity and the emergence of Islam. The journey ends with dramatic footage capturing the establishment of the state of Israel and the return to the Old City of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War.
Since its opening, the Time Elevator has been drawing some 20,000 visitors a month.
“It is not just for tourists,” says Malimovka. “Because we offer a taste of Jerusalem’s history, the Time Elevator can serve as a basis for stimulating both youth and adults to learn more about the exciting events of the city’s past.”