The Israel Museum, Jerusalem

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, boasts a vast array of world art, spanning five continents and ranging from Rembrandt, Rubens, and a long-lost Poussin to cutting-edge creations by acclaimed contemporary artists; a Judaica holding that is considered the most comprehensive in the world; and a renowned Archaeology Wing, whose treasures include the Dead Sea Scrolls and a figurine thought to be the world's oldest artwork. The splendors of this great encyclopedic museum are now displayed in 300 full-color reproductions, accompanied by in-depth commentaries by its curators. In four sections that correspond to the organization of the Israel Museum-Art, Judaica and Jewish Ethnography, Archaeology, and the Youth Wing-this collections catalogue presents: a superb collection of Western art in every medium, as well as rare works from the Americas, Africa, Eastern Asia, and other parts of the globe; a rich assortment of objects that offer an illuminating overview of Jewish ritual, custom, and daily life in many cultural contexts; the largest collection of antiquities from the Holy Land; and a captivating view of the Youth Wing, which draws half the museum's visitors every year and has established an international reputation for innovative activities.