It is not every day that you find a museum on the premises of a modern day factory, let alone a museum housed in one of the country’s first factories. The Israel Oil Industry Museum, which was established due to the efforts of Benjamin Gibli, is located on the grounds of the modern day Shemen factory in Haifa (shemen means oil in Hebrew).

Moshe Wilbushevitz and others established Shemen Industries Ltd. in London in 1920. It’s precursor, Atid (which means future) was one of the first olive oil factories established in Eretz Yisrael, in 1906 in Ben Shemen (Hadid). Its focus was extraction of oil press residue. However, this factory was not successful –for a variety of reasons. Soon, plans were underway to establish a second factory in Caesarea, but, due to objections by the British, plans were postponed. In 1922 Nahum Wilbush and Gdaliah Wilbushevitz (Moshe’s brothers) started making plans for an alternate site. In 1924 the British High Commissioner, Herbert Samuel was present to inaugurate the first truly modern factory for the production of oil, in Eretz Yisrael. The Shemen Industries plant processed refined oil and manufactured a variety of soaps and creams. In 1945, the plant had 500 employees and its products were exported to 80 countries. An interesting outcome of Moshe Wilbushevitz's work was the invention of margerine. Unilever later used his technolgies in their overseas margerine factories.

The Israel Oil Industry Museum in Haifa is in fact located in the original building, where production began in 1924. Today, it is clear that this building, which sits amidst towering, manufacturing buildings, is the product of a bygone era. It is a small, quaint museum whose only drawback is its location. Situated on the grounds of the Shemen factory, which still produces oil, (although not olive oil) as well as a variety of toiletries – it is simply hard to find – even for those who are familiar with the area. However, anyone with an interest olive culture will find the extra effort finding the museum, worth it.

According to Batsheva Ganot, curator of the museum, with time, it became evident that extraction of oil press residue was not the preferred method of producing olive oil. She says that the ‘story behind the story’ – which the museum’s staff tries to pass on to schoolchildren and other visitors is really the story of the beginning of modern industrialization in the Land of Israel. In that respect, Ganot notes that the original plant was a success, since it was the realization of a Zionist dream. Therefore, the museum’s importance is really its historical/educational significance.

The museum was established in 1980 and opened its doors to the public in 1984. David Eitam (see Olive Culture in Ancient Israel and More Netofa) served as the museum’s first curator. The idea was to have a place that would house some of the major archaeological finds excavated at the time.

Even before you enter the museum, you can see three oil presses, outside. Once inside - visitors will find a collection of amphoras (jugs) that were used to transport olive oil as well as smaller items that highlight the various uses of olive oil, medicinal, cosmetic, illumination etc. One hall displays a variety of oil presses of different periods and regions and it is interesting to see the great (mechanical) differences of the various presses.

On the second floor a short film shows the different methods of harvesting olives and explains the process of oil production. While the film is only in Hebrew – one can still glean something from the pictures as not the entire movie has narration – but rather background music. The movie is a good one and it is really a shame there are no English subtitles. Currently, the museum also has a temporary exhibit on the production of soap (which used olive oil).

The Israel Oil Industry Museum is located at the corner of Tovim and Atid streets, on the grounds of the Shemen factory, between Haifa’s port and the nearby power plant (entry is from the northern entrance to the port).

04/862-9505 TEL
04/865-4237 FAX

Visiting Hours: Sunday – Thursday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (entry until 2:00 PM).

Entry fees: Individual Adults 12 NIS/pp, Groups 19 NIS/pp (includes a guided tour). Guided tours by advance arrangement only.