A wooden roof beam decorated with biblically-themed motifs dating from the 1950s has been discovered during renovations to the former home of Israel's second president, Izhak Ben-Zvi.
The work to the modest dwelling in the Rehavia neighborhood of Jerusalem began a few months ago. The home is located in the same compound as the Yad Izhak Ben-Zvi research institute.
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A painter called in staff from Yad Ben-Zvi after he discovered a strip of brightly colored wood under white paint at the top of a staircase.
Dr. Nirit Shalev-Khalifa, curator of the visual documentation and exhibition department at Yad Ben-Zvi, called in mural conservator Shay Farkash. He removed the beam, cleaned it, removed the layer of white paint, and exposed beautiful embellishment featuring depictions of plant life and geometrical designs.
On the last day of the work to remove the paint, Farkash uncovered a fancy signature that read M. Bromberg. Research led him to Eddie Bromberg of Toronto, the son artist and art teacher Moshe Bromberg, who decorated the beam found in Ben-Zvi's home. Bromberg later Hebraized his last name to Bar-Am.
This Wednesday, the beam – which has been fully restored and replaced – is scheduled to be unveiled at a special ceremony on site.
