About the new gallery exhibit

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Welcome to the Menachem Zaharoni Gallery. This exhibit was designed by Tomer Sapir in 2022, in conjunction with the curators of Beit Hankin. The exhibit was created in memory of Menachem Zaharoni, the legendary teacher and founder of Beit Hankin. What makes this exhibit unique is that it brings together findings from the land of Israel, from a diverse range of subjects, that were collected over the years by the directors of Beit Hankin, students of the local school, and the moshav residents.

Tomer Sapir, designer of the exhibit: For several months, we sorted and selected what would be featured in the permanent exhibit and what would be kept in storage. Afterward, we slowly brought the items up to the gallery floor, where I created a graduated, complex composition that features groups of objects with a common theme. Later, non-rigid categories were developed that enable flow from one to the other. “The Cabinet of Curiosities” that was created includes taxidermy and skeletons, archaeology, geology, prehistoric artifacts, books, and more.

The basis for the displays in this space are the wooden vitrines that were already here and were refurbished. Above them, I planned new vitrines made of wood and glass with interior lighting, which were designed specifically for each category of display items. In the exhibit, individual compartments have also been interspersed to display contemporary art that corresponds with the collection presented.”

From our location here, we can look down at the horizontal screen placed on the top of the vitrines on the ground level. This screen presents video artwork by Israeli artists who drew their inspiration from the exhibits, the content, and the values of Beit Hankin. The video works are changed every few months.