Community Revives Historic Stained Glass Artwork in Shde Nahum Amid Recovery from Conflict

In the summer of 1979, members of Kibbutz Shde Nahum and their children gathered daily to assemble thousands of colored glass shards into a monumental stained glass artwork. Led by artist Dr. Abraham Glatt and his wife Beatrice, the community worked for six weeks using a unique technique to affix the pieces onto Perspex panels. This collaborative process symbolized unity, resulting in a large-scale stained glass piece depicting the history and resilience of the Jewish people. Nearly 45 years later, the kibbutz has launched a preservation project to restore this cultural and spiritual treasure located in the kibbutz dining hall.

Since October 2023, residents of Shde Nahum, situated in the Hula Valley, have endured a turbulent routine amid active warfare nearby, including frequent sirens, explosions, and Hezbollah fire. Although the kibbutz infrastructure was not physically damaged, many families evacuated independently due to security concerns, facing emotional distress, disrupted education, and economic hardship without state compensation. The community felt neglected compared to neighboring settlements that received official evacuation and support.

With relative calm returning to northern Israel, the kibbutz is focusing on recovery and community rebuilding. Recognizing the stained glass artwork’s significance, local leaders prioritized its restoration. The piece measures 2.8 meters wide by 5.5 meters high and visually narrates Jewish history from Genesis stories through exile and the Holocaust, culminating in a victorious Star of David symbolizing rebirth.

The restoration was led by preservation experts including Amnon Arbel and Moshe Anolik, with support from the kibbutz management who fully funded the project. French stained glass conservator Gilles Florent, with over 30 years of experience, was brought in to oversee the delicate process of dismantling, cleaning, repairing, and reassembling thousands of glass fragments on site. The project was also coordinated with the Israel National Trust and the Wall Art Survey initiative.

Dina Avshalom-Gorni from the Israel National Trust emphasized the project’s importance as a model of cultural resilience and community responsibility, especially during times of recovery. The restored stained glass now stands as a powerful symbol of the kibbutz’s heritage and hope for renewal, welcoming visitors to the dining hall with its message of endurance and unity.