Art and designנפתלי בזם

Naftali Bezem

Naftali Bezem was an Israeli painter, muralist and sculptor whose work dealt with the Holocaust and the return of the Jewish people to their land.

1924 to 2018Ceiling of the President's ResidenceHolocaust themes in paintingWall relief at Yad VashemFinal form of Palmach emblem

Born: 27 November 1924, Essen
Died: 2 October 2018, Tel Aviv
Occupation: painter, sculptor, pedagogue, illustrator
Education: Bezalel Academy of Art and Design

Naftali Bezem was born in 1924 in Essen

Naftali Bezem was born in Essen, Germany, in 1924. His parents were later murdered in Auschwitz. In August 1939 he came to Mandate Palestine with a Youth Aliyah group.

He first studied clerical work at a commercial high school. From 1943 to 1946 he studied art at Bezalel in Jerusalem with Mordecai Ardon, and then studied for 3 years in Paris.

When the War of Independence began he joined the Palmach and made illustrations for its publications. After the state was founded he served in the Intelligence Directorate.

His paintings dealt with the Holocaust, the struggle for independence and social issues, including a 1952 work supporting a seamen's strike. In 1957 he shared the Dizengoff Prize for a painting made in response to the Kafr Qasim massacre. In 1970 he painted the ceiling of the reception hall at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, made of 63 panels.

He was married to Hana, who died in 2009, and they had 2 sons. Their elder son Yitzhak died of wounds from the 1975 Zion Square refrigerator bombing. Bezem died on October 2, 2018, and was buried at Har HaMenuchot in Jerusalem.

Milestones in Naftali Bezem's life

1924
Born in Essen, Germany.
1939
Immigrated to Mandate Palestine with Youth Aliyah.
1943
Began studying art at Bezalel.
1952
Painted a work supporting the seamen's strike.
1957
Shared the Dizengoff Prize for Painting.
1958
Showed the drawing series Sun Flowers at Bezalel.
1970
Commissioned to paint the ceiling at the President's Residence.
1975
His son Yitzhak was killed in the Zion Square bombing.
2018
Died and was buried in Jerusalem.

Naftali Bezem served in the military

In the War of Independence he joined the Palmach, where he illustrated its publications and gave the Palmach emblem its final form. After the state was founded he served in a technical unit of the Intelligence Directorate.