HAIFA, Israel (AP) — A 4-year-old boy accidentally broke a rare 3,500-year-old jar at an Israeli museum, but instead of anger, the museum curators have chosen to forgive him and even invite him back. They hope to turn this unexpected incident into a valuable lesson for everyone.
Alex Geller, the boy’s father, shared that his son, the youngest of three children, is very curious. When he heard the crash last Friday, his first thought was, “Please let that not be my child.”
“He’s not a child who usually causes trouble; he was just curious about what was inside the jar,” Geller told The Associated Press.
The jar, which dates back to the Bronze Age, is one of many artifacts showcased openly at the Hecht Museum. Inbar Rivlin, the museum’s director and a part of Haifa University, explained that they want visitors to engage with history up close rather than through glass barriers.
Rivlin noted that the jar was positioned at the museum entrance, and after the incident, the family left without completing their visit. She wants to use the repair process as a teaching moment and ensure the family feels welcome to return.
The Geller family resides in Nahariya, a town in northern Israel, just a few kilometers south of the Lebanese border, which has been affected by Hezbollah rocket fire for over 10 months amid the ongoing conflict related to the war in Gaza.
During the summer break, they aimed to visit museums and other attractions around Israel to escape the prevailing tensions, shared Geller.
When they visited the museum, it was bustling with kids, and Geller hoped fervently that the sound of shattering glass wasn’t made by his son. When he turned around and saw it was indeed his child, he was “in complete shock.”
“My wife reacted quicker; she took our son outside to calm him down and explain that what had happened wasn’t okay,” recalled Geller.
He approached the security staff to let them know about the incident, hoping it was just a model and not an actual artifact.
“We said we would pay for any damages if necessary. Whatever happens, happens. Thankfully, they informed us that it was insured. After reviewing the security footage and confirming it wasn’t vandalism, they invited us back for a special visit,” Geller explained.
Although his son doesn’t quite grasp the global attention surrounding the broken jar, their close-knit community in Nahariya is following the news closely and feels proud of their young local celebrity.
The Hecht Museum hopes to use this incident to spark more interest among visitors in learning about artifact restoration.
Experts will utilize 3D technology and high-quality videos to aid in the jar’s restoration, which they expect to complete within days. The jar could be back on display as early as next week.
“That’s actually what fascinates my older kids—the process of restoration and the technology involved,” Geller added.
The jar had been on display at the museum for 35 years and was among the few intact containers from its time period, believed to have been used for storing wine or oil, dating from around 2200 to 1500 B.C.
Roee Shafir, a restoration expert at the museum, mentioned that fixing the jar shouldn’t be too complicated since the pieces come from just one complete jar. Archaeologists often face the more challenging task of putting together various fragments from multiple items.
He explained that the restoration process will take several days, as they use special glue to carefully connect only a few pieces at a time, and they plan to document the process for educational purposes.
Even though Shafir admits he’s not fond of puzzles, he believes it’s critical to keep artifacts accessible to the public, even if accidents happen. He emphasized the importance of allowing visitors to touch artifacts, as that tactile connection can foster a greater interest in history and archaeology.
“I encourage people to touch things—just don’t break them! It’s important,” he said.
As for Geller’s son, he is too young to think about pursuing a career in archaeology. However, he is excited about returning to the museum on Friday as a special guest and starting nursery school in September.
___
Lidman reported from Jerusalem
