Pag«8~THE NEWS-February, 1983
Women’s Division — F
In Celebration o£ Judaic Arts Solicitor Trait
Fiddler on the Roof, color Lady praying over Sbab-
etching of Caesarea, Torah bat Candles
Old Ttdit and Havdalah Set
Miniature Kosher Torah
By Louise Bernstein
“In celebration of Judaic
Arts”sponsored by the
Women’s Division of the
Charlotte Jewish F'edera-
tion, provided Women’s
Division major donors with a
rare and exciting opportuni
ty to view examples of
Judaic art from local private
collections. Assembled with
a view towards variety and
significance, the exhibition
contained work by Jewish
artists as well as ceremonial
objects both antique and
modern.
The oldest piece on display
was a ceramic oil lamp,
authenticated by the
Ministry of Antiquities of
the State of Israel and dated
circa 3500 B.C.E. Its simple,
natural shape contrasted elo
quently with a 2‘/2 foot brass
menorah. traditional in form
with its eight candle holders
adorned with a Mogen David
and surmounted by the
shamas, attributed to an
Eastern European
synagogue of the late 19th
century. These two pieces
spoke of a time quite dif
ferent from, but a feeling
quite similar to that evoked
by a group of contemporary
silver filigree ceremonial ob
jects handcrafted in Israel.
The delicate tracery of their
polished forms, set atop
clear lucite pedestals,
brought the flavor of ancient
tradition into the
mainstream of contemporary
Jewish life.
One of the most interesting
ceremonial objects was a
mini "kosher” Torah of
unknown date and origin.
Handwritten on parchment
only 5'/j inches high, the ex
quisitely crafted scroll was
rolled on silver spindles with
silver handles and com
plemented by the crown,
pointer (yadi and
breastplate. The hand-made
brocade mantle was included
in the display as well as the
black lacquer case, the
slightly Oriental appearance
of which caused some
speculation as to whether it
was part of the original
work.
The musical portion of this
“Evening of Jewish Art”
echoed throughout the
graphic display. One could
almost hear the melancholy
strains produced by Rubin’s
Musician playing a soft
counterpoint to the poignant
ironic gaiety of the delightful
shtetl violinist in a water-
color by Ilya Shor or a char
ming Fiddler sculpted in
wood. And over and over
again, reminders of our
beloved homeland: Ohaly’s
brooding Jerusalem in
smoldering russet tones vy
ing with Katz’s sparkling
view of that same City of
Gold, surprisingly touched
with the same autumnal
hues; Florence Jaffa’s soft-
toned Arches of Caesarea
standing in front of a
menorah fashioned of
Jerusalem stone to resemble
the Wall.
The paintings, prints and
sculptures in the exhibition
demonstrated the
astonishing variety of media
and techniques being used
by 20th Century Jewish ar
tists. However, as one mov
ed from a tiny, graceful
silver rendering of Daniel
and the Lions to Ben Ezra’s
soaring copper angel
reaching out to a huddled
Abraham and Issac, from the
delicate pastel gaiety of
Sharir’s Spring, where
whimsical flowers blossom
ed alternately with bearded
rabbinical faces, to the spin-
n-ing emerging worlds of Ben
Zvi’s jewel-toned Bereishis
(In the Beginning), the same
message shone through. Our
heritage — Biblical, spiritual
and historic - lives on
vibrantly and relevantly in
the creative mind of the
Jewish artist.
Surrounded by these
beautiful and evocative
works of art, the viewer
couldn’t help but wonder
why Jewish artists are not
more widely known in the
general community. We hear
frequently about Jewish
writers and musicians. The
name of Chaim Potok or Pin-
cus Zuckerman is im
mediately recognized by
anyone who has the slightest
contact with the worlds of
literature or music. The
same cannot be said of
Samuel Katz or Ben Ezra.
Perhaps we were late
starters in the world of pain
ting and sculpture because of
the ancient orthodox pro-
hibition against the
representation of living
things. Perhaps sub
consciously, we are still in
hibited by that prohibition.
But the creative energies of
our people cannot be denied.
The concrete evidence of
Jewish artistic genius in this
exhibition was moving and
prophetic. May we continue
to express to the world the
depth of our faith, the value
of our tradition and the love
of our heritage with which we
were surrounded on this
memorable “Evening of
Jewish Art.”
Federation women at Solit
Doris Edelstein, Rhoda Gleit
Luski, Nancy Polinsky, Cary
Federation women at soli
Florence Jaffa, Ann Abel, j
Janet Jaffa, Pearl Kier
Sandi Simon, from Miami,
Florida, led a Solicitor
Training Workshop for
Charlotte Jewish Federation
Women’s Division on
January 9 at the Jewish
Community Center.
Gail Bienstock, co-
President of Women’s Divi
sion and the Chairwoman of
Solicitor Training, Introduc
ed the speaker. Sandi Simon,
who was recently elected to
the National United Jewish
Appeal Women’s Division
Board, serves on the Ex
ecutive Committee of the
Regional UJA Board. She is
emigrating to Israel this
summer. Sandi is the sister
of Dr. Jay Jacoby of
Charlotte.
The women were taught
methods of solicitation and
campaign techniques. Those
who attended were: Ann
Abel, Bobbi Bernstein, Cary
Bernstein, Gail Bienstock,
j
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Women *s Division
Coming Event
March 23
Annual Spring Luncheon
Speaker
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