Artwork shines in 2017 Hanukkah contest

What does Hanukkah mean to you?

This year, we asked that question of our youngest readers, and they responded with their artistic creativity.

The re-envisioned Jewish Voice Hanukkah Art Contest  challenged artists in kindergarten through Grade 8 to illustrate “What Hanukkah Means to Me.” Fifty-two youngsters in kindergarten to grade 5 responded with illustrations of family, hanukkiyot, latkes and even music.

The judges were impressed that family figured so prominently in so much of the artwork, from the youngest to the oldest.

Judges included Fran Ostendorf, editor of The Voice, Leah Camara, layout designer of The Voice, Chris Westerkamp, advertising sales representative for The Voice, Seth Finkle, director of teen programming and Camp Haverim for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and Tslil Reichman, Israeli shlichah (emissary).

Here are the winners:

Grades K-2

First Place: Moshe Zimmerman, Grade 2, Providence Hebrew Day School

Second Place: Moshe Daniel Haldorsen, Grade 2, Providence Hebrew Day School

Third Place: Ryan Benjamin Golditch, Grade 2, Temple Beth-El.

Honorable Mention: Alice Olson, Kindergarten, J-Space, and Shmuel Bielory, Grade 1, Providence Hebrew Day School.

Grades 3-5

First Place: Vivienne Brodsky, Grade 4, Congregation Agudas Achim, Attleboro

Second Place: Shoshana Pompili, Grade 3, Providence Hebrew Day School

Third Place: Chana Miriam Karp, Grade 4, Providence Hebrew Day School

Honorable Mention: Chaim Berlin, Grade 4 and Shifra Nechama Karp, Grade 4, Providence Hebrew Day School

Mazal Tov to all!  And thanks to our advertiser Rock Spot Climbing for funding the first- and second-place prizes. Those winners will receive an introductory session at the gym. Third-place winners will receive a VISA Gift Card.

FRAN OSTENDORF (fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org) is the editor of The Jewish Voice.