March is Jewish Arts Month

“Hineni (Here I Am),” is a limited edition lithograph by Naomi Geller Lipsky, a longtime member of the American Guild of Judaic Art. /COURTESY | NAOMI GELLER LIPSKY

Jewish Arts Month, an annual educational initiative sponsored by the American Guild of Judaic Art, takes place in  March. Activities aim to promote a greater appreciation and understanding of the special significance of contemporary Judaica, Jewish art, and the meaning behind the Torah commandment, Hiddur Mitzvah, to beautify ritual objects or art for one’s home, the synagogue, a Jewish Community Center or similar institutions. Recently the AGJA launched its new website jewishart.org, its “virtual home”, a place to display AGJA member’s talents where events like its fourth annual online exhibition will be online for a full year starting on March 1 and where collectors, colleagues, and other artists can learn about a wide variety of what inspired contemporary Judaica and Jewish art is all about. Artist profile website pages give insights about how many AGJA artists approach their work with creative inspiration. Member’s posted essays on this year’s theme, “Identify and discuss how your Judaic art has influenced or impacted the viewer’s feeling about Judaism” and a mentoring program for  high school students with online dialogue and instruction are ongoing AGJA educational programs. 

In 1992, Rabbi Avi Magid, one of the Guild’s early members, initiated the idea of the guild hosting a “Jewish Arts Week” to coincide with the Torah Parshiot reading,  when the artisan Bezalel was introduced and appointed by Moses to oversee the design and implementation of the Mishkan, the Holy Temple’s ark and sanctuary. The time of the reading occurred during the Hebrew months of, Adar or Nissan, or in the English calendar, during February and/or March. In 2011, Jewish Arts Week became “Jewish Arts Month” since there were six Parshiot describing the work of Bezalel and the English month of March was designated.