American Guild of Judaic Art Sponsors Jewish Arts Month to Explore Traditions and Beliefs of Jewish Community

ATLANTA, Jan. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Jewish Arts Month, an annual educational initiative sponsored by the American Guild of Judaic Art, takes place March 2015. 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 4^th annual online exhibition will be online for a full year starting on March 1, 2015, 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.  

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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. .

AGJA officers and Board of Directors 2015: Karen Walanka, President (Chicago, IL); Nina Bonos, Vice-president (Santa Rosa, CA); Cathy Perlmutter, Secretary (So. Pasadena, CA); Revital (Rae) Goldreich, (Woodland Hills , CA);  Treasurer; Jim Cohen, past president (Santa Fe, NM); Gabriel Bass (Mata, Israel), Gabrielle Mizrachi Malin (Toledo, OH), Flora Rosefsky (Atlanta, GA) – Board of Directors.  For more information about the American Guild of Judaic Art and how the AGJA can help celebrate Jewish Arts in a community, contact Julie Braley, guild administrator, [email protected] (404) 981-2308.  To learn more about the AGJA, www.jewishart.org

Contact person:
Julie Braley, AGJA Administrator   
Email
(404) 981-2308

SOURCE American Guild of Judaic Art

Related Links

http://www.jewishart.org