Orthodox Boys (1948). Bernard Perlin.
Jewish Art in Late Antiquity and Early Byzantium
“In the first centuries C.E., Jewish communities could be found in every corner of the Roman empire, from Sardis (Turkey) to Ostia (Italy), from Hamman Lif (Tunisia) to Intercisa (Hungary). The archaeological remnants and literary attestations of more than 150 synagogues throughout the empire make clear that Jews were integral to the urban landscape of late antiquity, well beyond the borders of Roman Palestine. In early Byzantine synagogues, specifically Jewish symbols—shofarot (ram’s horns), menorot (branched lamps), and Torah shrines—might appear alongside pomegranates, birds, lions, and fountains. Asia Minor, in particular, boasted numerous, and often prosperous, Jewish communities. The third-century synagogue in the Roman garrison town of Dura-Europos, like the Christian meeting house and the shrine devoted to the Persian god Mithras that stood just yards away, was adorned with sumptuous painting. Splendid murals with narrative scenes from the Bible covered the synagogue’s walls; painted tiles of zodiacal symbols ornamented its ceiling. Plaques with dedicatory inscriptions give some indication of the individuals and families who funded the building of such synagogues. ”
Moses and the Burning Bush, Moses receives the Tablets of the Law, Moses reading the Torah, Moses at Mount Nebo - Dura-Europos synagogue, Syria, c. 244 CE. Tempera over plaster. One of the oldest synagogues in the world, the Dura-Europos synagogue preserves some of the most precious and unique examples of Jewish art in history. These four portraits of Moses are found on the center of the synagogue’s western wall, above the Torah niche. Note his depiction with a square halo.
Happy Hanukkah!
Synagogue Hanukkah lamp Brass Poland, early 19th century Collection of Yeshiva University Museum Gift of Erica and Ludwig Jesselson This Hanukkah lamp was formerly in the Charles E. Feinberg Collection
This poster advertising the 1934 Levant Fair in Tel Aviv, and glass lantern slide showing the Fair at night, both from our collection, convey the modern architecture and the excitement of this international exhibition which aimed to create economic ties between Israel and foreign countries. .
Marc Chagall, The Fiddler, 1913
Jew at Prayer, Marc Chagall. 1913.
To see more of Toby’s ketubot and other Jewish cultural art, follow @tobylouketubah on Instagram.
San Francisco-based artist Toby Simon (@tobylouketubah) grew up in a house full of Jewish art and with a very creative spirit. “I had a junk box in my room that was filled with things I collected like: berry cartons, straws, ribbons and random bits of plastic.” Later in college, Toby discovered a passion for Hebrew calligraphy and began designing her own Judaical art, featuring references to Jewish culture ranging from menorahs and poetry to modernizing ketubah, the Jewish marriage contract.
“What I love most about a ketubah is that it connects us to our ancestors, but at the same time by modernizing the text we can now include interfaith, secular or same-sex marriages; marriages that were not accounted for in the earliest Aramaic versions,” she says. “As a ketubah designer I feel proud to be a part of this progression.”
A full-time mom with two children, Toby finds time to create early in the morning or during nap time. For the upcoming Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, she continues to adapt tradition. Her menorahs made of fabric and buttons are a “safe way for children to count out the eight nights of Hanukkah with their parents.”
Shema Prayer “Here, Oh Israel, the lord our g-d, the lord is one.”
Oil paintings by Jewish Amazigh artist Chama Mechtaly
World, blown Holocaust. Old Poland, Market Day in Shtetl Zabludoff. Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem and Bashevis Zinger. In Memory of the burned, destroyed Jewish Shtetls, do not give me no rest … 120х80cm. oil on canvas. 5000$
From Life? or Theater? by Charlotte Salomon
This gorgeous hand-made piece of the Kotel (Western Wall) depicts the heart of Jewish Culture.
Click here for size and pricing details.
Breaking News: Halachic Prenup Backed By Major Haredi Rabbis Jew in the City was founded in order to break down stereotypes about the Orthodox community and publicize all the positive news about religious Jews that rarely makes the news. But about a year ago I realized that some of the negative ideas people have about our community aren’t based on “bad apples” or misconceptions. They’re based on real problems which WE need to fix. We can’t just make the Orthodox world LOOK good, we have to make sure the Orthodox world IS good.
Now it’s kind of hard to tackle communal-wide problems (especially when you’re trying to run and grow an organization!), but then I heard that for one of the issues which has gotten worse in the last year, there is a (nearly) foolproof solution! I am speaking about the agunah crisis…
Read more: http://jewinthecity.com/2015/03/historic-backing-of-halachic-prenup-by-haredi-rabbis/#ixzz3VzLilCaN
Religious education: Jewish Child in Yemen
(via A Matter of Faith | Steve McCurry)
Yemenite Jewish bride getting ready
Fiddler on the roof - 1968 by Baruch Elron
Alex Levin, Art Levin Studio
ketubah-handscribbed and hand painted on parchment -watercolor and cristals
Picture titled ‘Algerian Jew’ from the Jewish Encyclopedia.
Algeria’s Jewish community dates from the Roman invasion and the destruction of the Second Temple. Read more about the Algerian Jewish community here.
And see synagogues of the Algerian Jewish community here.
Details of Judith Mosaics by Romanian Jewish artist, Lilian Broca. (Judith Meeting Bethulia Elders / Judith Praying in the Desert)
Three generations of Jewish women drink coffee in the grandmother’s home while incense is burned, Gondar, Ethiopia. A. Abbas.
Cute illustrations done by Marija Tiurina
Old Jaffa, Israel
Farkash Gallery, Vintage Israel poster, Old Jaffa, Israel
Farkash Gallery Old Jaffa
גלריה פרקש יפו העתיקה
Farkash Gallery - Vintage Israeli Posters, Israeli Art and Judaica