Teaching Jewish Values Through Art
Course, August 3-23, 1997
Twenty art teachers from the CIS and ten Israeli art teachers who immigrated from the CIS participated together in a course presented by the Society for Jewish Art on Jewish Art and Tradition. The goal of the course was to introduce the teachers to Jewish culture and assist them in integrating this new material into the regular art curriculum in their schools.
Jewish Art in Greece Symposium
September 8-18, 1997
The Center's very successful sixth biennial symposium took place in Greece and has led to preparations for future documentation expeditions.
One-year Enrichment Course for Kindergarten Coordinators and Teachers on "The Hebrew Year Cycle"
Course, September 1997-June 1998
This course, presented by the Society of Jewish Art for teachers in the Tel Aviv region, covered the study of Jewish Art as expressed in traditional Jewish holidays as well as the secular holidays such as Holocaust Remembrance Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day. In addition to lectures by Center researchers, artist Yael Hoz presented a daylong workshop in June on Jewish Paper-Cutting.
Courses, Hebrew University Rothberg School for Overseas Students One Year Program
Fall 1997
Dr. Shalom Sabar presented a one-semester course entitled "From Cradle to Grave: The Jewish Life-cycle in Art and Tradition."
Fall-Spring 1997-1998
Three
courses have been presented this year by the Center's Deputy Director Ruth Jacoby at the
Rothberg School for Overseas Students: "Ancient Jewish Art," "Synagogues
Through the Ages," and a course on "Archeology of Jerusalem," which was
also offered in the preparatory program for new immigrants. For the first time, several
non-Jewish students participated in the course about synagogues.
Visit to the Center for Jewish Art
October 28, 1997
 |
Dr. Klaus Faber, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Culture of Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany visited the Center for Jewish Art and was introduced to the ARC+ 3-D computer program which Center architects use for synagogue documentation. |
Mordechai Narkiss Prize Ceremony
December 28, 1997
 |
The recipient of this year's Mordechai Narkiss Prize for Outstanding Research in Jewish Art was Michal Sternthal, Head of the Hebrew Illuminated Manuscript Section of the Index of Jewish Art. The festive evening began with a candle lighting ceremony for the fifth night of Hanukkah and musical selections by Musica Eterna. Professor Bezalel Narkiss gave a moving tribute to his late father, Mordechai, founder of the Bezalel National Museum. Michal Sternthal, who has been part of the Center's research team since 1994, gave a lecture on the Regensberg Pentateuch. |
Hanukkah Lamp Raffle
World-renowned Israeli artist Moshe Zabari generously donated an exquisite Hanukkah Lamp to the Center for Jewish Art, which was raffled at the Narkiss Prize Ceremony. Henry Vorenberg of New Jersey who owned the winning ticket generously re-contributed the prize to the Center. All the proceeds of the raffle are going towards the 1998 expeditions to document endangered art and architecture.
Israel Museum Lecture Series
December 1997-February 1998
This year's winter lecture series focused on documentation expeditions by Center researchers to Tunisia, presented by Ariella Amar and Georgia by Dr. Aliza Cohen-Mushlin. Ruth Jacoby who led last Fall's biennial symposium to Greece, presented a lecture entitled "Jewish Art in Greece: A Reflection of the Multifaceted Community." All three lectures had record attendance.
Lectures in the United States and Canada
1997-98
While Professor Bezalel Narkiss has been on sabbatical at the National Gallery of Art, he has used this opportunity to speak on Jewish Art and the activities of the Center for Jewish Art to friends in America from coast to coast.
Montreal: November 1997: Professor Narkiss was the guest of the Montreal Chapter of the Friends of the Hebrew University. His visit there included a reception at the Montefiore Club hosted by Edward Winant, during which Professor Narkiss talked about the Center's 1997 documentation expeditions. The evening began with a moving introduction by Sara Tauben, who heads the group of Friends of the Center for Jewish Art there. Professor Narkiss also visited the Holocaust Museum and lectured at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, where he also led a documentation workshop at the Library Museum.
|
March, 1998: Linda and Hal Robinson hosted an evening for the Center for Jewish Art in Philadelphia where Professor Narkiss spoke on the Center's efforts to document endangered Jewish art and architecture.
March, 1998: The Vancouver Chapter of the Friends of the Hebrew University organized a stimulating and fruitful week for Professor Narkiss and Center Director Dr. Aliza Cohen-Mushlin. Events included a Judaica Road Show where people brought their treasures from home for an explanation, receptions at the homes of Michael and Susan Hayden and Jean and Peter Cooperberg, a meeting with local Jewish professionals, and a luncheon with Vancouver artists.
|
March 1998: Professor Narkiss and Dr. Aliza Mushlin visited California where they lectured at the Concordia Club in San Francisco, and lectured at Temple Isaiah and then participated in a reception hosted by Lee and Philip Hixon in Palm Springs.
April 1998: Professor Narkiss and Dr. Aliza Cohen-Mushlin were guests of the Friends of the Hebrew University in Boston where they presented the work of the Center at a reception hosted by Anne and Martin Peretz.
Architectural Conference in Halle, Germany
February 10, 1998
Center Director Dr. Aliza Cohen-Mushlin and architect Sergei Kravtsov, attended this conference in Halle which celebrated the completion of the Neidersachsen Synagogue Documentation Project and the inauguration of a similar project in Sachsen-Anhalt.
Documentation Course
February, 1998
An intensive course in Jewish art
documentation was given for graduate students of the Hebrew University's Art History
Department. Researchers from the five different sections of the Index of Jewish Art
presented a thorough review of their work in Jewish Art through a series of lectures and
workshops. The course culminated with a field trip to Kibbutz Ein Harod where participants
viewed a collection of ritual objects and to the Galilee region where they visited some of
the important archeological sights and experienced, first hand, the methodology of
fieldwork. As a result of this course, five graduate students have joined the team of the
Index of Jewish Art.
Opening of the Jewish Museum in Athens
March 10, 1998
Deputy Director Ruth Jacoby, represented the Center for Jewish Art at the official opening of the Jewish Museum of Greece which took place at the Grande Bretagne Hotel in Athens. Among the 1,500 guests attending this important event for the Greek Jewish community were government representatives and the Museum's new curator, Zanet Battinou. The Center is working closely with the museum in documenting this important collection of Romaniot and Sephardi Jewish art.
Seventh Annual Seminar on the "Hebrew Letter"
March 24, 1998
The Society for Jewish Art, in conjunction with the Emunah College conducted the seventh annual seminar on the "Hebrew Letter." The topic of this year's seminar was "Hebrew Writing in Art." Over 150 people attended.
50 Years of Israeli Art
April 13-14, 1998
The Society for Jewish Art held its thirtieth Annual Passover conference at the Israel Museum with a record attendance of over four hundred participants. To mark the fiftieth anniversary of the State, the lectures dealt with the conflicts in Israel as reflected through Israeli Art. In addition to lectures by renowned scholars, the Israel dance company, Inbal, performed at the opening night reception.
Lecture Series on Jewish Art
May 1998
A teacher enrichment series on the subject of Jewish Holidays was presented in three lectures at Beit Shmuel in Jerusalem by the Society for Jewish Art. Among the topics presented by Center researchers Michael Tal, Alissa Fried and Yael Klipper, was "The Modern Illustrated Haggadah."
Jewish Studies Lecture Series
May 1998
A series of lectures covering five subjects including: Synagogues and Ritual Objects; the Art of the Hebrew Book; Biblical Iconography; the Jewish Life Cycle; Jewish Year Cycle, was presented by the Society for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University School of Education. The six-lecture series presented over the course of three days will be continued during a summer course and a subsequent year course. Dr. Shalom Sabar, Dr. Rina Talgam, Ariella Amar, Michael Tal and Einat Ron presented lectures.
Judaica Fair
May 3-7, 1998
The Center displayed its many publications at this international gathering which is held every two years in Jerusalem.
Jewish Art Seminar at the St. Petersburg Jewish University
June 23-July 7
The Center held its fourth intensive seminar on Jewish Art for students, educators and community leaders from all over the C.I.S.
The Center for Jewish Art is saddened to mark the passing of Philip I. Berman, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, a devoted friend and supporter of the Center.
Mr. Berman, a noted philanthropist and art collector, was a staunch supporter of the Hebrew University, which granted both him and his wife honorary doctorates. He served on the Board of Directors of the American Friends of the Hebrew University and was deeply committed to supporting research in the fields of medicine, archeology and the arts. Together with his wife Muriel L. Berman, he contributed the Philip I. and Muriel M. Berman Center for Biblical Archeology, the Philip I. and Muriel M. Berman National Medical Library, and the Philip I. and Muriel M. Berman Scholarship and Fellowship program. His tremendous efforts on behalf of the University earned him the prestigious Scopus award, the highest honor given by the University.
With great foresight in understanding the importance of computerization, the Bermans donated to the Index of Jewish Art its first major computer, a Digital MicroVax II, in 1987.
Philip Berman's generosity and commitment to the Hebrew University are legendary, and he will never be forgotten.
