Sunday, May 23 at 11 AM: Bezalel and The Art of Sacred Space: From Torah to the Synagogue

This session will use as its jumping-off point the character of Bezalel and the engagement of art with the building of the Tabernacle. From there we will explore traditional/non-traditional iconography that we see in synagogues in Israel, Syria (Dura Europos) and beyond. This survey will begin to challenge our notions of traditional synagogue art; and how we conceptualize aesthetic decoration of sacred space.

Sunday, June 6 at 11 AM: Communal Values as a Source of Sacred Art

We will turn to modern times as we explore case studies of value-centered Jewish art which is woven into the spaces of the Akiba Yavne Academy (Dallas), UCLA Hillel, and UJA Fed Bldg (NYC) -- all projects engaged by master Judaica artist, David Moss.  The presenter, Rabbi Matt Berkowitz, will also share two examples of heichal (shrine/prayer space) art -- one permanently installed in the JCC of Harrison NY and the other artistic visioning of a stained glass installation reflecting Jewish values.  This session will then transition to opening the process exploring the core values of Shaarei Kodesh -- and how these values, morals and ethics can best be represented in the chosen/commissioned art for the new space.

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Rabbi Matthew L. Berkowitz is the Director of Israel Programs for The Jewish Theological Seminary of America and co-founder of Kol Ha-Ot, a Jerusalem-based venture devoted to exploring the arts and Jewish learning.  For ten years (1999-2009), Matt served as the JTS Senior Rabbinic Fellow, organizing substantive adult learning throughout Florida and beyond.  He is a member of The Wexner Heritage Program Faculty. He completed his undergraduate work in International Relations and Middle East Studies, summa cum laude, at Colgate University. While in Israel, he studied at Pardes and The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies. He was ordained from JTS in 1999, is a Wexner Graduate Fellow alumnus, and most recently an alumnus of the Hartman Rabbinic Leadership Institute, Class V.