The World of Judaic folk art

By Arlene Stolnitz

I was a newly married bride in the ’50s when my mother-in-law presented my husband and me with what I thought was a poorly framed paper cut. I was unimpressed with its appearance, and it was not until many years later that I understood and appreciated what it represented. It was my fascination with this paper cut that led me to discover the world of Judaic Folk Art.

Contrary to conventional Judaic belief, the visual arts have always been an important and beautiful way to express our religious devotion. Jewish art dates back to biblical times and, until modernity, depictions of the human form were forbidden. We still refer to the second commandment, “You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above or in the earth below” (Exodus 20:4). This has been interpreted throughout the generations to mean no artwork of any kind is acceptable in Judaism.

But this is farther from the truth than we can imagine! We need only to look at the first artist, Bezalel, the Jewish artisan appointed by G-d to build the Tabernacle. The Bible details the beautiful work of Bezalel and his partner, Oholiab, in the building of the Ark of the Covenant. It is described as overlaid with gold and decorated with cherubim (I Kings 6). Bezalel and Oholiab were given the task of working in gold, silver and bronze, cutting stones for settings and in carving wood.

Through the centuries, Jews have excelled in various art forms, which we will explore in this column on an irregular basis throughout the year. There is much for us to discover.

So, you may ask, “exactly what is Judaic Folk Art?”

Jewish folk art has been a huge part of Jewish homes and synagogues for centuries. Jewish folk art includes items like the mizrach, an emblem placed on the eastern wall of the home to remind family members which direction to direct their prayers; the shiviti, a meditative representation of a verse from Psalms; Kiddush cups; challah covers; mezuzot; candlesticks; and more. Once an expression of piety, these objects were created by Eastern European Jews who had little or no artistic training. Today, Jewish folk art has become more sophisticated and continues as trained artists focus their skills on these traditional crafts.

Of particular interest to me is the art of paper cutting, which was prevalent in Poland in the 1800s. It was an art form in Eastern Europe that is now gone but has had a revival in modernity. Those who have studied the old tradition have gained a deep appreciation of the many ways Jews have contributed to Judaic culture.

The subject of Judaic folk art has had limited exposure in the past. This is the reason for writing these articles, as a way of introducing a little-known subject to a wider audience.

I would enjoy hearing any comments and suggestions you may have.

Arlene Stolnitz, the “Jewish Music” contributor to Federation papers the past eight years, is starting a new series focusing on Judaic folk art. A native of Rochester, NY, Stolnitz is a retired educator and lives in Venice, Florida.