Jewish Art -
An Ancient Tradition

Ever since we became a people, we have numbered amongst us experts in every manner of artist and artistry, full of the wisdom of engraving and embroidery, weaving and dyeing, working with silver, gold, copper. Artisans sophisticated in every manner of craft. Close to Israel's exit from Egypt, some 3300 years ago, Betzalel, the first Jewish artisan, began the artistic creation of The Temple and its utensils. /Exodus 35, 30/

Approximately 350 years afterwards we find artists involved with the artistic creation of the First Temple and its utensils by order of King Solomon. /First Kings 1, 6-7/

In the 1st century before the Common Era, King Herod rebuilt what became the Second Temple, in all its glory and honor. This building was especially wondrous in its beauty and the artistry employed in its construction. So much so that our Sages said: "He who hasn't seen Herod's building has never seen a beautiful building all the days of his life.' /Talmud Baba Batra, 4a/

When the Temple was destroyed, art did not disappear from Israel. During the time of the Talmud it was customary to beautify synagogues with art works including stone etchings, floor mosaics, and drawings on the walls and ceiling. The earliest evidence of this is a synagogue built in the 3rd century in Dura Europos on the banks of the Euphrates river. Its walls are covered with drawings depicting stories from the Tanach and midrash.

During the same period, they began to illustrate and decorate holy writings with the same intention- to glorify and honor that which is holy. The tradition of painting synagogues continued through the generations in all the diasporas, with a considerable increase from the 17th century and onward, ceasing only with the destruction of European Jewry in the Shoa.

Today the phrase "Jewish Art" is used for all art created by Jews whose content is drawn from the sources or Jewish life.