At Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia, there are seemingly unlimited avenues to become involved, no matter what your interests are. Thanks to one member, the institution is seeing a revival of its Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art.
For member Robin Blumenfeld Switzenbaum, what started as a simple favor for a friend at synagogue turned into a full-time passion project. She serves as head of the committee that issues an annual call to professional artists to create works around a theme anchored in Judaism. Last year, then-Temple President Hank Bernstein asked Blumenfeld Switzenbaum if she would be willing to head up the committee as it began again in 2023. A lifelong lover of art, she knew she would be able to do it, and said yes to Bernstein. Since then, Blumenfeld Switzenbaum — and Rodeph Shalom as a whole — have embraced the program and the values it espouses.
“I think we are trying to engage not only our community, but also the larger Philadelphia community, to do things that promote Jewish values,” she said. “We each have a responsibility to repair the world to the extent we are able to. We don’t have to completely repair it, but just that little infinitesimal bit — each grain of sand adds on to another to make the world a better place.”
That idea, known as tikkun olam, is the theme of this year’s submissions. Last year’s theme was “Rise and Rejoice.” Both themes are based in Jewish values and history, but are generally embraced ideas that appeal across cultural lines. This encourages participation by both artists and viewers of different backgrounds, further strengthening the bonds between the Jewish community of Philadelphia and other communities in the city.
The chosen submissions are shown in an exhibit in the museum as well as celebrated at an event and fundraiser for the museum held later in the year. Last year, there were more than 200 submissions and 32 works chosen to be featured. Basically, a panel made up of members of the PMJA exhibition committee, as well as guest juror Ruth Fine, will decide which artworks best reflect the theme and fit in the greater context of the other chosen pieces.
The works must have been completed in the last five years, ready to hang on the wall with appropriate hardware, framed if necessary and not exceeding 48 inches in any direction or protruding more than three inches from the wall.
Blumenfeld Switzenbaum said the theme was intended to evoke care for others, especially considering the divisiveness of the recent election. She was proud to name a handful of artists who have been particularly touched by the themes of Judaism despite not having a previous connection to the religion.
She said that one local artist, Mikel Elam, submitted a work despite little knowledge of Judaism but was inspired by the community. His work is visually striking and Afrocentric in themes, which provided an important and different perspective for the Jewish viewers of the art.
Blumenfeld Switzenbaum even told of one artist who was raised Jewish but drifted away and no longer identifies as a member of the religion. That woman focuses largely on climate change in her work, and found an intersection of Jewish values and environmental activism.
The works will be shown in the spring at the aforementioned reception and be included in the exhibit from March to June. At the reception, works will be put on sale, with artists retaining 60% of the sale price.
Submissions can be sent to [email protected] and must include up to three PDF or JPG images as well as an artist statement and biography that are each capped at 400 words.