Local News
March 21, 2008
Ashkelon Kids Send Megillah Here
Israeli school donates Megillah to local synagogue.
Rochelle Eisenberg
Staff Reporter
They are 16 motifs, beautifully hand-drawn by students at the Nof Yam Tali Bet Elementary School in the Israeli city of Ashkelon. Colorful illustrations that depict scenes from the Book of Esther, integrated onto the parchment of the Purim Megillah.
Although illuminated Megillot are part of a long tradition in Jewish history, most are drawn by seasoned artists. At Stevenson’s Chizuk Amuno Congregation this year, those images in the synagogue’s newest scroll were created by children at the Israeli school.
From the dedication page — which features a colorful child’s-eye view of the Persian city of Shushan, scene of the Purim tale — the story comes alive with colorful yet simple drawings, originally drawn on paper. Then, through a scientific process, which according to Chizuk Amuno’s Rabbi Ron Shulman was deemed “halachically” binding, they were transferred onto the parchment.
“The history of illuminated Esther scrolls is part of a long tradition,” said Susan Vick, curator of the Goldsmith Museum and Hendler Learning Center of Chizuk Amuno. “But I’ve never seen it done this way before.”
The project began during a congregational trip led by Rabbi Shulman to Israel in the fall of 2006. While in Ashkelon, Baltimore’s Israeli sister city, he met with Rabbi Gustovo Surazski, spiritual leader of Conservative Congregation Kehillat Netzach Israel. It was there that the two discussed the concept.
The project became a joint effort between Rabbi Surazski’s congregation and the synagogue’s day school.
The youngsters at the day school studied Judaic art, including the art of Jewish calligraphy, and met with Rabbi Surazski, who is also a sofer, or scribe. They talked about the story of Purim before they began their drawings.
There were 40 students, working in small groups, who translated their vision onto paper. At the completion of the project, the class reviewed the pictures and voted, selecting 16 pictures to include in the Megillah. Afterward, these paper drawings were scientifically scanned onto the parchment.
The Esther scroll was presented to Chizuk Amuno last fall when Rabbi Surazski visited Baltimore. It will be read for the first time at the congregation’s family service this Purim.
According to Rabbi Shulman, the synagogue made a donation for the Megillah, but the donation did not cover the full costs of the project.
The Esther scroll is currently on display in a case located in the lobby outside the sanctuary. It will be read for the first time next Thursday, March 20, on Purim eve.