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Clay vase: Iron Age,

Israelite Period, circa
1200-332 B.C.E.

Timeless Art

Clay jug from ancient Israel inspires quest
for collection and Epstein Gallery show.

to that segment of Jewish his-
tory."
Jackier's enthusiasm for
antiquities is shared with his
wife, Eleanor, and a group
of friends who have begun
the same kinds of collec-
tions and come together for an
exhibit running through July
13 at the Janice Charach Epstein
Gallery in the Jewish Community
Center in West Bloomfield.
"Unearthing Our Past: Antiquities
From Israel" features works on
loan from Doreen Hermelin,
Marta and Ben Rosenthal, Rabbi
Dannel and Suzi Schwartz and
Jane and Larry Sherman.
The collectibles include bowls,
glass urns, candleholders, figu-
rines, baby rattles, spears and
coins.

says."I like looking at what people
could do with crafts all those years
ago, and I felt a connection

Suzanne Chessler
Special to the Jewish News

L

arry Jackier was on his
second trip to Israel in
1976 when an earthen
jug caught his eye. He had been
browsing through shops and
came across a display of antiqui-
ties.
The jug, he would learn,
had been made between 2,000
and 4,000 years ago, and that
intrigued him. He bought the
piece as the first item in what
would become a collection of
ancient artwork now spread
throughout his home.
"I was taken by the fact that peo-
ple were able to make things that
were both beautiful and utilitari-
an with limited resources:' Jackier

Clay pitcher: Iron Age,
Israelite Period, circa 1200-

332 B.C.E.

The
gallery
supple-
ments
these
collected
items with
Israeli antiqui-
ties on sale and
prices ranging from
$200-$5,500. Giving the
items context is literature
from the University of Michigan.
The literature, with no direct
connection to the items on view,
provides visitors with a sense of
what is involved in going on digs
in Israel.
The three-part display falls
right in line with the "Celebrate
Israel!" theme that fills the JCC in
West Bloomfield this month.

"The
exhibit
items — made
from glass, stone, bronze and clay
— represent various historical
eras:' says Monica Sklar, gallery
director and exhibit curator, who
made a brief visit to an archaeo-
logical exploration site in Israel
as part of a trip for young people.
"Viewing them offers visitors a
look at the history, tradition and

Cleveland exhibit features Jewish and Christian antiquitie

f the antiquities shown at
Museum in Jerusalem, will be
the Janice Charach Epstein
on view through Oct. 22. It fea-
Gallery leave you wanting
tures biblical artifacts, includ-
to see more, head out toward
ing newly restored sections of
Cleveland for a touring exhibit
the Temple Scroll.
at the Maltz Museum of Jewish
"The archaeological holdings
Heritage, a new art center which
of the Israel Museum include
opened last fall.
the world's most comprehen-
"Cradle of Christianity:
sive display of treasures from
Treasures from the Holy
the early Judaic and Christian
Land," organized
by the Israel
The Temple Scroll,

columns 19-21,

parchment, Qumran,

1st century B.C.E.-
1st century C.E.

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history, and this exhibition
delivers a central message
about the shared roots of the
Western monotheistic faiths,"
says James Snyder, director of
the Israel Museum.
Highlights from the exhibition
include the burial ossuary of
Caiaphas the high priest, who,
according to the Christian Bible,
delivered Jesus to the Romans.
A commemorative inscription
bearing the name of Pontius
Pilate represents the only sur-
viving physical testimony of
these two prominent figures
from the story of the trial of
Jesus.
Also shown is a heel bone
of Yehohanan, son of
Hagkol, punctured by an
iron nail (replication). It is
the only tangible evidence
of the practice of crucifixion
to have been discovered in

archaeological excavation.
Visitors will view a stone
inscription from the Temple
Mount, remains of excavated
churches and other religious
sites and souvenirs and
mementos from early Christian
pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
Menorahs, oil lamps, crosses,
coins, jars, bowls, tableware and
flasks are on display.
Some 150 archaeological
treasures and recreations of
historical settings fall into two
periods – the Herodian Period
moving through the 1st century
C.E., which saw the life of Jesus
of Nazareth and the final days
of the Second Temple, and the
period of the concurrent devel-
opment of formative Judaism
and Christianity in the Holy Land
in the 4th-7th centuries C.E.
All the objects on view are
from Israel. The majority of

them were unearthed in excava-
tions during this past century.
Some are on display for the first
time. I

- Suzanne Chessler

"Cradle of Christianity:
Treasures from the Holy
Land" will be on view
through Oct. 22 at the
Maltz Museum of Jewish
Heritage, 2929 Richmond
Road, BeaChwood, Ohio.
Museum hours are 10
a.m.-5 p.m: Sundays-
•
Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-8
p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m.-5
p.m. Fridays and noon-5
p.m. Saturdays. $10-$12.
(216) 593-0575. www.
MaltzJewishMuseum.org .