APRIL 27 • 2023 | 79
The Jezreel Valley community in Israel and its
female artists are playing a major role in the Janice
Charach Gallery’s contribution to the celebration of
the 75th anniversary of the State of Israel.
The exhibit of 20 pieces is now on display in the
upper level of the gallery inside the JCC through
May 10 and includes text that reflects each artist’s
creative inspiration in her own voice.
The presentation pays tribute to the extraordinary
achievements of the Jezreel Valley women, focus-
ing on the character of the female pioneers who
lived and worked in the Valley from the inception of
the Zionist settlement up until the mid-20th century.
The works echo the authentic voice of the young
women of the time who served as farmers, manual
laborers, educators, nurses, doctors, and social and
political leaders who helped cultivate the land and
the community, all while striving for gender equality.
Yiftah Leket, the visiting Israeli senior community
shaliach (emissary) for the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, helped orchestrate bringing the
exhibit to Michigan with the support of the Jezreel
Valley Regional Council in cooperation with the
Association for Women’s Art and Gender Research.
Women Creating Reality: Jezreel Valley Pioneers
is free and open to the public and runs concur-
rently with the gallery’s lower gallery exhibition
Solomon Souza: From Israel to Detroit.
Women Creating Reality:
Jezreel Valley Pioneers
Agneta and Frank Hamann of Westland look over a paint-
ing by artist Hades Levi titled Superposition at the Women
Creating Reality: Jezreel Valley Pioneers
Jezreel Valley.
Out of Leket’s efforts, the
connection was born for the
exhibit that now inhabits
the entire upper gallery of
the Janice Charach Gallery,
Women Creating Reality:
Jezreel Pioneers, featuring over
20 works by women artists
currently living in the Jezreel
Valley, Israel.
CONNECTING THE DOTS
As Leket worked out the
logistics of bringing the
Jezreel art exhibit to the
gallery, by coincidence
he was simultaneously
communicating with G.B.
Thimotheose of West
Bloomfield, the vice president
of APAPA-MI and a feature
filmmaker.
APAPA-MI is the 44th
and newest chapter of the
Sacramento, California-
based Asian Pacific Islander
American Public Affairs
Association, a nonprofit, non-
partisan organization whose
mission is the advancement of
Asian-American interests, a
bridge linking the diverse eth-
nic, racial and religious com-
munities that form the rich
tapestry of Michigan culture.
Thimotheose was trying
to find a way to introduce
his friend, amazing young
Israeli Indian-Jewish graffiti
artist Solomon Souza, to the
greater Michigan communi-
ty to help dedicate APAPA’s
newest chapter. He and Leket
worked on a plan to bring
Souza here.
Leket, in turn, introduced
Thimotheose to Janice
Charach Gallery Director
Natalie Balazovich, recog-
nizing that Solomon’s unique
heritage would add an amaz-
ing element to the gallery’s
commemoration of Israel’s
75th anniversary. To that end,
Balazovich graciously extend-
ed an invitation to APAPA-MI
to join them and the JFMD as
part of their April 16 event.
Balazovich and
Thimotheose would become
the critical links between
all parties involved, and it
showed in the turnout and
excitement generated by the
exhibition.
“It says a lot about our art-
ists, Solomon and the women
artists of the Jezreel Valley, to
have enticed such a diverse
audience,” Natalie said.
“Their work moves people
to want to be a part of it. It is a
dream scenario for any artist,
and I feel privileged to have
hosted it.”
Thimotheose is no stranger
to the fascinating connection
between Indians and Jews. He
has produced a documenta-
ry about the Jews of Kerala
(in southern India) and how
India, historically, is perhaps
the only country in the world
where Jews never suffered
from hatred and antisemitism
from the local population. I
chronicled his journey in film-
making in the June 15, 2017,
edition of the JN.
Solomon was yet another
extension of Thimotheose’s
interest in the Indian-Jewish
connection.
“Solomon is that connective
tissue that can bring differ-
ent groups together,” said
Thimotheose. “He’s Indian,
Asian, Jewish, a British Israeli,
all facets within him. He
embodies diversity. He’s a
great messenger for that beau-
tiful message.”
In short order, APAPA-
continued on page 80
JERRY ZOLYNSKY