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