58 | DECEMBER 28 • 2023 
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ARTS&LIFE
ART

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reations of the painter and graphic 
artist Amram Egby celebrate the 
beauty and history of Israel. He’s 
lived in his beloved, adopted country since 
leaving Morocco in 1951. Much of his work, 
including City of Yaffa, is distinguished by 
his placement of a circular plaque some-
where in the picture. 
Egby is one of the collectible Israeli artists 
represented at Jerusalem-based Safrai Fine 
Art Gallery, started in 1935, but their works 
also may be viewed in person and pur-
chased locally — perhaps exclusively — at 
Congregation Beth Shalom (CBS) in Oak 
Park.
Remember the pandemic? It upended 
CBS’ well-organized plan 
to sell the Safrai art at a 
show in Spring 2020. 
Weary of traveling 
abroad to sell his artwork, 
gallery owner Menachem 
Safrai decided to reach out 
to U.S. synagogues sev-
eral years ago. He wrote 
an email requesting their 
venue to show his artists’ 
works.
“I thought it was a great 
idea,
” recalled attorney 
Bryan Beckerman, then 
serving his two-year term as the 
synagogue’s president. “We just 
hit it off through our emails and 
phone calls.
” The men developed a 
close relationship while preparing 
to hold the local event. 
“It took a lot to get every-
thing arranged and coordinat-
ed for shipping the artworks,
” 
Beckerman said. “Unfortunately, 
within a few months of my presi-
dency” — he started in July 2019 
— “COVID hit. Our lives were 
changed, including what I wanted to do with 
the art gallery.
”
Safrai wasn’t eager to have everything 

repacked and sent back to the 
gallery. He told Beckerman 
to “keep the artwork on 
loan and try to sell it on our 
behalf.
”
“The Safrai Collection pres-
ents a great opportunity for 
Congregation Beth Shalom 
to help Israeli artists sell their 
work and make us a little cash 
in the process,
” said Howard 
Fridson, current CBS president. “The com-
munity gets the opportunity to own a piece 
of genuine Israeli art as well.
”
Although numerous artworks have been 
sold, “we have hundreds of pieces left, all by 
Israeli artists and in dif-
ferent styles,
” Beckerman 
said. Prices range widely, 
he said, starting at $50. 
The artwork includes 
signed lithographs and 
original oils and acrylics.
With the approval of 
Safrai Gallery, “we started 
discounting the pieces 
40% at our Chanu-Con 
(a holiday program) in 
November,
” Beckerman 
said. “The thought was: 
‘Let’s try to get some 
money over to them in Israel.
’”
Safrai, married to Sharon, was 
called up by the Israeli army along 
with two of his sons following 
the Hamas terror attacks of Oct. 
7. “These are such good people,
” 
Beckerman said.
CBS has a dedicated place for 
the artwork in the conference 
room next to the small chapel. 
Groupings are by the artist or size 
of the pieces, “to give easier access 
for people to rifle through what 
we have,
” he said. 
Providing invaluable help for the syna-
gogue’s project are volunteers Fridson, an 

artist-illustrator himself, and congregant 
Sharon Paliti, whose husband, Yisrael, retired 
last year as the owner of a framing shop in 
Oak Park. Speaking of his duties, Fridson 
said he might be asked to “show off a partic-
ular piece, or a few, by one artist or another,
” 
or he’ll pitch in with relocating displays “to 
where the most art lovers might see them.
”
“Bryan is always changing up the displays,
” 
added Fridson, “so there are often new pieces 
at the front (lobby) to see. When I have more 
time, I thumb through the racks to get a look 
at some print I haven’t checked out before.
”

LOTS OF CHOICES
It can be hard to choose what to buy with 
so much selection in the different artis-
tic styles. Fridson and his wife, Cathy, 
did find a picture they liked for their 
grandsons’ play area. “Mo and Zeke like 
the colors and the musical instruments 
in this one by an artist named Dorit 
Levi. Another favorite of mine (by artist 
Alexander Kevan) depicts rabbis in black 
hats and beards playing hockey.”
An art gallery show being organized for 
this spring will mark “the first time we’ve 
been able to do something more formal with 
the artwork,
” Beckerman said. “We’re going 
to be working on putting pictures of the 
remaining work on the CBS website.
” 

The synagogue can arrange a time for the public to 

take a guided tour of the collection. Those interested 

may call the CBS office at (248) 547-7970.

Browse through Israel’s Safrai Fine Art 
Gallery at Congregation Beth Shalom.
Israeli Art in Oak Park

ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Art by Alexander Klevan

Art by Shlomo Alter

