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