18 | JULY 11 • 2024 
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hildren came. Adults came. Families 
came. Couples and singles. The 
old, the young, and everyone in 
between came out to Congregation Beth 
Ahm to paint and draw and learn how to 
weave Hebrew letters into art-making with 
Washington, D.C.-based Hillel Smith.
“There are many ways to find meaning in 
text and many ways to express what these 
texts and ideas mean,
” says Elissa Berg, who 
attended all of the adult sessions plus one 
with her son, daughter-in-law and grand-
children. “I was inspired to take one of the 
ideas that I had as a result of our sessions 
and am looking to bring it to life.
”
Smith spent three days as artist-in-resi-

dence in Metro Detroit recently, invited by 
Beth Ahm Rabbi Steven Rubenstein, to con-
nect Jewish identity and community with 
art. The effort resulted in a beautiful collab-
orative mural made by Beth Ahm members 
that hangs in the synagogue 
foyer for all to see.
“Having Hillel with us over 
the course of several days gave 
people an opportunity to inter-
act with him — to learn about 
his art and to explore their own 
creative side from a Jewish perspective,
” 
Rabbi Rubenstein says. “
And because sev-
eral of the projects were group projects that 
will be installed in the synagogue, my hope 

is that people will see the art as a physical 
expression of their connection to our com-
munity.
”
The rabbi brought Smith in as guest art-
ist to expose the community 
to contemporary Jewish art 
and working Jewish artists in 
modern times. He also wanted 
to create an experience for the 
synagogue community to inter-
weave Jewish life with art and 
explore personal Jewish identity 
from a new perspective.
“Whenever you have the opportunity 
to try something from a slightly different 
angle the potential is there for personal 

COURTESY OF BETH AHM

Turning Hebrew 

into Art 

continued on page 20

Congregation Beth Ahm 
hosted artist Hillel Smith for 
three days of art-making.

LYNNE GOLODNER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

OUR COMMUNITY

Rabbi 
Steven 
Rubenstein

Hillel Smith

LEFT: Beth Ahm teens and parents 
make a smaller mural for the weekday 
entrance to the building.

Amy Robbins and Alissa Citron 
add their touches to the mural.

Cheryl and Paul Darmon work on the mural.

