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For nearly six thousand years, the Jewish populace has been called ‘The People of the Book’ leading some to believe that the Second Commandment (no graven images) inhibited artistic expression. 

With this series of lectures, we will examine the beginnings of art within Judaism - from the images found on the walls of the earliest known synagogues or drawn on the pages of Hebrew manuscripts, to the design of ritual objects and the architecture of the Temple Mount itself.  

We shall focus upon the impact of Jewish art and artistic Jews over the centuries. What effect have these artists had on the world of art? If we walk the galleries of any museum, would we be able to identify which paintings or sculptures were created by individuals with a Jewish origin? How would we make that determination? Is it the material, the medium, the application, the colors, the motif. . . is there a particular element or an attribute that is reflected in the art and unites Jewish art or artists? 

Come along on this artistic journey across many millennia from Bezalel to the land of Israel today that will guarantee an exciting revelation as testimony to the expansive world of Jewish art and expression.

Christine Maasdam holds a Master’s degree in Humanities and a B.A. in Cultural Geography. Her art studies include The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, The Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center in D.C. and Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime at the University of Glasgow. She is a graduate of the Art Crime Investigation Seminar led by Robert Wittman, founder of the FBI's National Art Crime Team. Christine is a member of the International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection and holds a certificate from Trident Manor on Protection of Cultural Venues. Christine received Sotheby’s certification on Determining Value: An Appraiser’s Perspective. She has spent over 14 years as a LACMA docent and is eager to return as an active volunteer at the City of David archaeological dig in Israel.  She has taught classes for CLU and OLLI.