Arts & Entertainment

World Renowned Jewish Artist Visits Beth Ami

Mordechai Rosenstein takes part in the temple's 40th anniversary celebration.

Mordechai Rosenstein always wanted to be an artist, but he never imagined the success he has achieved.

“I always did it as a hobby – the Hebrew calligraphy – and for some reason I always enjoyed it,” Rosenstein said. His hobby developed into a business, and he’s been showing his work around the world ever since.

Rosenstein has had shows in Hong Kong, Zurich, London, and all over the United States.

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“We went into business in 1979,” the world-renowned Jewish artist said. “With three designs, we went to a conference and we sold a lot of work. The people were really receptive and since then we’ve been traveling the world.”

This weekend, he returns to Rockville’s Temple Beth Ami for the first time in nine years to help celebrate the temple’s 40th anniversary.

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The synagogue has a long-standing relationship with Rosenstein, and considers itself both a friend and a fan, Rabbi Jack Luxemburg said. Rosenstein’s work can be found throughout the building. 

The Artist in Residence Weekend provides congregants of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to both learn from Rosenstein and purchase his work from Dec. 8-11.

The main lobby of the temple has been turned into an art gallery for his work to be displayed.

“The basis of all the pieces is the Hebrew alphabet,” Rosenstein said. “That’s the main structure of the whole design and elements are added.”

That foundation, Luxemburg said, has drawn him to Rosenstein’s work over the years.

“The Hebrew language itself and the alphabet have a special place in the context of Jewish experience and lure,” Luxemburg said. “It has a tremendous spiritual, even mystical aura about it. The way he uses the Hebrew language and the Hebrew alphabet as the foundation of his art has always appealed to me.”

As a part of the weekend’s events, Rosenstein will create an original work based on a Hebrew saying submitted by Rabbi Luxemburg. The entire process takes two or three days, Rosenstein said, adding that his basic material is Gouache (opaque watercolors).

Rosenstein’s original pieces sell for up to $4,000, but much of the artwork for sale this weekend are replications ranging from $300-$500, Rosenstein’s business partner Barry Magen said. 

“We do have some higher priced items because you never know and sometimes people like to buy things for the temple,” Magen said.

A Philadelphia native, Rosenstein actually met Luxemburg while the Rabbi was also working and living in the city. Ever since, the pair sees each other periodically at conferences and conventions where Rosenstein’s art is on display, Luxemburg said.

The rabbi, an owner of many of Rosenstein’s works, said he admires the artist’s use of the Hebrew language as a teaching device.

“Instead of exploring a difficult or challenging text, you can take his artistic treatment of a key phrase or a key word in our tradition and explore that in a way that people are a little more comfortable with it,” Luxemburg said.

In addition to his time at Beth Ami, Rosenstein will also appear at the Union for Reform Judaism convention at the National Harbor on Dec. 14.


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