July 1, To whom it may concern

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1 July 1, 2014 To whom it may concern I am delighted to support the new publication project of Michèle Fingher and Florence Soulam. I have got to know Florence Soulam over the past decade during research trips to Israel and have continuously been struck by her inspiring vision as a Jewish art educator. Her work in the series of books published under the title Le voyage de Bezalel: L Art en fête is unique, to my knowledge, in its approach to art and Judaism. Whereas so often the teaching of Jewish religion stands apart from an engagement with its creative expression throughout the ages, in Fingher and Soulam s volumes, law, tradition, and art are inseparable as they are in Jewish life. The authors highlight the aesthetic qualities of Jewish art but also communicate to children its deep roots in Jewish life; they explain Jewish traditions but also show that long-standing religious traditions are articulated in ever new artistic forms. These beautifully produced volumes represent both pedagogical and intellectual achievements. The new book the authors are planning for their series on Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh promise to continue the wonderful work they have been doing. Turning to holidays that structure weekly and monthly cycles, this new volume will introduce a crucial part of Jewish life and of Jewish artistic creativity to children. From the drafts Florence Soulam has shown me, the new book builds on the same innovative concept. As in their past publications, holidays that will be familiar to some young readers and unknown to others, become alive in the artwork they inspired; and artworks from periods distant from its readers will become familiar in the context of celebrations that many will know. As an educator who tries to communicate the continuities, discontinuities, and creative force within Jewish traditions, I warmly recommend this project. Ari Joskowicz, PhD Assistant Professor Jewish Studies and European Studies Vanderbilt University a.joskowicz@vanderbilt.edu

2 June 15, 2013 To Whom It May Concern, This is to recommend a new and original project envisioned by Dr. Florence Soulam. I have known Dr. Soulam for many years. She immigrated to Israel from United States and for her MA thesis she worked on the important and most extensive collection of Jewish marriage contracts (Ketubbot) preserved at the Jewish National and University Library, Jerusalem. The thesis was submitted to the Ecole du Louvre her former school in Paris, but I collaborated with her advisors on the guidance of this project. Her PhD studies were subsequently carried out at the Art History Dept. of the Hebrew University. The doctoral dissertation of Ms. Soulam, which was written under my guidance, was dedicated to the illustrated Esther scrolls of a little known Jewish scribe-artist Moses Pescarol of northern Italy (Ferrara). The art of the illustrated Purim Megillah is at its infancy in the framework of Jewish art history and aside from several incidental articles, no comprehensive work is available on the topic. Therefore, the detailed study submitted by Dr. Soulam, in which each and every miniature in the Pescarol scrolls is examined against the artistic and cultural background of Jewish life in Baroque Italy, sheds light on an important phenomenon in Jewish art history and constitutes a pioneering work for any scholar interested in the field in general. The new project offered by Dr. Soulam concerns an innovative collection of Jewish art books aimed at children from first to eighth grades. No such publication exists in any language. The subject is not taught in Israeli primary schools and I can testify from my experience that every time I lecture to school educators about Jewish art or the Bible in art they are fascinated by the topics but claim they don t have tools or source materials to transfer the visual world to their pupils. The colorfully and attractively written and designed magazine offered by Dr. Soulam can definitely contribute to remedy this situation. Moreover, it is wonderful that such a welcome initiative comes from a qualified person with a PhD in the field, and someone who is very close and understands the world of children. I, therefore, recommend with pleasure that you support this application. Sincerely, Shalom Sabar Prof. Shalom Sabar Academic Director. "Revivim" Honors Program for Training of Jewish Studies Teachers Dept. of Jewish and Comparative Folklore Dept. of Art History The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Sabar@h2.hum.huji.ac.il sabar@mscc.huji.ac.il

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