The Jewish religious holiday of Passover celebrates the biblical story of Exodus, wherein the ancient Israelites were freed from bondage under the pharaoh in Egypt. The eight days of Passover begins with a Seder — a ritual banquet where, since the 10th century, a text describing the exodus, known as the Haggadah, is read. The meaning of Passover, also called Pesach, has evolved over the ages and today represents the ideas of freedom from oppression, as well as renewal and rebirth. The Gotthelf Art Gallery at the Jewish Community Center at 4126 Executive Drive is hosting a show that runs until May 23 and features the work of 28 invited artists who have produced artwork and artifacts associated with Passover. There are paintings, photographs, mixed media and sculpture in the show, as well as a large table covered with plates, bowls and candle holders of metal, ceramic and wood construction. “The artists’ approach to the topic of Passover was creatively varied, thoughtful and successful,” said Beverly Garber, a former marketing expert who was at the opening reception in March. Sandra Berlin-Kroll has two intriguing hanging wall sculptures in the exhibition, which garnered a great deal of attention at the opening. Berlin-Kroll is a retired community college art teacher who recently started a ceramics class for recovering patients at the Alvarado Hospital Rehabilitation Institute. She fashions her clay sculpture in sections and uses unusual and varied objects for her molds — such as the ornate railing from a New Orleans-style French balcony (which she found in a Louisiana junkyard). She then colorfully paints her sculptures. Artist Jacqueline Jacobs is a retired pediatrician who came to San Diego from Santiago, Chile some 30 years ago. Jacob’s family originally settled in Chile in the early 1900s after fleeing religious persecution in the Ukraine. Jacobs constructed a three-foot-by-two-foot box containing small scrolls embellished with lettered lists of good and bad habits or personal qualities. Her creation is called “The Time of our Freedom, Letting Go of Chometz.” Jacobs said she was inspired by the idea that at Passover one should try to identify and free oneself from any bad habits, such as prejudice, and take on new good habits, such as tolerance. “It was inspiring to be part of this show,” said Jacobs. “I did a lot of research for my piece and worked very hard to get the concept just right.” Gallery hours are Sunday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Further information is available at (858) 362-1154 or www.sdcjc.org.
