The Jewish Art Salon might be based on a historic tradition—the gathering of creative minds to promote a love and appreciation for artistic endeavors. The work Jewish Art Salon promotes, however, is anything but traditional. This New York-based organization operates on an international level, exposing the community to contemporary art that typically carries some sort of Jewish edge. The result? A gathering of Jewish artists with a scope that’s wider than ever before. “We formed in 2008, I …More

For its first pavilion at the prestigious Venice Biennale international art festival, the Vatican is presenting an exhibit inspired by the first book of the Torah. Called “Creation, Un-Creation, Re-Creation,” the three-part show in the Vatican’s pavilion will draw on the first 11 chapters of Genesis, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, told reporters Tuesday. Three international contemporary artists were chosen to explore the three themes: the …More

The Jewish community has praised Angelina Jolie’s decision to undergo a double mastectomy after she tested positive for the Ashkenazi-based BRCA1 gene mutation. [Forward] The Women of The Wall’s chairwoman gives an interview on her tactics for gender equality and the different Jewish values in Israel. [Jerusalem Post] Israel is receiving criticism as they maintain silence following the Arab League’s peace initiative two weeks ago. [ABC] Secretary of State John Kerry is being pressured by …More

Every Friday, Jspace News partners with the America Israel Cultural Foundation to bring you an interview with one of the many Israeli artists they support throughout the world. Ady Cohen is a film composer who also composes music for the stage, television, and the concert hall. He is the winner of the 1998 Israeli Academy Award for Best Film Score. The film, “Dangerous Acts,” won seven Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Director. Ady has composed over 30 film scores in Israel, the United States, …More

The descendants of a renowned Parisian art collector are in a dispute with a Norwegian museum over ownership of a valuable, Nazi-looted Matisse painting. Paul Rosenberg purchased “Woman in Blue in Front of Fireplace” in 1937, the same year Henri Matisse painted the work. It was confiscated by Nazi forces in 1941, just one of an estimated 160 pieces—including Picassos, Renoirs and Cezannes—that SS guards were sent to seize from Rosenberg. Rosenberg fled to the US to escape deportation to …More

Every Friday, Jspace News partners with the America Israel Cultural Foundation to bring you an interview with one of the many Israeli artists they support throughout the world. A native of Israel, Daniel Meron succeeds in expressing in his music the diversity of influences from his homeland. Nourished by the tradition of jazz improvisation, but recognizing the value of classical and folklore music, Daniel finds a way to feature his unique playing style in brilliant compositions that are both sophisticated and …More

Jewish sleep away camps serve approximately 2,500 special needs children, but are hesitant to advertise these services. [Jewish Week] Sarah Silverman spoofs black and white films in her recently released viral video. [Heeb] Rapper Scarface spews anti-Semitic comments in an interview with KollegeKidd.com. [Tablet] A painting stolen by the Nazis will be auctioned for more then $2 million at Christie’s in June. [Forward] The American Jewish Committee and Latino Coalition have signed an agreement to …More

Every Friday, Jspace News partners with the America Israel Cultural Foundation to bring you an interview with one of the many Israeli artists they support throughout the world. Zvi Gotheiner began dancing at 17, and soon after formed his first performance group. He came to New York in 1978 on a dance scholarship from the America Israel Cultural Foundation, and went on to dance with the Joyce Trisler Dance Company, Feld Ballets/NY, and the Bat-Sheva Dance Company. After directing Tamar Ramle and the Jerusalem …More

The Jewish community of Portland, Oregon threw itself a big party last weekend. The Food for Thought festival organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland sought to strengthen community identity, bring unaffiliated into the fold and collect food for the Oregon Food Bank, a local charity. It was also an opportunity to showcase the city's surprisingly rich Jewish past. A guided tour of Portland's historic Alphabet district showed where many of the city's most notable Jewish denizens lived and told their …More

Art, history and recycled objects are coming together in exciting new ways in Israel. From a train station in Jerusalem to an upcycled art studio in Tel Aviv, Israelis are finding creative solutions for unused space and unwanted items that would otherwise end up in a landfill. In Jerusalem, a blend of funky eateries and recycled art will soon be on display at First Station. The Ottoman era train station, first opened in 1892, had for many years remained empty and dilapidated before two developers decided …More

The Jewish Museum in Warsaw, Poland has unveiled a historic and rare sculpture. [NY Times] The Jewish Museum of Greece has opened a temporary exhibit to display the role of Greek Jews during the Holocaust. [JPost] The recently deceased Jewish leader in Egypt was buried in a decaying cemetery she had worked to rebuild. [Fox] A Jewish woman, who hid and died as a Catholic citizen during the Holocaust, was recently provided a reburial in the Warsaw Ghetto. [Tablet] A British literary magazine has named five …More

Every Friday, Jspace News partners with the America Israel Cultural Foundation to bring you an interview with one of the many Israeli artists they support throughout the world. Avital Burg is an Israeli painter, currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. Burg attended the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem, and completed a master class program at Hatahana School of Figurative Painting and Drawing, Tel Aviv. Burg currently attends the New York Studio School for Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture. Her work deals …More