My name is Sefira Lightstone and I am an illustrator, visual-artist, and activist living in Israel. I am an editorial illustrator and entrepreneur creating and selling soulful artistic products that empower Jews and women to embrace their identity. From a young age, I was exposed to all different forms of creativity from pottery, fine art, acting, dancing, and music. It was 7 years ago that I began to direct my passion and creativity into illustration. I spent years learning how to master techniques of color, composition, and arrangement. I have since developed my own personal style and am able to offer a unique perspective to every project I work on. Check out my work at www.sefiracreative.com.
A stranger in a foreign land. Determination and loyalty. Hopeful and kind. All of these descriptions describe the character and reality surrounding the story of Ruth the Moabite princess and her life. A life facing many challenges, I felt deeply connected to her because of her ability to embrace resilience and grace. We all go through times of blessing and times of difficulty, and what I loved about Ruth was her ability to weave light into every step she took. For example when her mother-in-law Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, despite her effort to turn Ruth away, Ruth boldly testifies her commitment and loyalty to Naomi by saying “"Do not entreat me to leave you, to return from following you, for wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people and your God my God.” Instead of surrendering to fear of the unknown, she committed herself to her beliefs by moving forward through each next indicated step, ultimately bearing forth blessings as being the lineage of King David. Through my illustration, I aimed to capture the essence of Ruth's strength and grace, hoping to inspire each of you to never let fear stop you from doing what you believe in. Rather than turning back and choosing an easier path, Ruth moved forward, supporting Naomi and facing life's challenges head on.
Born in a bitter time period of oppression and slavery, Miriam is noted as one of the 7 Jewish female Prophetesses. There are two meanings behind her name. Mar, “מר” means bitter. Miriam was subjected to an incredibly dark time in Jewish history, when all she witnessed was a reality of exile and destruction. That however, didn’t stop her from pursuing her prophecy and hope for a brighter future. Which leads me to the other root of her name, meri “מרי”, meaning rebellion. Since she was young, Miriam had always chosen to rebel against the oppressive mentality of slavery. When finally reaching redemption and crossing the red sea, rather than letting depression and misery follow with her, Miriam led the women through song and dance towards freedom. Miriam's unwavering faith and passion for her Jewish identity is woven into this illustration. She is joyfully dancing in the water, song, movement and prayer unified by gentle color and the flowing of line work. Miriam teaches us to stand tall against adversity and to weave joy and creativity through every part of our lives.
Judy Rubin is a prolific fine and digital artist whose works have been sold nationally and internationally in galleries and private art collections. Originally trained as a fine artist at the Schuler School of Fine Art, Judy also holds a Master of Science in Biomedical Communications from the University of Toronto. By day, Judy works as a medical illustrator & 3D animator for top 10 medtech & pharma companies, and by night she continues fine art & portrait commissions. She is passionate about art, science, and the role of women in Judaism. To see more of her work, please visit: https://www.jrubinvisuals.io/portfolio or https://instagram.com/jrubin_watercolors?utm_source=qr&igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg%3D%3
Megillat Esther (5:1)- she donned Royalty Rashi clarifies this means she put on royal clothes. But what does this mean? Hasn’t she been wearing royal garments for the past 5 years? According to R’ Gershon Schaffel, for 5 years she has been wearing royal garments reluctantly. She has been hiding, suppressing who she is, struggling with her fate. This is the moment she not only accepts her circumstances, but she embraces it; “this is my mission, and I will do it proudly.” She is no longer trying to suppress who she is or run away from her fate and this empowers her to tap into her potential and become the catalyst for salvation. This portrait is meant to be the moment she dons royalty and embraces her purpose and potential. She sits fully facing the viewer, head on and not shying away. She is fully dressed in the royal style of her day complete with a crown and jewelry like those seen in depictions of other royal empresses and queens of Persia such as Atusa Shahbanu (Atossa), Phaidyme Shahbanu, Irdabama, Artimisia, Sisygambis, Roxana, and Youtab Aryobarzan. The flowers in her hair were not only the royal fashion of her time but specific flowers were chosen for their symbolism: white chrysanthemum (grief), Thyme (courage), and Coriander (hidden worth/merit), which represent the complex mix of emotions and moments in her journey. The pattern in the background of the painting is myrtle leaves, as Esther’s second name, Hadassah means myrtle. As is famously known about her, her skin was “green” or perhaps olive complexioned. The highlights of her face are painted in a green hue that blends with the rest of her complexion. To me, Esther is a symbol of strength and resilience that one can embrace one’s unique authenticity no matter how dire or how challenging the circumstances and can still create a life full of meaning, purpose, and salvation.
American-Israeli Yael Harris Resnick is a self-taught multimedia artist known for her hand painted silk, acrylic paintings and, most strikingly, integrating silk accents on her canvases. Influenced by her mother, calligrapher and ketubah artist Hedy Harris, much of Yael’s work involves Judaic and Biblical motifs and illustrates the splendor of the land of Israel using a vibrantly colorful palette. Inspired by great historical female artists like Freda Khalo, Yael strives to bring brave female heroines into the limelight. Www.YaelHarrisResnick.com
Devorah was the only female judge in Tanach. According to the text, she was the only judge who had direct prophecy. She was also a military leader of Am Yisrael together with Barak. Barak begged her to join him in battle and she agreed, but she pointed out that the defeat of the enemy Sisera will be due to a woman, Yael. Devorah means “bee” - the ultimate pollinator, devout worker, and nourisher. The text describes her as sitting under a date palm - another producer of honey - which represents Torah, sustenance, and prosperity. The nation swarmed to this queen bee for guidance and leadership during one of the most tumultuous times. I painted her wearing a shawl in the colors and textures of a bee, alluding to her namesake. We learn from the text that she is the wife of Lapidot, literally meaning “torches”. She was a guiding light to her people, leading them to victory and peace with God’s light. Devorah judged Israel fire for years, putting her firmly in older-middle age when she was at her most influential. In painting her, I depicted the gloriousness of this time in a woman’s life proudly featuring wrinkles of wisdom, silver hair, and a flowing maturity.
Yael was a heroine who saved Am Yisrael by killing Sisera, commander of the Canaanite army by hammering a tent peg through his head after luring him into her tent and making him drowsy with milk. Milk, being the ultimate life-sustaining material, also represents spirituality and the passing down of wisdom. In this case, milk was used to save the future of the Jewish People. Yael, also the name of the native nimble-footed mountain goat, the ibex, literally means “he shall ascend.” Yael used her quick dexterity to ascend in her mission. Yael is mentioned as the wife of a Kenite and the Midrash connects her to Yitro, who converted to Judaism from the Keni tribe. Yitro is known for fighting the Canaanites in support of Am Israel and Yael comes full circle, completing the task. In the painting, I’ve included fantastical horns in the background as tribute to the ibex, connecting the power of the animal with Yael the warrior. I’ve also illustrated her as a woman of color due to her connection with Yitro, whose daughter Tzipporah is described as Cushite and “the most beautiful”. Yael is also wearing green, alluding to the uniform color of an Israeli soldier.
Miriam Anzovin is a visual artist, writer, content creator, and massive Jewish nerd, exploring the juxtaposition of pop culture, nerd culture, and Jewish culture. In the #DafReactions series on social media, she shares her practice of daily study of the Babylonian Talmud in the Daf Yomi cycle from the viewpoint of a formerly Orthodox, now secular, Millennial feminist. The videos are her authentic reactions, with commentary both heartfelt and comedic, putting ancient discourse in direct communication with modern internet culture, pop culture, and current events. Find Miriam’s art portfolio at www.miriamanzovin.com, and follow her (@MiriamAnzovin) on TikTok, Instagram, Youtube, Threads, and BlueSky.
When I think of the story of Judith, I think of the line “All the glory of the king's daughter is internal" -- כל כבודה ... and how often women are told to stay home, stay quiet, stay unseen. But here is a Jewish woman who became a hero and saved her people by doing exactly the opposite - knowing when, sometimes, one must take bold action, one must be brave. I also chose Judith because of how the story centers two women working together to achieve the goal - Judith and her maid, who I have depicted side by side, partners in the events of the Judith story Women rely on other women, and although Judith took the leadership role and initiative, her maid went with her as a team. They leave the tent of Holofernes triumphant, the maid looking back with a small smile at their unexpected achievement. Judith looks to the horizon, and looks forward to telling her people they are saved. Both of these women are proud, as they should be, of what they accomplished when men were too afraid to get the job done Judith is a personal hero to me as she is to many Jewish women, and in her I find inspiration for the type of Jewish woman I want to be - know when to follow my heart, know when I CAN achieve something even when the rest of the world thinks I can’t, and be willing to risk everything for Am Yisroel.
In learning the Talmud, it is rare to come across a woman who is named in the text. It is even more rare to have a woman with a name who was ALSO a sage. A female sage who outpaced her male peers, once learning 300 halachot in a single overcast day. Beruriah. There are stories not only of her scholarship but also of her deep personal tragedies, her bravery, her heart, her brilliant dry wit, scalpel-sharp. I look to Beruriah and I see the foremother of all women who learn Talmud to this day. So I decided to depict her in a moment many of us would recognize: Learning at a table, reviewing her notes, deep in thought. It is a moment of solitude but not loneliness for her, of shutting out the turmoil of the world, completely content to be immersed in her mind, in the words of Torah. This is what she wants to do, was born to do. Where would we be, those of us who study Talmud and are not men, without Beruriah? I don’t know. And I’m so glad we don’t have to find out. Because Beruriah lives on in each of us, every time we sit down to learn.
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Micol now lives in Israel where she works from a home studio overlooking the beautiful and historic Judean Hills. Micol is continually inspired by the nature and beauty of the land. As a visual artist, what Micol finds most rewarding is partnering with her clients to design one-of-a-kind papercut works of art that are both beautiful and deeply imbued with personal meaning.
I have always been fascinated by the story of Dona Gracia who defied all odds to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Jewish history. As a woman of Sephardic Turkish heritage, I feel a strong connection to the history and culture of the world in which Dona Gracia lived. I am inspired by her life of charity and her legacy of helping any Jew in need, establishing synagogues and supporting Torah study. Although she never made it to Israel, her love for the land is evident in this portrait. Inspired by a drawing of her, this papercut reflects her regal stature and love for Israel. On the scroll she is holding reads – Im Eshkachech Yerushalayim tishkach yemini (If I forget Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its strength) signifying her longing for Israel. Her connection to the land is captured by the city of Teveria, in the background, which she leased from the Sultan under Ottoman rule with the goal of creating a center for Jewish learning and trade. I am inspired by her role as one of the earliest models of a Zionist woman leader.
I chose to feature Hannah Szenes as a model of a strong Zionist woman who was willing to risk her life for her values and for the Jewish people. I am inspired by her story, how she got to Israel and then left again to try to rescue Jews from occupied Europe. I am inspired by her poetry and her relationship with her mother who was arrested with her, survived the war and fought to have her remains buried in Har Herzl in the paratrooper’s section. This papercut is inspired by a photo that I found online of Hannah sitting in a field. She came to British Mandate Palestine in 1939 after graduating high school to study in an agricultural school. On a personal note, I share a birthday with Hannah Szenes and have always been drawn to her story.
Born in London in 1960 and raised in Golders Green from the age of eleven, I wasn’t at home in the frum world and left it as a teen, only returning 20 years ago. I made Aliyah, moved to California and returned to Israel in 2008. I’m a mother and grandmother, artist and writer. See my work here: https://www.instagram.com/maanatart_israel/
I was introduced to Nechama Leibowitz by my Dad, Reuven Ben Yaacov A’H, ( the Yekke’s yekke) as her’s was the Sefer he would read on Shabbat afternoons. When I came to read her for myself I was overwhelmed. Through her mastery of the commentators - from all times and many streams- she introduced me to so much that was new to me -the breathtaking expansiveness of Torah wisdom. Nechama Leibowitz stands as a model of an extraordinarily brilliant woman who reached her potential in a field dominated by men. No one ever questions her place at the helm of modern Jewish scholarship.
