American Section of Bezalel School and Museum Will Be Formed

An American section of the Bezalel School and Museum of Jerusalem will be established and the development will be aided by an American Board of Trustees. James N. Rosenberg, vice-chairman of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and well known artist, has consented to act as chairman of the Board of Trustees.

The American section of the Bezalel School and Museum is being formed at the request of Professor Boris Shatz at the close of the twentieth anniversary celebration of the Bezalel School and Museum, on the occasion of which a Bezalel Art Exhibition was held at the Grand Central Palace, New York City.

During the exhibition, a committee composed of Martin Birnbaum, George S. Hellman, Charles A. Cowan, Mrs. Stephen S. Wise, Mrs. Mildred B. Goetz and Mr. James N. Rosenberg, invited representative American Jewish artists to donate examples of their work to the Bezalel museum. Fifteen years ago Joseph Israels gave to the Bezalel Museum a self-portrait.

Maurice Sterne, Abraham Walkovitz, Jo Davidson, Leo Mielziner, Boris Anisfeld and other representative Jewish artists living in America, presented examples of their work to the museum.

The Bezalel school in Jerusalem is an important factor for the economic development of Palestine, by enabling hundreds of young Jewish artists to gain a livelihood in wood carving, rug making, weaving, painting, sculpture, brass, silver and copper work. The products of the school are becoming internationally known.

“This is not merely an art activity,” Mr. Rosenberg stated. “There is nothing more important than to aid the Jewish youth whether in Russia, in Palestine, or elsewhere, to become productive men and women, whether on the farm or in handicrafts or in other useful occupations. Therefore, the Bezalel school in Palestine serves not only an important purpose in art but in economic life. The modest start which we have made toward the creation of a Museum will in time to come, I hope, prove to be to Palestine what the Louvre is to France. In the last half century there has been a great birth of art among Jews. Among the great painters and sculptors of the entire world are many Jews. In Russia, Poland, France, Italy, England, America, Holland, Germany, Palestine, in all quarters we see this awakening and it is to be hoped that in the course of time an adequate museum in Palestine will, in a worthy manner, house the works of Jewish artists the world over. We are now to make a beginning.

“A few of the outstanding Jewish artists in New York have felt unable to afford to give an example of their work. I sympathize entirely with their position, and it is my hope that as this movement develops, men of means will buy examples of the work of worthwhile Jewish artists for presentation to the Bezalel Museum.”

The American Section of the Bezalel Museum will be organized on Mr. Rosenberg’s return from Russia.