Artists on Antisemitism III at the Osher Marin JCC

Artists on Antisemitism III is a survey of Jewish artists’ responses to the current global surge in antisemitism.

Considering the arc of the Jewish calendar during which this show is present at the JCC, the art has been curated to align with the themes of this season. The pieces in this exhibit collectively tell the story of our coming out from Egypt; as a people we travel from the narrow to the wide, from serving Pharaoh to serving God.

The Osher Marin JCC

200 North San Pedro Rd., San Rafael, CA 94903

April 2 – June 29, 2025.

Monday – Thursday 6am – 8pm; Friday – Sunday 7am – 7pm

REGISTER for the Virtual Gallery Talk, April 28th, 8-9:15pm ET

Featured Artists: 

Maxwell Bauman, Isaac Ben-Aharon, Siona Benjamin, Diane Britt, Goldie Gross, Dan Harris, Jeremy Kagan, Tobi Kahn, Akiva Listman, Lenore Mizrachi Cohen, Carol Oster, Nancy Pantirer, Mark Podwal, Leah Raab, Hannah Rothbard, Mira Sasson, Irina Sheynfeld, Joel Silverstein, Susan May Tell, Yona Verwer.

Curated by Hannah Rothbard, Nancy Pantirer, Yona Verwer, and Judith Joseph.

Presented in partnership with the Koret Foundation, Osher Marin JCC, Peninsula JCC , Jewish Art Salon, and the 81 Leonard Gallery.

THEMES within the exhibition

Slavery: We are commanded to repeat the story of Passover. During the Seder we tell the story of slavery and eat bitter herbs, which symbolize the bitterness of slavery. The ritual serves as a reminder of the suffering endured. Artists such as Britt, Kagan, Pantirer, Podwal, Raab, Sasson and Tell depict the stories of the Holocaust and October 7.

Redemption: The Exodus story is at the heart of Passover; it recounts how Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt after years of oppression. This narrative highlights themes of struggle, faith, and divine intervention. The artworks by Listman, Oster, Sheynfeld and Verwer illustrate how hope and strength can be found in times of adversity.

Creation and Redemption: In Jewish folklore, the Golem symbolizes both a protector and a creation of human ingenuity. Made from clay and brought to life through mystical means, the Golem is closely tied to the idea of divine protection for the Jewish community during times of persecution. Bauman and Silverstein’s portrayals offer contemporary interpretations of this legendary figure.

Freedom: Bittersweet current events show our tenuous hold on freedom in works by Ben Aharon, Gross, Kahn, Mizrachi Cohen and Rothbard.

The Omer is a 40 day period of personal and spiritual refinement as we process leaving Egypt, wandering and preparing to receive a new way to be in the world, moving from slavery and to freedom is represented by Benjamin’s work.

Shavuot: Harris’ papercut incorporates the tzittzitot, knotted ritual fringes, worn today by observant Jews. They evoke taking on the commandments of the Torah that the Jews received on Shavuot.

This is the fourth and last iteration of Artists on Antisemitism, first presented at 81 Leonard Gallery (New York, NY) in the summer of 2024, followed by the Hyams Museum of Judaica at Temple Beth Sholom (Roslyn Heights, NY), The Suffolk YJCC (Commack, NY), and the Peninsula JCC (Foster City, CA).