Three Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School students received awards for their submissions to national art and poetry contests. Rina Gersten and Zakai Rose, both of whom recently graduated from eighth grade at the school, earned first and second place, respectively, for original photography submitted to the 2014 RAVSAK (The Jewish Community Day School Network) Judaic Art Contest. Bella Fisher, who is heading into the seventh grade, was recognized with an honorable mention for her submission to RAVSAK’s national Hebrew poetry contest.  

Rina won first place in the Judaic Art Contest with her entry titled “L’dor v’dor,” which she said represents how a mitzvah leads to more mitzvot. Zakai won second place in the contest with his photograph of two flowers, which he said represents the two paths of life: the good path that lives on and the bad path that wilts away. Rina is the daughter of Laura Shapiro and Mark Gersten, Zakai Rose is the son of Paulie and Rabbi Carnie Rose.

Bella’s poem, ”Roller Coaster,” was published in both Hebrew and English. She is the daughter of Joy and Simon Fisher.  

“We are proud of Rina, Zakai and Bella, not only for their creativity, but for their ability to express their Jewish thinking through an artistic medium,” said Mirowitz Head of School Cheryl Maayan.

For the photography contest, students took inspiration from Jewish text studied during RAVSAK’s Global Day of Jewish Learning.  This year’s theme, ”Creating Together,“ highlighted the role of humans as partners in perfecting the world.

Student submissions — there were more than 400 in the art contest and more than 350 in the poetry contest — were judged both by art teachers and then by professional artists in the Jewish world. The judges’ decisions were informed by the artworks’ engagement of the theme and texts, by the artist’s statement explaining the creative development connecting the text to the artwork and by an interpretation that revealed originality and thoughtfulness. 

Rina’s and Zakai’s art and artist statements may be viewed online at ravsak.org/programs/art-contest. 

Bella’s poem is viewable at ravsak.org/programs/hebrew-poetry-contest.