What People Are Saying
“I just want to tell you how amazing everything was from A-Z. The kids loved working with you from all ages, the teachers, adults, and the funders of the project are all so enthusiastic about your work - and the finished product is nothing short of stunning. We are so grateful for you! With appreciation for all that you have done for us.”
Rabbi Josh Franklin, The Jewish Community of the Hamptons
“Jennifer Levine did a wonderful job as Artist/Scholar-in-Residence at Congregation Keneseth Israel in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She built her residency around the work of Freidl Dicker-Brandeis, the art teacher who worked with the children of Terezin during the holocaust. The weekend was emotional, creative, inspiring and provided a wonderful opportunity for our congregants, both adults and children, to learn and connect with each other. Jennifer Levine clearly shares so much with Freidl in her love of art and art education as well as her own artistic endeavors. Her warmth and clear guidance made every participant feel open to explore their own creative impulses. Like Dicker-Brandeis, Levine helped us to understand that in the midst of so much pain and suffering art can be used to help people preserve their dignity, access hope and find courage to persevere. She is an artist and Jewish educator of the highest caliber.”
Charles Richter, Chair of Lifelong Learning, Congregation Keneseth Israel, Allentown, Pennsylvania
“Working with Jenn Levine is an absolute pleasure. She is incredibly flexible and adapts to whatever situation she is placed in. In my case, she helped design a mural based on the Torah themes that our students are learning. My synagogue is in the process of dedicating a new Torah and wanted our students to create a mural that reflected their love and understanding of the Torah. The students were engaged throughout the entire process and were thrilled to see their ideas come to life.”
Ellie Barkin-Baron, Education Director, Temple Beth-El Mekkor Chayim, Cranford, New Jersey
“The mural is simply SPECTACULAR!! I couldn’t wait to see it of course and it far exceeded all my expectations! Kol HaKavod to you and all the painters. I love it - how can one not?! And it’s already given so much pleasure to those who view it up close.”
Rabbi Robert S. Leib, Old York Temple/Beth Am, Abington, Pennsylvania
“After more than a two-year delay due to COVID, we had wonderful experience working with Jennifer to create a mural for our synagogue. While grounded in the religious school, we wanted to design an experience for the whole congregation. We began by inviting everyone to have a voice in the prayer selection and offered educational programs for adults and in the school before holding a congregational vote. Jennifer was very generous to offer a separate initial session for the youngest children and another for older children and adults. She elicited contributions from youngest to oldest, even from those who didn't see themselves as artistically inclined. Given the design of our building, we didn't have wall space that worked well so we chose to have a mural on canvas. We now have the opportunity to easily move it into classrooms if we want to and to hang in different areas in the synagogue until - or if - we decide on its permanent home. The mural of Oseh Shalom is bright and beautiful and it is so exciting for everyone to see where they put "their mark". I highly recommend this unique opportunity and I would be happy to speak with anyone who would like to learn about our process.”
Rabbi Renni S. Altman, Vassar Temple, Poughkeepsie, New York
“I cannot more highly recommend bringing Jennifer Levine to your community. We had her join us as an artist-in-residence for a week in celebration of our congregation's 75th anniversary. Jennifer is a consummate Jewish educator--making art and meaning happen all at once. She is warm, engaging and flexible. She is adept at working with children and adults of all ages, stages and abilities. Together, under her direction, we created a glorious work that has enlivened a previously dour space in our synagogue building. It is such a mechayah that the fruits of our time with Jennifer will fill our community with color for years to come.”
Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg, Old York Temple Beth Am, Abington, Pennsylvania
“I always knew we were a community in my head, but after painting together I knew it in my heart.”
Adult Congregant, Temple Micah
“Working with Jenn to imagine, design, and create a mural for our new teen lounge was fantastic from beginning to end! She engaged learners of all ages - from tweens to teens and adults - in a values-exploration process that helped us discover our community’s most deeply-held values, and then Jenn expertly guided us to translate this vision from paper to paint! Jenn’s artistic talents were a perfect match for the space, and she is truly gifted at encouraging and enabling all participants to join together in creating a masterpiece!"
Cantor Eric Schulmiller, Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore
“Jennifer knows how to represent prayer artistically in a way that gives the individual and community a feeling of connection and meaning. The process became just as important as the product and a source of pride for students and families. Painting directly on a wall made a bigger impact than we thought for all participants. Our presentation of the mural to the community at our Friday night service was joyous and a highlight of the year and we can’t wait for more people to come and see it.”
Leemore Eliman, Director of Education, Beit Hatikvah
“This was a great project for our community - It was wonderful to see how you balanced the students' own personal expression with the vision for the piece as a whole. When the students saw the completed project, they could each identify the piece they had worked on and what they contributed! The free, folk-art style of the piece is really lovely and helps to create a welcoming atmosphere for both the students and the adults in the community.”
Rabbi Kelilah Miller, Congregation Ohev Shalom, Wallingford, Pennsylvania
“Jennifer was so amazing to work with! She helped create a wonderfully collaborative environment in which more than 100 students were afforded the opportunity to express their own unique interpretation of Ma’ariv Aravim and Yotzer Or. Both text study and painting sessions were beautifully run, and the concept of students helping to “renew Creation” through their own unique creative process helped build confidence and bolster self-esteem for all participants. This program solidified for our students the idea that there is most certainly more than one way to experience prayer…”
Barbara Haber, Director of Education, Temple Avodat Shalom, River Edge, New Jersey
“The Paint-a-Prayer project and Jenn’s enthusiasm and creativity are inspiring a new level of excitement and joy in our Hebrew school.”
Rabbi Allison Berlinger, New City Jewish Center, New City, New York
“It was both an honor and a privilege working with Jewish educator and artist Jennifer Levine. Her warmth and expertise enabled our students to create a true work of art as they celebrated their learning of our sacred prayers.”
Rabbi Laurence P. Malinger, Temple Shalom of Aberdeen
“Having Jennifer at Camp Harlam was an amazing experience. We have brought a number of musical Artists-in-Residence to our camp, but bringing a visual artist was a great addition to our program. She helped us create beautiful murals that represented our Middot program and every camper was incorporated into them.”
Ellie Tepper Schulman, Assistant Director, URJ Camp Harlam, Kunkletown, Pennsylvania
“Our community experienced a great enlivening energy through the creative exploration of prayer led by the wonderful Jennifer Levine. Regardless of individuals’ past experiences with visual art, everyone felt a sense of deepening into our sacred texts through the lens of spontaneous creativity and we are grateful to have been able to explore this at such a pivotal time transitioning from Elul into Tishrei.”
Cantor Meredith Greenberg, Temple Ner Tamid, Bloomfield, New Jersey
“The mural looks incredible! The kids seemed to enjoy the mural and truly, I think that the proof was in the far more engaged camper body in our larger art/communal projects throughout the summer. This mural project showed our campers how committed we are to Kehilla so thank you so much for being a large part of that movement.”
Shira Nowack, Camp Director, Camp Havaya, South Sterling, Pennsylvania
“Paint-a-Prayer was a meaningful, engaging, and experiential way for my teens to come together and participate with prayer. It was an active and thought -provoking activity that has led to a beautiful work of art in our synagogue. Our mural has led to many discussions throughout the synagogue about the meaning behind our creation and I believe that Paint-a-Prayer is not just the experience of creating the mural, but about the community and discussions it will foster in the years to come. Thank you for everything! It was wonderful! The mural is beautiful!“
Rebecca Slavin-Phillips, PhD, Religious School Director, Temple Judea of Bucks County, Pennsylvania
“First, let me just say that we put out the tapestries for the FLAME families to view at their program this past Sunday, and everyone was so excited! Our senior rabbi, who was away in the winter months, saw them for the first time and was also shocked. He thought they were gorgeous and told me we need to display them for a few months in the main sanctuary! This week I will be bringing them to the frame shop so that they can get stretched and then hung
Shari Isserles, The Community Synagogue, Sands Point, New York