As part of the Contemporary Jewish Museum’s Shabbat Design Challenge for students, eight Brandeis 5th graders submitted work. Over 60 students from around the greater Bay Area submitted work and 18 of those submissions were selected to be on display at the CJM during the CJM ArtBash on Sunday, January 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mazel tov to 5th graders Jacob B., Zachary N., Sadie P., and Rachel R. on having their work selected for the display. “I put this Shabbat Design Challenge out to my students as an optional project, meaning those who were interested could participate,” says teacher Jonathan Ferris. “Of the 60 submissions and 18 selected, four of them are from Brandeis; that’s a pretty good percentage!”

The Shabbat Design Challenge invited students to create stories or objects to represent innovative and imaginative ways of exploring Shabbat. Jacob B. created an image in Photoshop of two hands infused with Shabbat symbols; Zachary N. created a multimedia painting; Sadie P. wrote a story about the healing nature of Shabbat; and Rachel R. created a Shabbat sculpture. Adds Mr. Ferris, “I am so thrilled that the CJM creates opportunities like this for our students. The quality of effort and product that this challenge engendered from students speaks to the value that events like this can have on Jewish youth.”