Beyond Bezalel: Expressions of Jewish Identity in the Art of Female Israeli National Religious Graduates

Artists from the National-Orthodox sector have become more prominent in the Israeli art scene in recent years. I here present research on the expression of Jewish identity in the works of three active artists who studied in religious educational institutions, as reflected in interviews with them, and in works that contain elements related to their identity and the world from which they emerged. The study investigates the extent of expression of Jewish-religious identity in their art, how it is expressed, and whether the goals of the promotion of art within the religious education system are reflected in their artistic content. Active female artists who studied in the religious education system represent a relatively small group. In their works, I identify themes dealing with social-religious identity, halakhic identity, and feminist-religious identity, which constitute innovative aspects in Israeli art. Their works engage with content and scenes from the religious world, presented from their own perspectives and personal experience as artists. It emerges that the creative content of some of these artists who self-identify as religiously Jewish is not necessarily related to the traditionalist religious education they received. Their works contain elements which question identity, and cast doubts upon and criticize religious law. Involvement in the field of art is increasingly viewed as less foreign within religious-nationalist society. The research reveals general sociological and spiritual processes current in religious-nationalist Israeli society, of which art is both a part and a prism for understanding.