Chassidus in Color: Featured Submission

A few days left! Deadline Shushan Purim, March 25th, 11:59 pm EST

For Chassidus ideas about Pesach to incorporate into your art submission, please check out Chassidus in Color Art Contest-Resource Page .

Rivkah Brooks, 19, London England

“A New Song” Song is a powerful form of communication. When we sing to G-d, our deepest most profound feelings of praise, love, hope, pain and yearning are expressed to Him, straight from our soul. Led by Miriam, the women danced with their tambourines and sang praise to G-d, infused with relief and deep joy. Throughout the slavery in Egypt, the women held fiercely to their faith, believing that G-d will redeem them from their pain, and that they will dance again. The Rebbe explained in a sicha while the men only sang after crossing the Red Sea, the women also danced and played tambourines. This is because Miriam the prophetess (who’s name means (bitter) experienced the exile on a deeper emotional level, so the faith needed to cope was deeper, and the release from captivity more joyous. To me this painting portrays hope of a song to come, telling the story of holding onto faith in dark times. In the heaviest of days, the Jewish people still sing, still call out to G-d. The tambourines are a symbol of that determination, to constantly praise G-d and hope for redemption. The composition of my painting moves from dark to light, the tambourines climb like a ladder of optimism, leading us to the light, and to the tenth Song which will be sung in Moshiach times. The feminine energy of this painting reflects the unique quality that women have to inspire faith and movement, keeping the legacy of the brave Jewish women in Egypt alive. They felt the pain of exile so profoundly, that their genuine joy at their freedom was infectious. The women of today hold their torch, their tambourines, ready to greet Mashiach with a new song.

Mendel Haston, 22, New Haven CT

Inside all of our hearts lies two sides. One side beams with divine light and unlimited potential giving us the power to actualize our highest self. This side is represented by our forefather Moshe Rebainu a leader who showed us that with the help of Hashem we can transcend our very reality and defy all odds against us. The other side represents that creeping inner voice, sneaking whispers of doubt in your ear. The side that is ruled by fear, the side that imposes limits on our lives. This side of our heart is represented by the Egyptians who inslaved us years ago. Yet despite the lashes and shackles they were never able to inslave our souls.