Chassidus in Color: Featured Submission

Deadline Extended! Sunday, March 31, 11:59 pm est. ( 21 Adar Beis )

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

#10 Moshe Katz, 25, Manhattan, New York

Hi. My name is Moshe Katz. I’m an illustrator and concept artist based in New York. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with clients such as TorahVR, Toveedo, and 3-DH and collaborating with artists like Lipa Schmeltzer and Nissan black. My journey in the creative industry has allowed me to bring ideas to life through captivating illustrations and innovative concepts. Whether it’s virtual reality experiences or creating visuals that resonate with audiences, I’m passionate about using art to tell our stories and inspire others to create.

Chassidus Pesach Concept:

“True freedom” The Rebbe writes that true freedom is defined based on one’s identity in regards to Domem Tzomeach Chai & Medaber. Freedom for a plant is to be rooted in the earth and near water, if you pull it out it is no longer free, and not only not free it will die. Chai. If you lock an animal in a cage that is against its nature and hence not free, it must be able to run, swim, or fly around as its nature implies. So far. we see that a plant and animal are opposites and each opposite is the other Enslavement. As for humans, we have wisdom, if one doesn’t use it and in turn runs around, he will feel no different from an animal. but once you teach a man and give him understanding he will start to feel like a person and approach life. Last but not least a jew. We have not just Sechel we also have a Nefesh Eloka which the only way a Jew will feel free is if he or she studied Torah and does Mitzvos. “I connected this all with the idea of Nachshon. Who leaped away from bondage in Egypt and landed into the water breaking the last seal of the mental enslavement to the Egyptians and landing in the warm embrace of Hashem and Torah. Hence Nachshon became truly free!”

#11 Rochel Ceitlin, 18, Montreal Canada

Chassidus Pesach Concept:

This piece is a combination of two different concepts in Chassidus: The fact that we have bitachon in Hashem that He will protect and redeem us is the very thing which ‘inspires’ Him to do so. In this artwork, the bitachon is represented by the tambourine, which is a symbol of the bitachon that the Jewish women had in Egypt; they had such firm belief that Hashem would redeem them that they prepared the literal instruments of their celebration. Therefore in this artwork the tambourine is giving off a protective aura over the Jewish woman, guarding her from those who would sought to destroy us throughout every generation. (Sicha, 2nd night of Pesach, 5721; Tanya, Igeres Hakodesh, siman 11; Sicha, Bo-Beshalach, 5752)