The OZ Gallery is a distinctive feature of Congregation Or Zarua, identifying it as one of the few synagogues that maintains a program of changing art exhibitions. Under the direction of Bobbi Coller, an independent curator and Or Zarua member, the congregants on the Gallery Committee organize two exhibitions a year. The shows are selected to highlight examples of Jewish imagery, religion, culture, values, or history. We also display work by our artist/congregants.
The current exhibition is She Did It! Extraordinary Jewish-American Women. They fought for the abolition of slavery, women’s suffrage, the formation of unions for underpaid workers, civil rights, women’s rights, and the education and wellbeing of children. With hard work, determination, and perseverance, they succeeded beyond all expectations. A surprising number of Jewish women broke barriers to become “the first” in their field, rising to the top of diverse careers including business and entrepreneurship, science, medicine, visual art, the performing arts, law, politics, education, philanthropy, and religion. Click HERE to read the biographies.
Past exhibitions have included:
Wonder and Illumination – Barbara Wolff
From Physical Space to Cyberspace: Bringing Art to Or Zarua
A Special New Year Art Review: The OZ Online Gallery During the Time of Covid. click HERE to view this special retrospective.
Creation narratives – Rudi Wolff
One Family – Photographs of Vardi Kahana
A Young and Hopeful Land: Israel’s Early Days – Photographs of Rudi Weissenstein
Additional Meanings – The Art of Summantics by Karen Shaw
Today I Am: Jewish Coming of Age Rituals
Our Colorful Bible, a series of serigraph prints by artist Rudi Wolff
Bagels, Babka & Balabustas: 100 Years of Jewish Food in America
Our Precious Legacies: Jewish Heirlooms from Congregants and their Stories
Through the Window: Enchanted Places & Magical Spaces, by Caroline Golden
Sowing Light: 200 Small Works by Congregants on the Subject of Light
In the Beginning: A Series of Ten Prints Inspired by the “Creation” by Rudi Wolff (special friend of Or Zarua)
The Colorful Hand-Made Quilts of Lorraine Shapiro (Or Zarua congregant)
Creating Sacred Space: Anniversary Exhibition Documenting the Building of Or Zarua
From Yankel to Yankee: The Americanization of Jews Reflected in Yiddish Theater and Popular Music (also displayed at Temple Beth El in Fairfield, Connecticut)
From Jaffa to Java: Ten Stories of Economic and Cultural Achievement in Israel
Jews Around the World: The Photographs of Zion Ozeri (Or Zarua congregant)
Five Books of Moses: Micro-calligraphy by Leon Azoulay of Safad