The Washington herald., 1914-03-29

at the wonderful, artistic creations de-
scribed in its pages. From the time
when BeZalel built the tabernacle In the
wilderness until the completion of Solo,
mons Temple was a period Of art, which
deserves a place In history along with
the art OF the Greeks
The Jewish art period was earlier than
the Grecian- The Jews did not spend
much time in painting and work of the
kind INDUCED in by the Greeks. They
wrought in silver and gold and fine silks.
Their artists worked with the most pre-
clous stones and metals, drawing threads
of gold and weaving pure gold into cur
tains which endured until war ruined the
wonderful fabrics.
No vessels were more artistically
wrought than the vessels of gold and sill
yer which were carried away to Babylon
and there used in unholy carousals.
With the captivity, much of the artistic
taste of the sons OF Bezalel vanished.
With the rise of Christianity and the
scattering of the Jews the Hebrew be-
came a mere toiler for his daily bread.
Driven from city to city he became a
merchant, dealing in valuables he could
quickly conceal in case he was perse-
cuted.
Teaching Old Arts.
But change has come in the life Of
the Jew In Jerusalem near where Solo,
mons artists wrought the wonderful
work In wood, ivory, metal, fabric and
stones, a school has been established
where the arts of Bezalel again are be-
ing taught together with the learning If
other artists Of the civilized world.
Professor Boris Schatz, Russian Jew,
founder and principal OF the school, is
now touring America exhibiting some Of
the wonderful works OF the artists OF
his school. All that the ancient Jew
did, his students are doing. Besides
they work with paint and brush. with
crayon and pencil. They work with clay
and bronze and marble.
Ten years ago Schatz was in the en-
ploy of the Bulgarian government. he
was commissioned by the King of Bull
garia to come to America to the Louisi-
ana Purchase Exposition as superin-
tendent Of the art exhibit from that ma
tion. To the exhibits of the native Bull
garians Schatz added his own handi-
work. OF the prizes won at the fair by
Bulgarians 80 per cent were works Of
art by Schatz. Bulgaria won the glory.
That made Schatz think. He went to
Jerusalem and there opened the Bezalel
School Of Handiwork. He invited stu
dents from all over the world TO come
back to the Promised Land and again
art Of the Gentiles.
The results have been wonderful. The
native Jews of Jerusalem are quick to
learn art Although they have been
toilers for generations they now turn out
pieces of art more wonderful than any
Of their kind for twenty centuries.
Paid while Studying.
Schatz soon learned that many apt
s+r IN
courses because of their poverty. They
were forced to return to labor soon after
entering schoSl. Then he instituted the
pay for students plan. Each beginner
was paid as much as he could earn at
common laboA When he became more
proficient in art his wage was increased
by a board chosen by the students them
selves. Their work was sold to defray
the expenses of the school.
1t was while boy in Russia that
SchatZ received his first inspiration to
become an artist and rejuvenate the lost
art of his ancestors. A .maggid" from
Jerusalem came 10 their Russian town to
address the Jews. Schatz went TO the
meeting place with his father and heard
descriptions Of the land of Israel. After
the sddress he went with his father to
the Russian Inn to see pictures of Jerusa-
lem.
Speaking of what he saw, Schatz said:
Il still remember the pain that
seized my child-h when 1 saw a
little carved box. upon which was a
sort of potato-shaped figure with the
inscription, Tomb of Our Mother Ra-
chel' There was also the picture OF
a wall with four brooms standing be-
hind it and designated the 'Wailing
Wall I regarded this as a profana-
tion of our sanctuary, and l swore
within my heart that as soon as
should be grown up and become good
artist, l would betake myself to Jeru-
salem and draw the sacred places so
beautifully that all the Jews would
have delight therein.
Dreams of Future.
Many years passed. I grew up and
learned how to paint and make sculp-
lures, but I did not journey to Jeru-
ralem, nor paint the tomb of our Moth
er Rachel and the wailing Wall. nor
give any delight to my fellow-Jews.
Strangers, non-Jews. taught me art
and gave me their ideal; and for this
worked and wrought all manner of
beautiful things. ] looked upon art
as a temple and upon artists as its
priests. / dreamed that 1 should be-
come a high priest in the service Of
sacred art, that l would teach man.
kind the ideal of the great and beau
tiful, to love the good and to hate
the evil
But again the years rolled by and
brought disappointments. / saw how
the sanctity of art is dragged down.
The golden calf stands upon a pedes-
tai and all the priests of art bow low
before it. I felt cold and i'll at ease in
my world OF artists. / lost my God.
and with a soul rent in twain and a
vacant heart 1 turned my back upon
the magnifcence of Paris.
Decides to Open school.
when I decided to open a school for
Jews in Jerusalem, to bring about Its
fuliIlment 1 travelled through many
lands. I studied everything bearing upon
the subject, and when I thought myself
sufficiently endowed with ability, and
felt within me the strength to give up
everything in order to devote myself
wholly to the sacred cause. 1 went TO
Theodor Herzl. / approached the man
who had the courage to tell the whole
world openly what he felt, and who had
the power to attempt to realize his ideas.
i spoke to him of my ideals with glowing
enthusiasm for full hour. He wanted
TO be informed about every detail. His
handsome presence inspired me. Upon
his majestic brow there were deep
thoughts to read. and in his sorrowful
eyes the noble Jewish soul, the soul which
gazes upon a fantastic world and yet
beholds the bitter reality Of today. Ard
after I had finished speaking and Won
dered with beating heart: What answer
will he give me?
'stzood ua shall do that he said