Tehila Zion was born in the haredi community of Geulah. Her grandparents arrived in Israel from Iran, Iraq and Syria. She grew up listening to their captivating stories of their treacherous journey to their homeland and the miracles that took place along the way. Zion remembers them as “special people filled with the love for the land, filled with Jewish pride and a burning faith…”

Led by her father, Zion visited her family’s Admor, the holy leaders in the community, before every holiday, where each member of the family received blessings. (An Admor is an acronym in Hebrew for “Adonenu, Morenu Ve-Rabenu”—Our master, our teacher, our Rabbi.) She spent her fascinating childhood wandering the neighborhoods of Meah Shearim. Her artwork evolved from, and was influenced by, living in this neighborhood—among the smells of Ashkenazi Shabbat cooking and Chasidic melodies blended with her family’s Sephardic family roots.Zion recalled, “My parents’ house was a fascinating place to grow up, a mix of countless styles together in perfect harmony.”

Zion’s artistic style is mostly contemporary and representational artwork. She creates texture in her pieces with the thick layering of paint and mixed media. The subject of her pieces are the chasidic lifestyle and the city of Jerusalem.

Zion hopes to connect with the viewers of her pieces and for them to experience the feelings and emotions that emerge from the artwork. “These are my sources of inspiration and what I want to pass on to the viewers and those who buy my artworks. Jerusalem of the olden days, Jerusalem of now, Jerusalem of eternity,” she said.

Jennie Mohl is an art consultant specializing in Israeli and Judaica artwork. For more information about Tehila Zion and other artists, email [email protected] or call (917) 573-7074.