As Jews, we’ve all experienced a moment in our lives when we’ve felt especially aware of or proud of our faith. Maybe it was while standing under the chuppah, while saying a bracha over a delicious fruit or reciting the Shema before bedtime.These brief instances may have brought us closer to Hashem and to each other.
As meaningful as they are, these moments often slip by us, or disappear without much reflection. But what if we could not only capture them, but share them with the rest of the world?
Sari Kopitnikoff, a teacher at Na’aleh High School, has made this effort her mission. By combining her artistic talents with her love of Judaism, she has put together a collection of illustrations that depict different moments in our Jewish lives, both big and small.
What began as a written idea in her sketchbook back in 2014 has since grown into an Instagram following, and now a hard copy art collection of her graphic designs.
The book, “That Jewish Moment,” is a reminder to all about what makes us thankful to be Jewish.
“The illustrations capture the beauty of Jewish life,” Kopitnikoff said. “Like when you’re in the middle of nowhere and you spot someone wearing a kippah, or when you meet someone and start playing Jewish geography.”
While Kopitnikoff has always considered herself an artist, she was able to further hone her skills during her years at Stern College for Women, where she took computer graphics and animation classes through a partnership program at FIT. Digital art has since become her favorite medium.
When she began to post her illustrations on Instagram, she was surprised by her growing, diverse following, which comprises men and women of different ages and religions all around the world.
“I get comments from Orthodox Jews, but I’ll also get a comment that will say, ‘what is Lag B’omer? What is Tisha B’av? I’ve never heard of that,’” she said. “I respond to all of those comments and messages.”
The book, which came out this month, includes more than 250 illustrations—some of which are from her Instagram page, while others include content that isn’t found online, such as the photos from her personal life that inspired some of her work and different interactive games and activities.
“There are more than 250 reasons to be proud of being Jewish,” Kopitnikoff said, “whether it’s something small, like being able to reach a mezuzah, or something big, like knowing that the Jewish people have and will continue to survive.”
Anyone interested in ordering the book online should visit Amazon. Weinreb’s and The Judaica House in Teaneck both have a limited number of copies as well.
By Elizabeth Zakaim
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