Jewish Art Quiz

The earliest pieces of Jewish art were religious objects--Torah adornments, marriage certificates, tombstones--that were illuminated. Relatively recently, "art for art's sake" became a concept--and the Jewish world quickly adapted, producing such notable talents as Marc Chagall and Yaacov Agam. How much do you know about Jewish art?

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Question 1. Which biblical character was appointed to build the Tabernacle?
 Moses
 Bezalel
 Joshua
 Miriam
 Abraham

 

Question 2. The Supreme Court building in Jerusalem was built to face both the city and the:
 Western Wall
 Independence Hall in Tel Aviv
 The Knesset (parliament)
 Mount Herzl (military cemetery)

 

Question 3. What was the name of the first neighborhood established outside the Old City of Jerusalem in 1860?
 Mishkenot Sha'ananim
 Ma'a lot Dafna
 Meah Shearim
 Beit Hanina

 

Question 4. Yaccov Agam is famous for what style of painting?
 Polyphonic painting
 Cubism
 Impressionism
 Linear perspective
 Pop art

 

Question 5. The Dura Europos synagogue is known for its
 Sculptures of Jewish philosophers
 Frescoes portraying biblical scenes
 Arches and cathedral-like architecture
 Outdoor gardens

 

Question 6. Which artist, and eventual Holocaust victim, captured the fear of the time in his painting, "Self Portrait with Jewish Identity Card"?
 Felix Nussbaum
 Mikhail Gorman
 Chaim Soutine
 Yaakov Agam

 

Question 7. What are teraphim?
 Embroidered tapestries often hung in ancient temples
 Figurines of household gods of healing and welfare
 Ornately decorated bath-houses
 Pieces of art that also serve a ritual function

 

Question 8. An 18th century illustrated Book of Esther shows Queen Vashti portrayed as
 Marie Antoinette
 Cleopatra
 Dolly Madison
 Anne Boleyn

 

Question 9. What does hiddur mitzvah mean?
 Observing God's commandments to the fullest extent one possibly can
 The beautification of the commandments
 A prohibition against artistic creations
 The mitzvah of putting Jewish art inside one's home

 

Question 10. True or False: Jewish papercutting has always been limited to very rare items or ritual objects.
 True
 False

 

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