Jewish Life Digital Edition October 2015 | Page 26

ArtJerusalem – Cassi Gewer
“At the beginning of my matric year, I took
on myself the very daunting decision of going on a gap year (or, in my case, semester)
to Israel. I chose to take part in the worldrenowned programme known as ArtJerusalem, which is located in the holiest and
most majestic city that is Jerusalem. ArtJerusalem is either a semester or year-long
programme, held by the Bezalel Academy
of Fine Art and Design, in which one can
explore the cities, cultures and religious aspects that Israel has to offer, while looking
at it through an artistic and academic telescope. ArtJerusalem entails a student-like

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lifestyle in Jerusalem, filled with classes
from respected individuals from within the
art world. Each day is completed with new
techniques learned, a whole canvas of
bright ideas and a perspective that is unleashed by the geniuses that roam the
Bezalel campus. Whether one is interested
in oil paint, ceramics or animation, they
will be able to find a place in one of the
hundreds of studios that ArtJerusalem has
to offer. You are surrounded by Israeli students, who help to provide the participant
with the feeling of becoming a local, as well
as a large group of international students
with whom to become friends and, in
many cases, like family. ArtJerusalem not
only grants you an academic surrounding
and a glimpse into the global art industry,
but it allows time for travelling (including
planned trips with the international
groups), socialising, and exploring the Israeli society to its absolute depths.
“Unlike any other trip to Israel, ArtJerusalem is one that both academically and
spiritually enriches its participants to an
extreme. Being a programme situated in
Jerusalem, my biggest expectation was to
be surrounded by a more religious group.
From the moment I walked through the
gates of the student dormitories, I was welcomed by both a qualified rabbi and
Charles, an atheist from Korea. That said,
there is a place for any sect of any religion,
but, while sticking to your own, there is an
opportunity to learn and gain personally
from cultures that you never knew existed.
One of the many highlights for me was
during my painting lecture. Our lecturer
told us to pick up our canvases because we
were moving outside to view the landscape.
Just out the hallway, through a small door
on the left, was a balcony that looked out
onto the most outstanding panoramic view

CASSI GEWER
of Jerusalem. Having that as your background can only lead to beautiful artwork
filled with an abundance of inspiration.
That, for me, was a defining realisation
that, while studying at one of the most
prestigious art institutions in the world, I
too gained such a great emotional connection to the land of Israel. Walking around
campus and seeing the Judean Hills to my
left and the Old City of Jerusalem to my
right sent chills down my spine every single
day of the six months that I was there.
“While it may seem daunting to step on a
nine-hour flight away from South Africa,
you have the comfort of knowing that, as a
Jewish soul, you are going home. You will
be greeted daily by bus drivers with large
smiles, invited for Shabbat by people you