Batsheva Goldman-Ida

Batsheva Goldman-Ida is an author connected to the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, a prominent art and design institution in Jerusalem. Founded in 1906 by Boris Schatz, the academy was named after the Biblical figure Bezalel, appointed to oversee the construction of the Tabernacle. Bezalel is recognized as Israel's oldest higher education institution and a leading art school.

The school initially focused on arts and crafts, blending Jewish and European artistic traditions to create the first distinct Israeli art style. While it faced a decline in relevance with the rise of modernist art and the closure of its original iteration in 1929 due to financial issues, it was re-established and evolved. The New Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts reopened in 1935, incorporating modernist influences and attracting faculty and students from Germany, many with Bauhaus backgrounds. Today, Bezalel offers a wide range of bachelor's and master's programs and has received numerous accolades.

The Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design was established in 1906 by Boris Schatz, a Jewish painter and sculptor. Schatz envisioned the creation of a unique Zionist art style, aiming to fuse classical Jewish and Middle Eastern artistic elements with European traditions. The school, named after the biblical artisan Bezalel, began in rented premises in Jerusalem before moving to a property purchased by the Jewish National Fund. Its initial curriculum included traditional arts like painting and sculpture, alongside workshops for decorative crafts such as silver, leather, and wood. Many of these craftsmen were Yemenite Jewish silversmiths, bringing their long-standing expertise in metalworking, a traditional Jewish occupation in Yemen. The school also played a role in teaching Hebrew to its diverse student body, many of whom were immigrants from Europe.

Following its early period, Bezalel experienced shifts in artistic direction and relevance. The school faced financial difficulties and closed in 1929. It was later reopened in 1935 as the New Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts, under the direction of Josef Budko, who had fled Germany. This revival saw the integration of modernist art trends, influenced partly by artists like Yitzhak Frenkel and the influx of teachers and students from Germany, including those from the Bauhaus school. Over the decades, Bezalel transitioned into a state-supported institution, gaining recognition as a higher education institute and expanding its campus facilities, including a new main campus opened in 2023.

The Bezalel school developed a distinctive artistic style that combined influences from European Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) with traditional Persian and Syrian art. This unique approach sought to express biblical and Zionist themes, blending "varied strands of surroundings, tradition and innovation." The artists aimed to forge a distinct Jewish art for the nascent nation, incorporating biblical narratives, Islamic design motifs, and European artistic conventions. This legacy is visible in various forms, including decorative ceramic tiles featuring biblical and Zionist scenes, which were produced in the 1920s and can still be found in locations like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.