​Carol's Art

​​My art reflects many elements of the post-impressionist artists using vibrant color and a unique sense of light.  Themes include Torah stories, cosmic realms, Kabbalah, and social  commentary.​​​​​

Art Education and Corporate Leadership Development

My professional life began with a decade teaching elementary and high school students art in public and Jewish day schools.  I transitioned to the corporate sector training and coaching employees and management to enhance their skills in communication, leadership, and change management.  I managed departments of learning and development within corporations, and later as an independent consultant throughout the United States and Canada. After retiring from the corporate world, I continued coaching and consulting with nonprofits and individuals in life transitions.

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Focus on Art and Spiritual Growth

Since retiring in 2015, I've been focusing on painting, teaching, and the study of spirituality.  Many of my acrylic works depict images and stories that invite viewers to consider new perspectives on life through art.

In December 2019, I published Jewish Holidays: Revealed through Art and Poetry, a book blending paintings, poetry, and a study guide to provide readers with a creative introduction to Jewish holidays; available on Amazon.

My life and art have been deeply influenced by study of Kabbalah over the past years . This mystical aspect of Judaism has transformed my understanding of the Divine, my approach to daily life, and influenced my artistic style.

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Spiritual Awakening: My Path to Kabbalah

​Growing up, I struggled to connect personally with traditional conceptions of G-d, finding them distant and stern. Despite my love for Torah stories, Jewish customs, and strong bond with Israel, I spent along time seeking a deeper spiritual connection.

For years, I searched though Jewish congregations and communities across the country.  It wasn't until my forties, I that my path led me to Jewish Spiritual Renewal  where I  encountered Kabbalah—Mystical Judaism. This discovery was an awakening that answered a lifelong search and immediately felt right to me.   

Kabbalah provides a framework to explore a loving, inclusive, and infinite essence of the Divine, one that resonates with modern life. By integrating ancient spiritual teachings with contemporary science, psychology, and creative thinking, Kabbalah encourages joyful, continual learning and spiritual growth.

Though for thousands of years, Kabbalah had been shrouded in secrecy, forbidden to all but the wisest scholars. That has changed over the last decades and is available now to all who want to learn about it.

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Kabbalah for Young Minds

As I’ve been deepening my Kabbalah study, I have also realized that many adults experienced a similar  harsh impression of G-d growing up. Many have expressed the interest in learning more about Kabbalah.

After recognizing how widespread this view  extended, I began to a feel something like a sense of betrayal by my teachers and elders.

 "WHY HADN'T ANYONE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS DIVINE BEING WHEN I WAS GROWING UP? THEY COULD HAVE SAVED ME DECADES OF SEARCHING AND UNCERTAINTY!” 

Now I understand that very few teachers or parents knew about this aspect of the Divine then, or have ever learned about it.

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I've felt compelled to create something that could support Jewish children in a gaining deeper connection to Judaism. With my background teaching, art, and growing knowledge of Kabbalah, I was determined to create a program filled with mystery, creativity, and interactive activities to engage young people.

Thanks to the support and encouragement of others over the last several years, KABBALAH FOR YOUTH has been created.

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​  Strengthening Jewish Identity

​Kabbalah is rarely, if ever, taught in mainstream Jewish education. Young children are entertained by Torah stories and colorful characters until about 8 when the elementary versions become faded and or irrelevant. Discerning students question the validity of these fable-like encounters.   After learning children’s versions of Torah stories, they need a deeper exploration of the meanings in these tales.  Leaving their impression of Torah as the simple stories of early childhood does a great disservice to them. The crucial moment of learning readiness and deeper understanding is lost.​

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For decades massive numbers of young Jewish adults have left Judaism in search of ‘deeper spiritual meaning’.  If they only had an inkling that spiritualism is deeply imbedded in their own Judaism, things could be different.

Kabbalah For Youth offers seeds for young minds to explore a deeper, more spiritual view of Judaism that offers a path for a lifetime of learning and discovery.​

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​​ KABBALAH FOR YOUTH

My recent project, KABBALAH FOR YOUTH, is a curriculum supplement for students ages 10 to 14 year-olds. This experiential group learning program is for classrooms, youth groups, or camp programs. It introduces a more personal, loving, and balanced view of G-d through the lens of Torah teachings from Kabbalistic perspective. It engages young people in a sci-fi, mystery adventure story and includes activities in art, music and performance for integrated learning.

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For more information about Kabbalah for Youth program, please contact me at chsart2021@gmail.com.

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