Artists Gear Up for the Chassidus in Color Art Contest 2025: Geula Edition
Professional Tier:
- Jeremy Garrett – Brooklyn, NY
- Chaya Hindy Neugarten – Brooklyn, NY
- Esther Pollak – Santiago, Chile
Hobbyist Tier
- Sara Friedman – Hallandale Beach, Florida
- Devorah Leah Eidelman – Roseville, CA
- Hanna Sugar – Crown Heights, NY
Prodigy Award- (Contestants Between 15-18)
- Akiva Forer
Proffesional Tier 1st Place
Artist Name: Jeremy Garrett
Art Title: The Perfect Faith of Nachshon
Chassidus Idea: Barely out of slavery, the fledgling Israelite nation stood at the shore of the yam suf, trapped by the sea and Pharaoh’s army. Panic set in—but not for Nachshon ben Aminadav. He was the archetypal Chabadnik, ever striving and never relenting in the service of Hashem. He didn’t think about how to sacrifice himself, rather to do what Hashem says—and if it required self-sacrifice, he was ready for that too, just like Avraham Avinu. As the Rebbe said: “One fellow named Nachshon jumped into the sea… He knew that G‑d wanted Israel to move onward toward Sinai. There was a sea in his way. So he jumped into the sea and plowed on toward his goal.” When one approaches the world like Nachshon—in which there is one agenda: to get closer to the goal—then Hashem performs krias yam suf and removes the obstacle.
Source: Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1
Material: Oils on board
Dimensions: 13×19″
Proffesional Tier 2nd Place
Artist Name: Chaya Hindy Neugarten
Art Title: “A Door Between Worlds”
Chassidus Idea: This piece explores the quiet tension between concealment and revelation. Redemption doesn’t destroy exile—it transforms it. Even within darkness, sparks of Geula already exist. We need only open the door and let the light in. A weathered door stands before us—marked by sorrow, time, and story. Yet its cracks do not conceal; they invite. Through the keyhole, a burst of light reveals a radiant garden, a soaring eagle, the promise of redemption not beyond the door, but within it. The worn key nearby speaks of memory and potential. Above, olive branches descend—symbols of resilience and hidden light, like the oil of the Menorah. Geula is not distant. It’s here—shining through the cracks, waiting to be revealed.
Source: Likkutei Sichos, Vol. 35, Shemos
Material: Acrylic on canvas, mixed media
Dimensions: 24×36″
Proffesional Tier 3rd Place
Artist Name: Esther Pollak
Artwork Title: Harmony
Chassidus Idea: When Moshiach comes, “golah” will become “geulah” through the introduction of the letter א. This letter represents the consciousness of G-d as the Creator and Master of everything that exists, as well as the revelation of pnimiyus haTorah, the inner dimension of the Torah. Once this completion occurs, the world will reach its perfect, ideal state where the strong will no longer harm, exploit and kill the weak, but rather all individuals, peoples and nations, large or small, rich or poor, will follow the lead of the Jewish people, the children of G-d, to serve Him in peaceful harmony.
Source: Shabbos, Parashas Emor, 5751-1991
MATERIAL: Oil on canvas
DIMENSION: 19×25 inches
If you’re an artist, you have a G-d given talent, and we challenge every artist to use their skills to bring the Geula to life.
Chassidus in Color is a platform for using your talent to create beautiful art that expresses a beautiful Jewish message.
Prizes:
Professional Tier
First place: $2,000 cash, EZRI Designer Bag ($600 value), and $300 ArtToFrame gift card
Second place: $1,300 cash and EZRI Designer Bag ($600 value) and $200 ArtToFrame gift card
Third place: $1,000 cash and EZRI Designer Bag ($600 value) and $100 ArtToFrame gift card
Hobbyist Tier
First place: $1,000 cash
Second place: $770 cash
Third place: $500 cash
Prodigy Prize:
Any artist under 18 will be entered into an additional $500 cash prize.
Art Galleries:
All finalists will have their artwork displayed for three weeks, starting Tuesday, April 29th, 2025, with the option to sell, at the Betzalel Art Gallery and the Maor Art Gallery, Respectively, in Crown Heights and Prospect Heights.
Contest Requirements:
- This contest is for two-dimensional work. Some suggested media include charcoal, acrylic, graphite, pastel, paint, watercolor, & digital etc. AI art and photography is not allowed.
- All work must be original, made for the contest.
- The message from your piece must be self evident. The accompanying paragraph is primarily for helping the judges.
- Videos and sculptures are NOT included in this edition of Chassidus in Color.
- The piece must portray a specific point from the teachings of Chassidus on the topics of Geula/The Messianic Era.
- The Professional Tier is for artists with more than a year of experience in their specific art form.
- The Hobbyist Tier is for anyone who doesn’t fit that criteria. If the judges feel anyone has applied to the wrong tier, they will contact the artist to clarify.
- The idea may be from any of the Chabad Rabbeim, or the Baal Shemtov. There are plenty of ideas to be found in sources such as Hayom Yom, Sichos and Maamorim. Participants are encouraged to be creative in finding sources, using books such as the Tanya and the wealth of chassidus-based books available in multiple languages.
- Each submission must be accompanied by a short explanation of the Chassidus idea it portrays, in 5 – 10 sentences, including the source. The more concise, the better. This should be a separate document, not on the piece itself.
- Pieces will be judged on 3 criteria:
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- Technique: Such as form, color theory, use of material etc.
- Originality: Does the piece bring something new to the table.
- Clarity: How well is the Chassidic message from your write-up being communicated in the art piece itself
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- The file size is limited to 100 Mb.
- Optional: Please send in a short time-lapse of your art piece coming to life, for our socials.
The deadline for all art pieces is April 12th, Nissan 14, at 11:59 pm EST.
Evocative Jewish Art maintains the right to reproduce and publish all submitted works for publicity purposes.
For inquiries, questions, or comments, please text 203-687-6436 or email Chassidusincolor@gmail.com.
To join the WhatsApp broadcast: WhatsApp Group Invite
Judges
Rabbi Mendy Wolf
Rabbi Mendy Wolf is a visionary in the field of education.
Passionate about empowering Jewish youth, Rabbi Wolf created Young Jewish Leaders, an organization with the goal of instilling a mindset in students that they can be leaders and influencers.
Rabbi Wolf is inspired by a vision of every Jewish teen feeling connected to their Jewish identity and each other. His most recent initiative is Brush Hour, which harnesses the power of creativity and social connections to deepen young women’s appreciation for their heritage and homeland.
Mush Kanner
Chaya Mushka (Mush) is a highly experienced and visionary Graphic Designer, currently serving as the Art Director at the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI).
In her role, she leads design and layout projects with creativity and precision, crafting compelling visual narratives that resonate with the intended audience.
Known for her conceptual thinking, meticulous attention to detail, and minimalist style, Mush ensures effective communication through design, reflecting her unwavering commitment to quality and excellence.
Michoel Muchnik
Michoel Muchnik, among the foremost Jewish artists of our day, revolutionized Chassidic art generating a tremendous impact on Jewish life today. His imaginative and joyful depiction of traditional and mystical Jewish themes brought him critical acclaim and international prominence as a most beloved Jewish artist.
Muchnik has staged exhibits of his original paintings, bas-relief mosaics and lithographs throughout the world. His originals have been displayed at the Brooklyn Museum, the Goldman Arts Gallery in Washington, D.C., Yeshiva University Museum in New York, Dansforth Museum in Massachusetts, the Sydney Jewish Museum and the Sharei Tzedek Collection in Israel. He wrote and illustrated eight children’s books and provided cover illustrations for numerous other books and magazines including Hadassah. He is a sought after lecturer on Jewish art and mysticism.
Estee Klein
Estee Klein is a professional artist recognized for her expertise in figurative Judaic compositions varying many styles and mediums. She has exhibited at multiple solo-art shows and her work is proudly displayed in premium-art galleries across NYC. Estee has been featured in a variety of publications for her over-a-decade experience as a “fine” artist and art teacher, to students of all ages at her Brooklyn studio. To view Estee’s portfolio visit esteekfineart.com
Rabbi Yossi Paltiel
Rabbi Yossi Paltiel, Founder of InsideChassidus.org, is a popular teacher and mentor with a gift for communicating his passion for Torah and Judaism.
His classes weave together classic commentaries, Jewish Law, history and philosophy, personal stories, and a deep knowledge of Chassidus and Kabbala into a whole that’s both intellectually challenging and heartwarming.
He currently teaches at Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim Chovevei Torah (United Lubavitcher Yeshiva), Machon L’Yahadus Women’s Institute for the Study of Judaism, and at the Beis Midrash L’Nashim (Women’s and Girls’ Beis Midrash and Seminary for Higher Learning under the Directorship of Rebbetzin Ariella Benhiyoun) at 770 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
He also gives lectures at many events in Brooklyn and travels to speak in Jewish communities throughout the country.
Esther Maxwell
Esther Maxwell was born and bred in Flatbush and enjoyed a childhood rich in religion and Jewish culture. She has always found so much beauty and authenticity in Judaism. She wanted to become an artist when she understood the verse we say in ” Az Yashir”- This is my G-d, and I will beautify him.Her life’s goal is to capture and preserve this beauty in her artwork. To view Esther’s portfolio, visit esthermaxwell.com.
Advisor

Raised by former hippies, Rabbi Yitzchok Moully was exposed to far more color than one would expect in the rigorously orthodox Chassidic community. Moully’s art contrasts strong Judaic and Chassidic images with vibrant bold colors to create a startling combination which he describes as “Chassidic Pop Art”. Moully’s art reveals that the essence of Chassidic thought is far from black and white. Moully is the Youth Rabbi at the Chabad Jewish Center in Basking Ridge NJ, where he resides together with his wife Batsheva and five children, a Rabbi by day and an artist by night.










