Chalking It Up for Tolerance, Compassion and Diversity

June 6, 2022 JMORE Staff

Liz Minkin Friedman shares the message of "Chalk over Hate." (Photo by Stuart Zolotorow)

Last Friday afternoon, June 3, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore was among the more than 30 organizations and groups around the country to participate in “Chalk Over Hate: Fighting Antisemitism through Public Art.” The event was held in honor of the National Day of Action and the holiday of Shavuot, observed June 4-6.

The gathering was held near the Aquatics Park and Preschool entrance of the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC, and led by local artist, educator, author and storyteller Julie Schwartz Wohl. Wohl serves as director of PJ Library at the Macks Center for Jewish Education.

In recent weeks, Baltimore’s JCC received two antisemitic bomb threats that were eventually deemed noncredible by law enforcement agencies.

The national program, which attracted more than 900 participants, was led and conducted in partnership with the group Artists 4 Israel and the Edlavitch DC JCC (EDJCC). Pavement artists Anat Ronen and Chelsea Ritter-Soronen created a pair of murals in front of the Edlavitch JCC in Northwest Washington, D.C.

“Chalk has an inspiring history of radical activism for positive social change,” said Ritter-Soronen, who lives in Washington. “It encourages us to collectively reimagine how public space can be used. Chalk art reminds us that positive change truly starts from the ground up! … Violent white supremacy is raging. In D.C. alone, we have seen several recent acts of antisemitic vandalism. Chalk offers an opportunity to take the higher road and create images in public spaces that uplift, inspire and spread kindness. When we create together, we grow together.”

Said Amanda Herring, director of Jewish life and learning at the Edlavitch JCC: “I wanted to give our community a way to speak out against antisemitism through approachable and public art, even if they themselves don’t feel like artists. Being a large Jewish institution in the heart of the nation’s capital, we can’t hide our Jewish identity and we don’t want to. We won’t let voices of hate dictate how we live our lives.”

Gali Lazar, 19, writes “And You Should Love Your Neighbor as You Love Yourself” during Chalk Over Hate. (Photo by Stuart Zolotorow)
Julie Mazer, marketing manager for the JCC, writes “UNITY” during Chalk Over Hate. (Photo by Stuart Zolotorow)
Kathryn Beckley writes “AMORE” during Chalk Over Hate. (Photo by Stuart Zolotorow)
Liz Minkin Friedman shares the message of “Chalk over Hate.” (Photo by Stuart Zolotorow)
Julie Wohl writes “Love your neighbor” during Chalk Over Hate. (Photo by Stuart Zolotorow)
Kathy Keene writes “Shalom” during Chalk Over Hate. (Photo by Stuart Zolotorow)
Krieger Schecter students Avi Tal Shalva and Summer Friedman draw a piece entitles, “The Heart of the Earth” with a quote from the WWF: “The Truth Is The Nature World Is Changing & We Are Totally Dependent On That World.” (Photo by Stuart Zolotorow)
Miriam Macks of Friends School draws snakes in the grass during Chalk Over Hate. (Photo by Stuart Zolotorow)