Join us for a captivating four-part workshop, where students will embark on a journey through the MFAH s newest Judaica collecting area, now showcased in the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Gallery within the Law Building. Judaica encompasses all Jewish ceremonial art. These works of art carry the narratives of Jewish religious practices, historical events, and cultural heritage spanning thousands of years. Together the class will explore objects made for Jewish communities in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and India, the Jewish diaspora.  We will explore objects made from precious metals and rich textiles that protect and adorn Torah scrolls, the holiest object in Judaism.  We will delve into artworks central to the observance of the Sabbath, holidays, festivals and life-cycle events. Furthermore, we will examine how local artistic traditions have influenced the forms and styles of Jewish art over time. Moreover, we will understand the connections between Jewish communities and their surrounding cultures by examining distinct styles of individual works.