Whether you’re interested in appreciating the Judaica displayed at PAS, visiting art exhibits in and around the city, or participating in hands-on art workshops with our PAS artist-in-residence, the Arts Engagement Committee provides opportunities and programs designed to build art literacy and community.
Who We Are
Park Avenue Synagogue has a historic commitment to the arts. The renowned artist Adolph Gottlieb was commissioned to create a façade for the Milton Steinberg house, which was dedicated in 1954 and served as a community center and offices for the Park Avenue Synagogue. The synagogue was the first building in the world to have a façade made entirely of stained glass. Today, these 91 windows appear throughout our campus.
Amy Reichert Architecture + Design created many works for our redesign. The highlight was five floors of friezes consisting of great works of art throughout history depicting every parashah (weekly reading) from the five books of the Torah.
The congregation preserves a significant collection of Jewish ceremonial art, Holocaust artifacts, and 20th-century art illuminating Jewish themes, which is exhibited in the 89th Street classrooms and 87th Street third-floor gallery cases. Loan exhibitions of Jewish ritual art are displayed in the 87th Street lobby cases. Our Arts Engagement Committee organizes educational programs and museum visits to explore how Jewish material culture contributes to our understanding of Jewish history, values, identity, and heritage.
Current Exhibition Israel Banner
At this difficult time in our history, PAS is responding with Israel-focused art projects in the lobby of 87th Street.
Our Community Engaged with Art
Community projects built by our congregation.
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Lighting Up the Darkest Days - Hanukkah 2023/5784 -
Israel at 75: Legacy Mural Project 2023/5783 -
Shabbat Across PAS 2022/5782 -
Shavuot Sculpture Cake - 2022/5782 -
Our Passover Story 2022/5782 -
Lift Every Voice, Welcoming Diverse Traditions - 2019/5780
Artist in Residence Meet Ellen Alt
Ellen Alt is a practicing artist, experienced art educator/consultant, and community artist. As the artist-in-residence at the Park Avenue Synagogue, she facilitates community-wide art projects that reinforce Jewish educational values. Alt, a consultant for The Jewish Education Project, taught creativity and visual arts in the graduate education department and pre-college programs at Brandeis University.
Her artwork is inspired by languages, alphabets, and symbols. Alt’s mixed-media work has been exhibited in the United States, Germany, Russia, China, England, and the Middle East. One of her pieces was presented to Hillary Clinton on the occasion of the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan and is in the collection of the White House. Alt also organizes community sculpture and mural projects throughout the world. She has an MA in studio art from New York University and a BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She holds American and Israeli citizenship and lived in Israel for many years.
Visual Celebrations of Prayer
Blessing and Lifecycle Moments
Hiddur mitzvah is the Jewish concept of beautifying the commandments by appealing to the senses. Throughout the years, Ellen Alt, as artist-in-residence, has created visual works that incorporate blessings, prayers, and texts. From Modeh Ani, which is said upon getting up in the morning, to Sh'ma Yisrael, the last prayer of the day, these publications offer a visual inspiration for the text while making the mitzvah of reciting them easy and fun.