By Julia Olson
Assistant Editor
Calling all young artists! The American Israelite is inviting local children to create their own illustration of Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise’s life, just like those in Geri Kolesar’s new book, Dream by Dream. Winners will receive a signed copy of the book for their own personal libraries! Kar Ben, the book’s publisher, will also share the winning artwork on their social media.
The contest begins January 25th and will run for a month until Sunday, February 25th. The top three winners will receive a signed, hardcover copy of Dream by Dream, and 5 runners up will win a signed, paperback copy of the book.
Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise made so many of his dreams a reality right here in Cincinnati. From the historic Plum Street Temple to the campus of Hebrew Union College on Clifton Avenue, concrete evidence of his inspiration and hope for the future exists all over the city. Until Kolesar wrote Dream by Dream, a children’s book about Wise’s life, there was almost no information about the most influential rabbi in North American Judaism available for young readers. Kolesar, along with the Kar Ben publishing company and illustrator Sofia Moore, worked to bring life to Wise’s story for children. Now, we would like to offer local children a chance to illustrate a part of Rabbi Wise’s life, just like the illustrations in the book.
Dream by Dream shows young Isaac’s life and dreams for the future. One of his dreams was that people of all faiths and beliefs could live together, side by side, learning from each other and sharing their experiences. We want to invite children to offer up their own illustration of this dream of Isaac’s. What does religious harmony look like to you? How would you draw it for a book about his life?
Entries may be submitted on our website. Users can navigate to the Submit page and find the submission form titled Submit Contests Pages. Click here to submit online. Participants may also send a hard copy of their drawing to our office at 11674 Lebanon Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241. Please include your name, age and phone number. All illustrations will be printed in The American Israelite.
Drawing Contest Prompt:
Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise dedicated his whole life to making his dreams become reality. One of his dreams was that people of all faiths and beliefs could live together side by side, learning together and sharing their experiences. If you were the illustrator of Dream by Dream, how would you show Isaac and his dream of religious harmony?
