Simha Torah

Largely influenced by his Jewish orthodox upbringing in Ukraine, Mané-Katz's works are filled with scenes of life from the ghetto. Despite his geographical location, Mané-Katz always felt that his spiritual home was Israel. His painting pays homage to Simchat Torah, a holiday of growing importance in the 20th century, namely with Jews from the Soviet Union and United States. Unlike Mané-Katz's macabre early works, this later painting is characteristic of those he made after the war, while living in New York. The canvas is full of color and merriment, visible in the brilliantly painted Torah scrolls. Similarly, the musician's stark ivory garb contrasts the black background of the painting and emphasizes the importance of music to this festival, when the faithful dances and sings with the Torah.