High schoolers in Wantagh created a one-of-a-kind mural to welcome visitors to their school and illustrate the important things they learn there each day.
Last fall, several high school students at the Susanna E. Heiman Religious School in Temple B’nai Torah of Wantagh took an elective course that was a little different than the usual extracurricular offerings. It was an art project that inspired the students while giving something back to the temple.
Students of the Susanna E. Heiman Religious School show off the colorful mural they created to spruce up the school entrance. Courtesy Amanda Lev.
Every Monday evening for about three months, my classmates and I worked on a mural that is now gracing the walls of the religious school entrance. The mural depicts a seven-candle menorah for Shabbat, a Kiddush cup wrapped with its respective blessing, a Torah bearing the word Shalom (“welcome”), a dove that serves as a symbol of peace, a tree of life, and a depiction of Jerusalem in Israel.
This mural has two purposes: It welcomes visitors and highlights the many aspects of Judaism that the students in our school learn about.
What I liked most about working on the mural, and what I think everyone else liked as well, was seeing it change each week. We couldn’t wait for it to be time to work with Jill Florman, our art director, and Rob Fein, our artist in residence, and we even stayed late on most Mondays.
Many people were amazed that a bunch of teenagers produced this mural. It’s also especially gratifying that many current students have expressed excitement that the entrance wall won’t be “that boring beige color” anymore. Most of all, this mural truly shows our pride in our school.
