#41 Yaacov Agam, Star of David

Yaacov Agam was born in Rishon-le-Zion, Palestine (now Israel), in 1928. In 1979, Agam was asked to make a work of art to commemorate the peacemaking efforts between Anwar el-Sādāt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba, Israel.

He created the Star of Peace, a Kinetic sculpture that appeared from one direction to be the five-pointed star of Islam, from another, the six-pointed Star of David, and from a third, a new star formed from their fusion. Agam’s works on paper are colorful, full of lines and shapes, while his sculptures have simple lines. Most of his works refer back to his heritage and Jewish culture. Agam currently lives in Paris and is 91 years old.

From the Ginger Jacobs Collection

 

Palizzio, New York

These white shoes, believed to have been produced by Palizzio, were worn by Annie Selikoff on her wedding day.

Palizzio was founded by Reuben and Leo Gordon from New York and was around from 1943-1980’s.  Palizzio created high quality shoes and purses that matched. They were once sold by big department stores such as Macy’s and Saks Fifth Ave. In 1955 famous artist Andy Warhol created multiple advertisement posters for the company, with ink drawn shoes and handbags.

From the Annie Selikoff Laves Collection

 

Julius Schepps Community Center groundbreaking shovel

On June 22, 1958 the television station WBAP-TV stated on their broadcast “The Dallas’ Jewish community turns out this evening at Northaven and Valleydale for the birth of a new community center.”

“The mayor praises a friend of 36 years Julius Schepps, for whom the new center is named – as a “front-row citizen…one of the men who made Dallas the great city it is” (UNT Digital Library).

This hand shovel was used at the Julius Schepps community center groundbreaking on April 9, 1961. The Julius Schepps Community Center, is now The Aaron Family Jewish Community Center of Dallas; whose mission is to bring the community together by providing state-of-the-art facilities and exceptional programs in an inclusive environment defined by Jewish values and culture.