The idea for a Judaica show at The Main Gallery grew from the interest of a group of people at the gallery who are Jewish, and who wanted to explore in an artistic form the importance of Jewish history, rituals and family. The title for the show, "A Mekhaye!" is a Yiddish phrase meaning "What a Joy!" There are some dark themes in the artwork, but artists Nina Koepcke, Elizabeth Noerdlinger, Jeannine Redon, Judith Serebrin and Susan Wolf are also looking at the joy and pleasure they derive from being Jewish and learning about Judaism. The work includes drawings, prints, paintings and clay sculpture.

Elizabeth Noerdlinger is using her love of landscape painting in oils as a springboard for examining scenes from the Torah, or Old Testament, that involve cataclysmic or fantastic natural eventsÑNoahÕs flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Egyptian plagues. She finds herself drawing comparisons to present day wars, global warming and the resultant disasters. Exodus or Exile is a theme for a number of her paintings. ÒWhat the Israelites went through in the desert has continued through history with all the victims of genocide,Ó Noerdlinger said. ÒWe even flee from ourselves, and I think of the exodus of commuters every day with all those cars on the highways.Ó Elizabeth also hopes to finish some portraits of her Jewish relatives and is enjoying looking at old photographs and finding familiar features among the faces. The portrait work is challenging, but the difficulty is softened by her love and discovery. ÒIt feels like I am communing with my ancestors,Ó she said.

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