We continue our occasional feature the Artist Corner, where we introduce you to some of our talented and creative friends from around Israel.
Meet Elhanan ben-Avraham.
Elhanan ben-Avraham, born in New York in 1945, is a professional artist, poet, writer and father of two, grandfather of four, living in Israel since 1979. Elhanan has lived and painted in Paris, then in Brazil, where he came to know the Messiah in 1977.
He served in the IDF, has taught the Bible internationally, produced a series of Biblical greeting cards, published six illustrated books of poetry, painted two large Biblical murals in public buildings in Jerusalem, and most recently produced The Jerusalem Illustrated Bible. He and his wife live in a quiet village in the Mountains of Judah.
Akidah – Binding of Isaac – Genesis 22 
Covenant with Noah – Genesis 8-9 
Abram counting stars – Genesis 15:5 
12 Spies – Numbers 6:24–26 
David and Goliath 
Song of Simeon – Luke 2:29-32 
Yeshua Crucified
“Several years ago, I went through a life-threatening illness from which I emerged healed,” Elhanan says. “At that time, it suddenly dawned on me that after more than 40 years of work, I had produced enough artwork to publish an illustrated Bible.”
Upon recovering, he immediately presented the idea of an illustrated Bible to the Israel Bible Society, located in Jerusalem. He offered to contribute his artwork at no cost other than a Levitical tithe from any sales revenue. The Bible Society accepted the proposal, and it was agreed that Elhanan would be the project director. After four years of work, The Jerusalem Illustrated Bible was published at the end of 2019.
“I enjoyed working together with Victor Kalisher and the team at the Bible Society in Israel,” says Elhanan, “as well as the board of the NASB (New American Standard Bible) committee. The cooperation was a joy.”
The 2,200-page Jerusalem Illustrated Bible contains both the Old and New Testaments in English and Hebrew and is illuminated with nearly 250 original works of art. The English NASB text restores the original Hebrew names and meanings. For instance:
YHVH: The personal name of God – “this is my name and memorial forever, to all your generations” (Exodus 3:15) – has been restored where it had been hidden behind “Lord.”
Yeshua: The original Hebrew name of the Messiah – Yeshua – means ‘salvation’, thus giving meaning and clarity to the message given by Gabriel, “You shall call his name Yeshua (salvation), for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The name Jesus is a later transliteration of the Greek Yesous used when the Gospel went out to the Greek and Latin-speaking world.
Shimon Kaifa (Simon Peter): Shimon means ‘One who hears’ (from shma), and Kaifa, means ‘rock’ in Aramaic.
In Genesis: When God pronounced the grim consequences of Eve’s behavior, it did not include physical pain to childbirth, which is natural for all mammals, for the word used there is “etzavon” meaning “sadness.” It is the very same word used for Adam, who would till the ground in sadness.
Purchase a copy of The Jerusalem Illustrated Bible from the Bible Society in Israel.
Elhanan calls himself an artist in the order of Bezalel (Exodus 31:1-6) – called to steward his creative talent in order to develop meaningful contexts for others to encounter the Living God.
“As a descendant of the Levitical priesthood, I feel very honored to be a part of this project,” he says. “This Bible is highly accurate and meets a high standard of quality. It’s a family heirloom to be enjoyed and worthy to be passed down to the generations, all to the glory of God. May His Word indeed go forth from Jerusalem.”
According to Elhanan, this is the first illustrated complete family Bible to be produced by a Jewish person living in the Land of Israel. He believes it is the first undertaking of its kind since the Gustave Doré classic La Grande Bible de Tours, issued in 1866.
Elhanan sees his work as part of the ongoing restoration of Israel. “Just as the earlier period was termed The Reformation, we are now in the period to be known as The Restoration: restoration of the Land and restoration of the Jewish people to their Land after 2,000 years, and the restoration of the King of the Jews to His own people Israel. This Bible is part of that Restoration.”
You may purchase a copy of The Jerusalem Illustrated Bible from the Bible Society in Israel.
You may read Elhanan’s writings at Kehila.org and listen to his teachings at Netivyah.org.
