The Hasidic Artist: "I Created an Esther Scroll from a 9.5-Meter Sheet"

If you enter the home of artist Yaeli Wurtzman, chances are you'll find her with scissors in hand, diligently cutting paper cut-outs. Yes, that's right—cutting sheets of paper into various shapes and decorations. If that sounds like a hobby mainly for children, you're invited to get to know her—Yaeli, a particularly talented Hasidic artist, whose main occupation is precisely in this field.

"My love for art came from my mother," she shares. "She was always involved in art, especially Judaica. As a little girl, I would follow her creations and be fascinated by them. Eventually, the hobby must have passed on to me. One day, I visited an exhibition at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, where they showcased paper cut-outs by artist Zadok Ben David. These were truly special cut-outs, with laser developments, metals, and three dimensions. It showed me where paper cutting can go, and in fact, that was the first time I was inspired to focus on this field."

"Surprised I Have a Kosher Phone"

But it didn’t remain just a hobby. After completing her studies at a seminary in Jerusalem, Yaeli went on to study an art course at 'Emunah' College and later continued at the Bezalel Academy's Hasidic branch, where she was part of the first graduating class.

Today, she lectures in art at well-known seminars in Jerusalem, and to her surprise, she was invited to give a course on paper cut-outs at Oranim College in Kiryat Tivon, not typically associated with the ultra-Orthodox community.

Were students surprised to be taught by a Hasidic artist?

"Actually, no," she claims. According to her, although she is considered one of the few artists in the country engaged in this field and was recently sent to a ceremony at a museum in Moscow to represent Israel, she doesn’t often encounter reactions of surprise or raised eyebrows due to her Hasidic identity. "Maybe they're a bit surprised that I have a kosher phone and no WhatsApp, but a moment later, they forget all about it," she smiles.

She considers for a moment and then adds: "Actually, there was one time when my Hasidic background clashed with my projects. In one of the projects at Bezalel, I planned to create a wedding dress from paper cut-outs. It was really my dream, but it was quickly shelved because I was afraid it could be misinterpreted as a feminist statement."

Two Months of Work, One Scroll

Yaeli creates works of various types and styles. Among other things, she has created unique works related to Judaism, such as a sukkah and a synagogue structure. Each of these works is made from a sheet of paper cut into geometric, architectural, and botanical motifs and folded into a three-dimensional creation. Yaeli also uses the interplay of light and shadow to add another dimension to her work.

Recently, Emunah College marked a decade since its founding, announcing a large exhibition featuring works by its graduates on the theme of 'Artifact.' Yaeli chose to use the expression "Hashem's Desire," and to illustrate this, she created the Esther Scroll, which from the start is accompanied by the will of Hashem. She made the scroll in the form of a castle made from paper cut-outs, with each wall adorned with a different chapter from the scroll.

"To build the castle, I researched architecture to create a palace suited to the correct architectural style," she explains. "Ultimately, I used a 9.5-meter-long sheet of paper with a height of 90 centimeters. It resulted in a truly massive creation, to which I dedicated two months of work. In the end, I won first place and it was definitely a nice bonus." 

Never Leaves the Scissors

Additionally, Yaeli also designs event invitations from suitable paper cut-outs and produces wall pictures that are often used as gifts. "For large works, I use only scissors, but when I'm making invitations or items that need to be mass-produced, I use a laser machine," she explains. "The machine also allows you to change the style, shrink or enlarge, making the creation more industrial."

As she mentions, there aren't many artists in the country engaged in this field with whom she can consult, but there is a small group of such artists. They occasionally hold professional meetings, and she sometimes participates in them. Through this group of artists, she received the invitation to represent Israel at the aforementioned paper cut-out exhibition in Moscow.

Conference in Moscow, Domodedovo

"The exhibition took place at a museum of art where the museum director is himself involved with paper cut-outs," she explains. "He is unique in having a respectable collection of cut-outs from around the world, as each country has its own unique style of cut-outs. The museum holds a biennial ceremony where they invite paper cut-out artists from around the world to participate and showcase their works. For example, I gifted the museum a paper cut-out of an Aron Kodesh."

How long does it take to craft works in this style?

"The process can take from a few days to many months," she clarifies, "Every detail in the creation must be made with precision, and every aspect of the cutting has significance. But the long process doesn’t bother me because when I work, I almost don’t notice the time passing. It's my joy and the scissors have long been an extension of me."