ABSTRACT
The first sentence of the first systematic English language book on Jewish art begins with the author stating “The conception of Jewish Art may appear to some a contradiction in terms” (Roth 1961: 11). Indeed, Jewish art has caused controversy and confusion in the mere handful of decades the field has been actively researched. In this essay, we will first examine why Jewish art is still in its infancy, which includes a discussion of the Second Commandment and Jewish art’s place in art history in general. Then we will describe different ways that some contemporary scholars flesh out the meanings and argue over definitions of Jewish art.
