Spotlight from the Adama Exhibition: Jacque Safran

Jacques Safran, an artist and resident of Moshav Yevul, was born in 1949 in Constantine, North Africa. He studied art at several schools in France, including École Martenot, École Brun, and the Beaux-Arts in Marseille. He has exhibited in France, Italy, and Belgium, and for many years has taught art—creating workshops and educational initiatives for children and adults in schools, kindergartens, and hospitals. Today, he teaches a girl with autism. Although he has lived in Israel for several years, Jacques communicates mainly in French. To include him fully in the Adama project, we found creative ways to interpret for him—with the help of his bilingual wife, a team member whose parents are French, and the artist Rut Pasder, who is also French. Art, being an international language, allowed Jacques to contribute deeply despite the language barrier. He lost several close friends, also painters, on October 7th, an event that left a deep mark on him. His four works in the exhibition reflect his pain and contemplation through dominant colors—black, red, and orange—addressing the themes of the hostages, Jewish identity, and collective grief. His piece “The Tree of Life, From Shadow to Light” also reflects his personal journey: Jacques discovered his Jewish identity at the age of 12 and celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at 13. He now feels a deep connection to his Jewish roots and community.