Anita Benabou Rozenblat-"The Art of Giving" by Bev Mitelman Lyman

Written By: Bev Mitelman Lyman
Canada School of Public Service | École de la fonction publique du Canada

February 29, 2012


Montreal’s own renowned artist, fashion designer and real estate agent, Anita Benabou Rozenblat appreciates the “art” of giving.

“It is my honour this year to donate one of my hand-made Judaic sculptures to JPPS-Bialik for their annual Gala fundraising soiree,” says Anita. “I love the idea of giving back to our community!”

Well known in Hampstead and Cote-Saint-Luc for her thriving real estate business, it is a poorly kept secret that Anita is also a talented artist who has successfully showcased her work at various galleries in Montreal and in the United States. She has been commissioned to create her sculptures for many art lovers and private collectors of Jewish art. With more than 30 of her art sculptures sold in Las Vegas during an evening showcase, Anita and her family purchased and donated an authentic Sefer Torah (hand written Torah on parchment) to the Congregation Shomrim Laboker, in Montreal.

Her sculptures are one-of-a-kind unique creations, each with a distinct personality and story to tell. Often working in the late hours of the night, she meticulously crafts the fine details of each piece using mystique clay, her fingers, and tiny toothpicks. She calls this a “labour of love” and proudly dedicates each work of art to her late brother Moshe Benabou, whom she refers to as a “man of great mitzvah”.

Once completed, she mounts her work on to a base of granite and Jerusalem stone and prominently displays the “name” of each piece. “The piece I will be creating for JPPS-Bialik will be called Chochem. I am envisioning lots of books and a strong personality,” says Anita.

The literal translation of the word Chochem from both Yiddish and Hebrew is a “genius” or a “very clever person”, inspired in this case by the academic achievements of her own two daughters, one already graduated from Bialik, and the other currently enrolled as a grade nine student.

Anita has generously offered to donate her sculpture to JPPS-Bialik for auction at this year’s fundraising Gala on March 25. A long standing tradition in our community, the JPPS-Bialik Gala serves as the major annual fundraiser for the School while simultaneously showcasing the talents of the Bialik theatre students in a beautiful cocktail party setting.

This year, marking the 55th anniversary of the JPPS-Bialik Gala, the students will be performing songs from their production of Moulin Rouge, as 350 guests fill Bialik’s Helen and Sam Steinberg’s Gymnasium and mingle in the lounge setting, enjoy plentiful food and open wine bar, and place their bids at the silent auction.

“My pieces have sold for more than $4000 in the past. We’ll start the opening auction bid at $1500 and go from there,” says Anita. “I am just trying to help raise money for the School. Hopefully someone will fall in love with my sculpture and make a generous donation. It’s all for a very good cause.”

Tickets for the JPPS-Bialik Gala event on March 25 can be purchased on the School website at www.jppsbialik.ca, or by calling Amy Finkelstein at 514-731-2944 x 263.