Jewish authors celebrated in new Muswell Hill Shul mural

“My boys wandered over, and she drew them in; she was so good and patient with them, and it was just beautiful to watch,” he said. “The children’s book corner felt like an appropriate way to keep some of that spirit alive.”

Having spent many hours in the hallway of Muswell Hill Synagogue after taking children out the service for a break to read to them, the Green Bean Books publisher had the idea of creating a special area that captured the “mental picture of my mum reading to the boys”.

Michael started publishing children’s books with Jewish content, and using Israeli illustrators, ten years ago. “I’m unbelievably lucky I’m in touch with the most incredible, award-winning Israeli illustrators,” he said of how the colourful mural of famous Jewish children’s authors by Israeli illustrator Omer Hoffmann came about.

Another section of the mural, by Omer Hoffmann, at Muswell Hill Shul; Michael Leventhal (inset)[Missing Credit]

Depicting a library scene, the mural includes legendary authors from Isaac Bashevis Singer, I. L. Peretz, Hayim Nahman Bialik and Sholem Aleichem up to contemporary writers Judy Blume, David Baddiel, Michael Rosen and Eric Kimmel.

Michael has printed an eight-page pamphlet identifying all the authors featured and providing short biographies. More extensive information on each author will be available on the Muswell Hill Shul Green Bean Books websites.

Michael said: “The idea was to create a welcoming, comfortable area, but also something that was going to be engaging and educational. It’s a fun Where’s Wally? kind of thing. Both kids and adults can spend ages looking and trying to spot little details.”

Also hidden within the illustration are a “Wild Thing” from Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, and an Asterix hat representing French comic writer René Goscinny, who wrote the comic series. 

“And as per the brief, [Omer] has put my mum and the boys in the pose that they were in when they were reading that day in the garden,” said Michael.

The illustrator also included himself and the north London furniture maker Carl Gilbert, who designed and built the L-shaped corner seating, within his artwork.

“My hope is that it’s successful with everyone who comes to Muswell Hill Shul, generates some interesting discussions and prompts people to read more. The idea is really celebrating these Jewish authors. Hopefully, it will inspire some innovative storytelling and raise awareness of talented Jewish children’s authors, both past and present. We have a fantastic canon of literature that risks being largely forgotten and ignored. So, let’s do something positive.”

The digital artwork will be made freely available to synagogues, schools and community centres around the world that want to use it for displays and installations.