Introduction

Welcome to The David Labkovski Project's Reflect and Respond Prompt for 2022. Please note the following information while reviewing this page:
  • Labkovski created a body of work based on his childhood in Vilna and illustrations of Sholem Aleichem's stories. 
  • The background information provides context for the collection of artwork.  
  • Each painting has a link for more information about the specific historical context or to an abridged Sholem Aleichem tale, or you can choose a piece from our exhibit Visual Diary of the Past.
  • These artworks are appropriate for ages 12+. There are two artworks to reflect upon for ages 13+. 
Submissions Guidelines
Deadline Extended to April 26, 2022

  1. Watch the below video to learn how to reflect on the artworks of David Labkovski.
  2. Choose a piece of David Labkovski’s artwork illustrating the Holocaust from one of the following exhibits: The World that Was, the Illustrations of the Shalom Aleichem Stories or A Visual Diary of the Past. Links are provided below.
  3. Reflect upon the work of art and write your response in a poem, prose, or create a unique piece of art. The rules are:
    1. One entry per person. 
    2. Essay no more than 300 words.
    3. All work must be original.
  4. Please submit your entry as a a PDF or JPG using the form on this page or email it to Nili@davidlabkovskiproject.org until April 26, 2022.
  5. Artwork will be displayed on the David Labkovski Project website.
  6. You can learn more about specific pieces and their meaning from the artwork below the submission steps.

We look forward to receiving your submissions!

    Submit Your Reflect & Respond

    Max file size: 20MB

Step 1: Please watch the following video on how to "read" Labkovski's artwork. This will contain important information for your submission.

Step 2: Select a piece of artwork from one of these three virtual exhibits to reflect on and respond to. 

The first set are Labkovski's reflections on his childhood in Vilna or the "world that was". 
​The second set are his illustrations of Sholem Aleichem's stories.
The third reflection opportunity is choosing a piece from our exhibit Visual Diary of the Past.

Exhibit 1
The World that Was

Exhibit 2
Sholem Aleichem's Stories

Exhibit 3
Visual Diary of the Past

David Labkovski reflects on the "world that was"

The stories are appropriate for a younger audience.
Picture
Labkovski's reflections on his childhood in Vilna.
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Labkovski's depiction of Sholem Aleichem's fictional shtetl (market village).
David Labkovski wanted to commemorate the world of Eastern European Jews prior to the Holocaust—the “world that was”. Labkovski both reflected on his own childhood in Vilna and he looked to the writing of Sholem Aleichem as his muse. Sholem Aleichem wrote stories in his and his readers' mother tongue, Yiddish. His stories are told with tenderness and humor. As a part of the community for whom he wrote, Sholem Aleichem's tales were relevant and timely. He intimately understood the challenges faced by his community of readers: anti-Semitism, poverty, migration and assimilation. 

David Labkovski leaves no question as to his purpose. The characters in Sholem Aleichem's stories were so true-to-life that they could have been the people of Vilna, Labkovski's childhood home. In fact, Labkovski's illustrations and his depictions of Vilna share many characteristics. The Great Synagogue is the background of Labkovski's illustrations of Kasrilevka, Sholem Aleichem's fictional shtetl, market village. 

As varied as were Sholem Aleichem's plots and characters, so too were Labkovski's depictions of his childhood community. Vilna was called the "Jerusalem of the North” because of its dynamic, rich and complex cultural, educational and religious communal life. 

The pieces illustrating Sholem Aleichem's stories will guide you to read abridged excerpts from the tales.

The pieces depicting Labkovski's childhood home will guide you to historical context about the prewar Jewish community in Vilna.

Select a piece and follow the link!

Labkovski Illustrates Sholom Aleichem's Stories

Labkovski thought the characters so true-to-life that he portrays them suffering the same fate as the Jewish community of Vilna under the Nazis and their local collaborators. He places them in the Vilna Ghetto with the Nazi-enforced star on their clothing. ​

These illustrations are for students aged 13-adult.

Visual Diary of the Past Exhibit

The David Labkovski Project is proud to share the virtual installation of A Visual Diary of the Past: The Work of David Labkovski (1906-1991).

The exhibit was designed and curated by the 7 recipients of the Elie Lainer Youth Leadership Award at the 2022 Scholar’s Event.

​The exhibit offers a greater historical context and many interactive components. We hope you find the exhibit meaningful and thought provoking.
For best viewing and interaction options, we recommend opening the exhibit on your desktop. ​