HBHA is excited to welcome Rachel Kricsfeld, our brand-new lower school art teacher and community engagement specialist. With art teacher Kelly Reichman working currently on a part-time schedule, Kricsfeld is stepping in to inspire the next generation of young artists at HBHA.
Kricsfeld was raised in Nebraska before later pursuing an education at the University of Kansas. Kricsfeld’s love of art and Judaism has been intertwined for a long time, she says, “When I was little, I always loved to draw and color, and then when I found out that you can do Jewish artwork, I kind of decided that’s the direction I want to be going in.”
This trajectory led her to eventually pursue a career that involved art and Judaism, bringing her to HBHA.
During her time at the KU, Kricsfeld worked on a piece of art called “Never Again.” She said, “[it] depicts the Jewish journey from the Holocaust to present day.” Originally, Kricsfeld started this piece in high school as a social issue project because she wanted to speak out for Israel, as she was one of the few Jews in her public high school. Kricsfeld depicts antisemitism with compelling imagery from the Holocaust. For example, she painted the sign in front of Auschwitz, the broken glass of Kristallnacht, and Shabbat candles. She explains that the Shabbat candles illustrate that the Jewish faith is still strong, which is important when depicting Jewry throughout tough times. After reading the Torah portion one year, Kricsfeld was also inspired to make seven different paintings depicting the seven days of creation.
When asked about how HBHA is different from past teaching experiences, she said, “I have taught one-on-one lessons before, so I figured it wouldn’t be that different. It is a little different, but it’s fun.”
While working with a group of young students is not the same as individual teaching, Kricsfeld’s excitement and joy for new experiences are what help her be the best teacher she can be.
