By Sam Mossio
I was never what I would call an artist. Growing up, soccer balls and basketballs were much more appealing than paintbrushes and canvases. So when I received the invitation to the seminar “Brushstrokes of Belonging: Identity in Art & Expression” in Deliblato, Serbia (June 13-15, 2025), on the subject of expressing identity through visual arts, I asked myself: What can I offer, and most importantly, what can I gain? Ultimately, the decision to participate was one of the best I have ever made.
In a beautiful family home in the picturesque village of Deliblato, near Belgrade, we shared a home with 12 adults, some very young and some not so young, with a common goal: to explore the expression of identity through the arts. A significant portion of the time was dedicated to Jewish themes, under the guidance of Moshe Shamah, an exceptional American-Israeli Jewish Educator and artist. Moshe took us on a journey through the history of Jewish art, from the ancient Temple and the years of the Diaspora, to World War II and contemporary creations after October 7th.
But what really made the seminar stand out was its practical and interactive nature. We didn’t just stick to theory. We took photos that captured our emotions and roots, created collages of ourselves looking at ourselves in the mirror to depict our psyche, and painted on canvases that were lovingly donated to the elderly in the local community. Even our party had an artistic touch: we had fun learning rare African dances and creating graffiti to the accompaniment of American hip-hop.
The experience took off thanks to the presence of people outside the Jewish community. Non-Jewish friends participated with a stormy interest and a powerful sense of support and community. Despite our different backgrounds, they felt our pain when we discussed the hostages. They worried with us when we received alerts about the rockets that fell on Israel that weekend. Their presence made us feel that only by allowing the world to come closer to us can we survive. That is what we have always done, and we must not allow anyone to isolate us.
Before I close, I would like to mention two exceptional people who contributed greatly to this experience:
Moshe Shamah is not only a great Jewish Educator, but also an exceptional artist, creating, among other things, beautiful Ketubot (Jewish wedding documents). Take a look at his work by clicking here.
Sara Dragicevic, a professional photographer and tireless volunteer, is now collaborating with the international humanitarian organization OlamAid.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Sara for bringing such a special vision to fruition, and we thank her warmly for inviting us. We deeply appreciate her contribution to E.N.E. over the past two years and are delighted to have her as such a valued collaborator. We wish her all the best and look forward to seeing her next ventures!