Siona Benjamin: Art for a Mixed Multitude

From the moment our people emerged from Egypt as an erev rav—a mixed multitude—we have been a multivocal, multiethnic, multicultural family. Ashkenazic, Sephardic, Mizrachi, and more. For millennia, Jewish life has been shaped by the places and cultures in which we have lived, even as we have been sustained and strengthened by the traditions and identities we carry with us.

Central Synagogue and the Reform Movement have long embraced Jews of all backgrounds. The breadth of our customs fortifies us, and every story matters as we bring our full selves—our histories, cultures, and lived experiences—into Jewish practice, proudly standing together as a mixed multitude.

Wherever our Jewish journeys have taken us, we share Pesach: the seder ritual and the words of the Haggadah. In creating the Haggadah Shel Erev Rav, it was essential to bring the story of our entire community to life in a way that is both joyful and expansive.

To do so, we sought an artist whose vision could hold that richness. Siona Benjamin is an Indian-American Jewish artist from the ancient Bene Israel community. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions, books, and catalogues worldwide. Benjamin’s vibrant, transcultural imagery imagines a universe populated by earthly and heavenly beings, heroes, animals, plants, and flowers—converging within riotously colorful scenes. Drawing inspiration from Indian and Persian miniature painting, her art offers both ancient resonance and contemporary perspective, illuminating our shared Jewish stories anew.

Each hand-painted illustration in this exhibition celebrates Jewish identity, memory, and joy. Through Siona Benjamin’s vivid palette and intricate detail, the images seem to leap off the page, inviting us to encounter Pesach with renewed connection, curiosity, and passion.

This exhibition is presented with the generous support of the Hauptman/Bronfman/Clarick family, in loving memory of Ellen M. Hauptman.

The artworks on view were created for Haggadah Shel Erev Rav: The Mixed Multitude Haggadah, produced through the generosity of Carol Ostrow and Michael Graff.

Programs
Thursday, April 23 - Talkback & Workshop with Siona Benjamin register here.
Thursday, May 7 – Exhibition Reception register here.

Viewing Hours
Public viewing is available in the Pavilion on Fridays from 7:15–8:00 pm (following Shabbat services) and Wednesdays from 12:30–2:00 pm. Please consult our calendar for scheduled closures.

For viewing requests outside public hours and for additional information, please contact Marina Bardash Nebro.