Through his art, Yitzchok Moully captures the vibrancy of the Hasidic world

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Yitzchok Moully poses for a picture in front of a mounting of his pop-art, as his 2-year-old son, Sholom, wiggles in his arms.

For the youth director of the Chabad Jewish Center of Basking Ridge, the photo freezes a moment in a dichotomous world, where the bright colors of Moully’s Andy Warhol-influenced art applied to the black-and-white of his Hasidic Jewish faith are balanced with and grounded by a growing family.

Moully will be surrounded by family and friends when a reception takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday honoring his ongoing exhibit “Chassidic Pop Art” at ArtisZen Arts, a Lambertville gallery that specializes in pop art.

”My family really grounds me and makes me focus on the important things,” Moully, 29, said. “Without that, I would be a drifter.

”After the kids go to bed, I paint,” he added. “It is within a healthy structure. Sometimes it is hard with a full-time job and a full-time family, but it is a healthy balance.”

Raised in Australia and Brooklyn by hippies turned Hasidim, Moully developed a love of Judaism, family and art at a young age. While living in the Australian Outback, he also fell in love with nature, which he often depicts in his art, including photography.

One of his 20 pop-art works at ArtisZen Arts, ”Tree of Life,” is based on his photograph of a massive tree in the Great Swamp Basin that divides Somerset and Morris counties.

“Every Sunday after Hebrew school, we just take off somewhere and enjoy nature together as a family,” said Moully, whose mini van, littered with remnants of snacks from last weekend’s family ski trip, recently transported to the gallery about dozen works, as well as his two sons, also Mendle, 4.

His wife of five years, Batsheva, was home with infant daughter, Miriam.

”I wanted to give her a break, so I took the boys with me,” he said.

The Moully home in Basking Ridge is a 10-minute walk and two-minute drive to the temple, which also sports much of the rabbi’s pop-art. In the basement of his home are art and photography studios.

Batsheva, co-director of the temple’s youth, is supportive of his art, Moully said.

“It is wonderful to have her constant input,” he said.

”When you find the talent that you have been given, then it’s important to use it and express it,” Batsheva added. “His ability to portray the life of Judaism in such a happy medium and to be able to share that with so many other people is a talent he has found within himself. That makes me want to support it.”

In addition to the work hanging on the walls of the synagogue, Moully’s visual skills often come in handy there.

Serving not only as co-youth director but also promotions guy, his photography and videos can be seen throughout the temple’s Web site, www.chabadcentral.org.

”At Chabad, we have to wear many hats,” he said.

For Moully, those hats either are an edgy pink yarmulke or a black felt Stetson-style brimmed hat.

“I wear a pink kippah because a rabbi in pink kippah is far less intimidating for those not used to interacting with a rabbi,” he said. ”It breaks down the barriers. My work does the same. Everyone can find something they can relate to in it without feeling out of place.

“Hasidic culture is perceived as very rigid and old world, with very little wiggle room for personal expression within that world, which is completely not the case,” he added. ”Pop art to me is vibrant colors with a positive lift, open and accessible to all. Bringing the two together was about finding the bold colors in the Hasidic world and bringing them to the front.“

Whether Hanukkah dreidels (spinning tops), gelt (chocolate coins) or dancing rabbis, the Jewish images in Moully’s work are black and white on vibrant colors.

Brian Hanck, owner of ArtisZen, expects several sales of Chassidic Pop Art during and after Saturday’s reception.

When patrons see the large dreidels Moully depicts, Hanck said, they are stopped in their tracks and immediately smile.

”I believe it is the special way he pays homage to his religion and then presents his pursuit through iconic images that captures the spirit of his heart and touches many others,” he said.

It’s all about energy, Moully said, not only in regard to his art but also in working with temple youth.

Both are fun, he said.

“Life is full of energy, and I want to express it and share it,” he said. ”I enjoy working with the energy of the youth and broaden their understanding of their heritage in a fun, exciting way, not just sitting down with the books.”

Moully also makes Judaism fun with a giant Dreidle House, where temple youth hold a Hanukkah party each year with their families.

His entertaining art soon will be display in New York City, having been seen previously in galleries and synagogues in Philadelphia and throughout New Jersey. He’s also interested in using his art for fund-raising purposes, he said.

“Art is a great communicator,” Moully said. “I’m thankful I get to communicate my faith through my art.”

You can visits Rabbi Yitzchok Moully’s web site at ChassidicPopArt.com.