Sam Fine perfectly exemplifies the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Sam is the winner of the 16th annual Chanukah Art Contest sponsored by Chabad House Center and The Chronicle. Now a fifth-grade student at Prairie Star Elementary School, he’s entered the contest at least four times before winning this year’s grand prize — an iPad mini, complements of Chabad.
Mandy Unterhalter, a fourth-grade student at Congregation Beth Shalom, won the lower division (grades K-four) with a mosaic menorah titled, “Reflecting the Lights of Chanukah.” She is the 10-year-old daughter of Janet and Bryan Unterhalter and attends Leawood Elementary School.
Thirteen-year-old Ariel Brudoley, an eight-grader at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, won the upper division (grades five through eight) with his “The Victory Menorah.” He is the son of Sherri Jacobs and Dr. Jonathan Jacobs and is a member of Congregation BIAV. Mandy and Ariel will each receive an iTouch as their prize.
Rabbi Mendy Wineberg, Chabad House Center’s program director, said while there weren’t quite as many entries this year as there has been the past few years, he continues to be amazed by the amount of effort put into the creations.
“As usual we had a difficult time choosing the winners,” the rabbi said.
“Some entries reflected the beauty of the Chanukah lights, while others incorporated the Maccabee’s victory over the Greek army. One entry even incorporated today’s technology and connected it to the holiday. We wish we could give a grand prize to everyone who entered.”
Sam, the 11-year-old son of Congregation Beth Torah members Jill and Mike Fine, is really excited he won the contest.
“At first I didn’t think it was even real when the rabbi called,” Sam said. “Then I soon realized it was.”
Sam titled his creation “In the Window Shining So Bright.” On his entry form, he said his inspiration for the project was Rabbi Joseph R. Black’s song, which he thought about while making the project. The chorus that inspired him is: “In the window, shining so bright, I can see the Chanukah lights, And it gives me such a warm, friendly glow, When I think of Judah Maccabee, so long ago.”
Sam chose to create a menorah because “it’s the most recognizable symbol of Chanukah.” He originally wanted to create a project made of stained glass, but his mother thought since he hadn’t worked with that medium before it could be a little too complicated for this contest entry. So he decided to do a window art project, which also hangs in a window allowing sun to shine through the colors and looks a lot like the more sophisticated stained glass.
Sam began his project by purchasing an art kit and searching the internet for a picture of a menorah he liked. Then on a piece of glass, using thick black paint, he outlined the menorah on the glass. After the outline dried he used bright colors, including Chanukah blue and a yellow-gold for the flames, to complete the project. It took several days to make the menorah because the paint had to dry between each step for several hours.
Both Sam’s siblings had also entered the Chanukah Art Contest in the past. The family read about it in The Jewish Chronicle.
“I’m really glad I won,” said Sam, who will now own the family’s first iPad.