This year marked the 21st annual AJW Hanuka Cover Contest, for students in grades 1-8, which inspired more 66 young artists in the community to reflect on the meaning of the Festival of Lights. There were many outstanding works of art, but one displayed a higher standard of creativity and draftsmanship.
We are proud to announce that Sara Hoffman is the winner of this year’s Hanuka Cover Contest.
Sara, who lives in Morris, Minn., is in fifth grade at Morris Elementary School. During an interview on Sunday at Temple of Aaron Synagogue in St. Paul, where she is enrolled in the Rabbi Bernard S. Raskas Religious School, Sara discussed her inspiration for the winning artwork.
As has been the case in the recent past, the winning artwork reflects the omnipresence of digital technology. “My mom and brothers have iPods,” Sara said, regarding her technology theme. In her rendering, the popular Apple iPad has become a “Chai-Pad,” with Hanuka symbols, and apps for Hanuka music and the game “Angry Assyrians,” among other options.
Asked about her favorite Hanuka rituals, Sara quickly responded, “Lighting the menora and presents.”
Sara’s favorite school subject is science, specifically, “space”; perhaps she will become an astronaut. She also is an accomplished gymnast and dancer, so zero gravity would open up new possibilities.
Sara Hoffman
Sara studies dance at A Few Footnotes studio in Morris. And for the past seven years, she has taken classes at Circus Juventas in St. Paul, and performed with the youth performing arts circus in aerial acts (triple trapeze and mini-hammock) and the acrobatic vault-mini trampoline.
It should be noted that it’s a three-hour commute from Morris to gymnastic lessons and Sunday school in St. Paul. Sara and her parents often are up at 5:30 a.m. and on the road.
Sara is the daughter of Marshall and Julia Hoffman, and the sister of Ira, Yasha and Isaac.
Yasha was the first runner-up of the Hanuka Cover Contest in 2008, and won the competition in 2009. “It runs in the family,” Sara commented about the Hoffman siblings’ art talent.
Many readers likely will recall that Marshall Hoffman is a former managing editor of the Jewish World.
As this year’s winner, Sara receives a Target gift card, courtesy of the AJW. She and the other winners this year also receive a Manischewitz Chanukah House Decorating Kit, courtesy of Manischewitz, which is sponsoring its own Chanukah House Decorating Contest (facebook.com/Manischewitz.).
Also, Sara and the runners-up get a baseball-style cap with embroidered letters on the front, “AJW HANUKA COVER CONTEST WINNER,” and other Hanuka treats.
We congratulate all of the artists who entered our contest this year. You’re all winners in our book. We hope to see your work again next year! — Mordecai Specktor
