Yaacov Heller

Heller was born in 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio, as Jack E. Heller into a traditional Jewish family.{{cite web |title=Yaacov Heller {{!}} Yaacov Heller 1941- artist {{!}} The National Library of Israel |url=https://www.nli.org.il/en/books/NNL_ALEPH003896224/NLI |website=www.nli.org.il |publisher=The National Library of Israel |access-date=23 October 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite news|date=August 25, 1981|title=The Gifts Prime Minister Begin will take with him to Egypt|work=Maariv}}{{Cite news|date=April 25, 1980|title=Hellers Works Can Be Found World Wide|work=Israelitisches Wochenblatt}} He studied at the Cleveland Museum of Art and has served in the US Navy.{{cite news |title=A Walk to Remember • Boca Magazine |url=https://www.bocamag.com/a-walk-to-remember-3/ |access-date=23 October 2020 |work=Boca Magazine |date=20 November 2014}}{{Cite news|date=May 7, 1976|title=Israeli Artist Sculpture Presented to Mr. Vorster|work=South African Jewish Times}}{{Cite news|date=December 16, 1978|title=Giant Killer in Jerusalem|work=The Cleveland Press}} In 1965, he moved to California, and began to develop a wide range of custom-made gold jewelry.{{Cite journal|last=|first=|date=November 20, 2014|title=A Walk to Remember|url=|journal=Boca Magazine|volume=|pages=|via=}}

Heller quickly became friends with some of Hollywood's royalty, creating custom art for them – including earrings for Shelley Winters, paintings and sculptures for Sammy Davis Jr., and a special pendant for the hit show, "The Courtship of Eddie's Father." This pendant was commissioned to Heller by the show's producer, James Komack. Heller created 150 fourteen-karat gold pendants, which represented the "clasped hands logo" of the show. They were given as holiday gifts and worn by a "whos who" on the MGM lot, including Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley, and Bill Bixby amongst many others.{{Cite web|title=From Jerusalem to South Florida Sculptor Yaacov Heller Brings Peace Through His Works |first=Krista |last=Martinelli |work=Around Wellington Magazine |url=http://esgassoc.com/Wellingtom%20Magazine/Article.htm |access-date=2020-07-27}}

In 1972 he became a resident of Jerusalem, Israel, and was a member of Kibbutz Urim.{{Cite web |title=Information Center for Israeli Art {{!}} The Israel Museum, Jerusalem |url=https://museum.imj.org.il/artcenter/newsite/en/?artist=Heller,%20Yaacov&list=H |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=museum.imj.org.il}}{{Cite web |title=Yaacov Heller |url=http://www.foundationfineart.com/portfolio-posts/yaacov-heller/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Foundation Fine Art |language=en-US}}

Since the 1970s, Heller has been commissioned to create silver and bronze electroformed-cast representations of Biblical figures. These were given to world leaders including Gerald Ford, King Sobhuza II, Husni Mubarak, Anwar Sadat, and John Vorster.{{Cite web|date=November 14, 2019|title=See Goliath Fall|url=https://txlcms.org/see-goliath-fall/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=The Texas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod}}{{cite book |title=Israeli Gifts for the President and Mrs. Ford |url=https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/document/0126/76018451.pdf |access-date=3 December 2020}}{{Cite news|date=September 9, 1981|title=Knesset speaker delivers gift fit for a king|work=Jerusalem Post}}{{Cite news|date=May 6, 1976|title=Statue big draw at show|work=The Star}}

File:Yaacov Heller and Benjamin Ferencz.jpg

According to The Boca Newspaper and the Sun Sentinel newspaper, Heller has created a wide range of Judaica statues and busts, and figural statuaries such as the Fiddler on the Roof, Count and Countess de Hoernle, and the Bust of Benjamin Ferencz.{{Cite web |first=Dale |last=King |title=Boca's icon of philanthropy Countess Henrietta de Hoernle, 103 |url=https://bocanewspaper.com/bocas-icon-philanthropy-countess-henrietta-de-hoernle-103-22076 |date=August 4, 2016 |access-date=2020-07-27|website=Boca Newspaper|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=September 14, 2011|title=Countess' 99th birthday party set at Mizner Park|work=Sun Sentinel|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2011-09-14-fl-brf-watch-0914-20110914-story.html|access-date=}}

In 2014, Heller was commissioned to create The Garden of Humanity, a memorial which recognizes the six major genocides of the 20th century.{{Cite web |last=Shatzman |first=Marci |title=Garden of Humanity gathering rallies community against hate |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-brf-rally-0706-20160706-story.html|access-date=2020-07-27 |work=Sun Sentinel}}{{Cite web|title=A Stroll In The Garden of Humanity|url=https://www.jpost.com/blogs/think-with-me/a-stroll-in-the-garden-of-humanity-452724|access-date=2020-07-27|website=The Jerusalem Post}} It was unveiled April 25, 2015.{{Cite web|last=Shatzman|first=Marci|date=May 6, 2015|title='Never Again': Peace park dedicated in Boca|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-brf-peace-0506-20150506-story.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-07-27|website=Sun Sentinel}}

On September 7, 2020, the documentary Two Heads Are Better Than One: Making of the Ben Ferencz Bust,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Two Heads Are Better Than One: Making of the Ben Ferencz Bust|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12695294/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=IMDB}} starring Ferencz and sculptor Yaacov Heller, world premiered. It was produced by Eric Kline Productions and directed by Eric Kline.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-09|title=Boca artist Yaacov Heller still creating masterworks at age 80|url=https://www.bocaratontribune.com/bocaratonnews/2021/03/boca-artist-yaacov-heller-still-creating-masterworks-at-age-80/|access-date=2021-03-16|website=Boca Raton's Most Reliable News Source|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=September 7, 2020|title=Two Heads Are Better Than One World Premiere|url=https://yiddishfest.org/speaker/two-heads-better-one/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=YiddushFest.org}}

On December 17, 2020, Benjamin Ferencz was decorated with the title of 'Distinguished Honorary Fellow of the ICC' and his bust, created by Heller, was unveiled to be housed permanently at the International Criminal Court in the Hague.{{Cite web|title=Benjamin B. Ferencz receives Distinguished Honorary Fellowship of the International Criminal Court|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=pr1555|access-date=2021-01-04|website=www.icc-cpi.int|language=en-GB}}

File:The Garden of Humanity.jpg

• A collection of Heller's Biblical tableaus was displayed at the Peeler Art Center of DePauw University from April to May, 2015.{{Cite web|title=2019 Exhibits|url=https://www.depauw.edu/arts-and-culture/arts/peeler/archives/2019-exhibits/|access-date=2020-07-27|website=DePauw University|language=en}}
• The original David and Goliath presented to Gerald Ford is now in the Gerald Ford Library Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Israeli Gifts for the President and Mrs. Ford|url=https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/document/0126/76018451.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Ford Library Museum}}

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• Clasped Hands, (1966)
• David and Goliath, (1974){{Cite news|date=December 30, 1977|title=The Bible in Silver|work=The Jerusalem Post}}
• The Sacrifice of Isaac, (1972)
• The Death of Samson, (1975){{cite web |title=Heller Yaacov {{!}} Samson's Death {{!}} MutualArt |url=https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/Samson-s-Death/EEA54FCA1201DE2E |website=www.mutualart.com |access-date=23 October 2020 |language=en}}
• Elijah Rising to Heaven, (1976){{cite news |title=Elijah Rising to Heaven - Aug 06, 2017 {{!}} J. Sugarman Auction Corp. in FL |url=https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/54989407_elijah-rising-to-heaven |access-date=23 October 2020 |work=LiveAuctioneers |language=en}}
• Fiddler on the Roof, (1989){{Cite web|last=Fiddler on the Roof in Douglas Gardens|date=|title=From Jerusalem to South Florida Sculptor Yaacov Heller Brings Peace Through His Works|url=https://aroundwellington.com/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Around Wellington Magazine}}
• Flossy’s Fountain, (2003){{Cite web|title=Flossy's Fountain, Mizner Park, Boca Raton, Florida - Fountains on Waymarking.com|url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7HQT_Flossys_Fountain_Mizner_Park_Boca_Raton_Florida|access-date=2020-08-01|website=www.waymarking.com}}{{Cite web|last=Yari|first=Ethel|date=December 28, 2001|title=WOMAN GIVES $250,000 FOR FOUNTAIN|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2001-12-28-0112260136-story.html|access-date=2021-03-31|website=Sun-Sentinel.com|language=en-US}}
• Count Adolph and Countess Henrietta de Hoernle, bronze, (2011){{cite web |title=Count Adolph and Countess Henrietta de Hoernle - Boca Raton, FL - Statues of Historic Figures on Waymarking.com |url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMENE7_Count_Adolph_and_Countess_Henrietta_de_Hoernle_Boca_Raton_FL |website=www.waymarking.com |access-date=23 October 2020}}
• Menorah, bronze, 15-feet high (2014), Congregation B’Nai Torah, South Boca Raton{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=B'nai Torah Menorah|url=https://yaacovheller.com/artwork/bnai-torah-menorah/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Yaacov Heller}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=April 4, 2014|title=Synagogue to dedicate Yaacov Heller sculpture|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2014-04-04-fl-bnai-torah-sculpture-topper-20140402-story.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Sun Sentinel}}
• The Garden of Humanity, (2015){{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Garden of Humanity Gathering Rallies Community Against Hate|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-brf-rally-0706-20160706-story.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Sun Sentinel}}
• Bust of Benjamin Ferencz, (2019){{cite web |title=Benjamin Ferencz Bust |url=https://yaacovheller.com/artwork/benjamin-ferencz-bust/ |website=Yaacov Heller |access-date=23 October 2020}}{{cite web |title=Benjamin B. Ferencz receives Distinguished Honorary Fellowship of the International Criminal Court |url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=pr1555 |website=www.icc-cpi.int |access-date=2 January 2021}}

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{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|https://yaacovheller.com/}}
• {{IMDb title|qid=Q123741328}}

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Category:Jewish American artists

Category:20th-century American sculptors

Category:1941 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:21st-century American sculptors