Yaakov Abergel

(2 products)

Born in France in Toulouse, the pink city, of ‘Hananiah Abergel and Esther Malka (née Berdah). Second of three children.

Until adolescence he lives in the countryside in St Ferréol. Around the age of 12, his mother had him take violin lessons that he will follow for 2 years but he decides to stop music to devote himself to drawing and painting. His father who is a merchant in furniture and antiques is passionate about art encourages him to develop his taste for drawing. At the age of 12 he offered him a easel. This relationship which is born between them, that of an admirer of the painters and a budding painter eager for advice and knowledge, continues all their lives.

At the age of 14 following the divorce of his parents he left to live with his mother and his two sisters in Toulouse. During this period he discovered the B.D to which he will not stop devoting himself to the age of 22. During the years in Toulouse he looked a lot, and in addition to a passion for photo and cinema he begins to take an interest in painting. After starting scientific studies, he ended up obtaining an artistic bacchalaureate which leads him to register for the school of architecture in which he will study 2 years. Before taking his exams to enter the third year, he decided to give up to study at St Luc school in Brussels, at the B.D. He will study there for 2 years. During this period he discovered contemporary art and contemporary artists and decided to stop the B.D to devote himself, too, to contemporary art.

He left to live in Italy, in Florence to register in a painting school. During his registration the director of the school at the sight of his work pointed out to him that he would waste his time pursuing studies and that the time had come to embark on life. He will listen to his advice and start a lonely journey. After a year spent in Florence, he left the "Dolce Vita" to return to Toulouse where he spent the Beaux Arts competition he succeeded, but he will only stay a few months at the Fine Art that he will finally leave to devote himself to painting alone. During his brief stay at the Fine Art in Toulouse he meets Annie Merle who sees her work and chooses him among the artists to whom she devotes a work which she will publish entitled: "The painters of the Toulouse school".

Until the age of 27, he will not stop working to paint and draw without ever being able to integrate into an artistic environment, whether in the world of galleries or whether in the middle of painters. Although he does not manage to exhibit his works he continues his research. He is 27 years old and decides to make a real life. His parents, who work in the sale of furniture, help him become a seller. He first worked in his father's store and his mother brings him with her to teach him the job. After difficult beginnings he acquired good bases which allow him to go to live and work alone in a store in Paris. He will work there for 3 years. During this period he continues to draw, most of the time on the blocks that we use for sales. He paints a few paintings and made many drawings from the streets of Paris during his rest days.

His older sister who at that time became a religious, sends her books relating to the deep part of the Torah, to ‘Hassidism‘ Habad and the Rabbi in Loubavitch.

During the holidays he made a trip to Tahiti and Bora Bora. This trip will be decisive in his life because he will wake up again his desire to paint and create to the point that following this trip he decides to resign from his work as a seller to devote himself to painting. He then travels to Montreal in Canada to visit his young sister who has lived there for some time. He makes Haim Sherff's meeting there. This Israeli religious painter who lives in Montreal makes him aware of the importance of being attached to his roots, and recommends him to become more religious by studying the Torah. Indeed, art according to him cannot be dissociated from the divine spirit expressed in the Torah. YAAKOV hears these recommendations and begins in parallel with his work as an artist a religious journey under the influence of the master of ‘Hassidism‘ Habad: Le Rabbi de Loubavitch.

His new habits naturally lead him to pray every morning at the synagogue on rue Pallaprat where the Grand Rabbin Eliahou Haik also prays, and the Chabbath at the Chalia’h synagogue in Rabbi in Toulouse: the Rav Yossef-Itez’hak Matusof which was the first to discover the Rabbi and the Hassidic world. It was during this period that he discovered the Tanya book with Rav Gabriel Sebagh. He also studied ‘Hassidouth‘ Habad with Rav Israel Zerdoun.

He returns to live in Toulouse. His mother meets Dany Simon who owns an art gallery and who organizes a first exhibition that brings together works inspired by the religious world.

It was at this time that he met Liba through David and Edith Hagège, friends of his older sister, and that he will marry on June 22, 1997 in Lyon. A year after her marriage, the couple decided to join Yaakov's sister and her husband Samuel Marquès who have lived in Israel for a year and settles in Jerusalem.

He spends less and less time to paint and draw because he devoted himself to the study of the Torah, first to the Yéchiva du Rav ‘Haï Barkats then and especially to the Kollel of the Rav Shimon Elitouv under the direction of the Rav Avraham Kot. He spent 4 years at Kollel and obtained the rabbinical ordination of the Rav Itz’hak Yéhoudah Yérouslavski. It was during this period that he meets a decisive person in his life, the Rav Ytz’hak-Tsvi Eizenbakh with whom he will study for many years Hassidouth and in particular the book of the Tanya. He attends many Hassidouth lessons, including courses given by Rav Aaron-Mordé’hi Zilberstraum, Rav Chmouel Weinfeld, Rav Chnéor-Zalman Gopin, Rav Avraham-Baroukh Pevzner and Rav Moche Weiner. He mainly attaches himself to Rav Yossef-Itez’hak Offen whose lessons he takes to this day.

His artistic taste will naturally lead him to study Sofrouth in Bneï Brak at the Rav Gerschtenkorn which was recommended to him by Rav Moshe Landau. He obtains the SMI’ha of Sofer of Rav Yérouslavski, which will allow him to exercise the profession of Sofer until today by writing the KTAV of the Hazaken Admour.

In addition, he also obtained a Smi’ha de Cho’heth from Rav Shimon Elitouv but apart from the Kapparoth he makes with his friend of Kollel the Rav Yaakov Cho’hat he will not exercise this profession.

In 2000, birth of his daughter ‘Haya-Mouchka in Jerusalem on the day of Purim Katan.

He changes Kollel and begins to study dayanouth at the Kollel ‘Ariel’ until today, with the Rav Moshe Pinder. He devotes himself more and more to painting and painted many portraits of the masters of ‘Habad. Its creation is increasingly diversifying and it begins a series of navies on wooden pallets.

In addition to his studies and his artistic work he devotes a lot of time to the writing of works based on the teaching of masters of Habad and Rabbi, and in particular on the essence of the soul. This subject will not leave him anymore. He thus publishes 3 books.

In 2009, birth of his two sons on Lag Ba Omer day.

He continues to write a novel started in recent years which brings together travel memories (in particular the trip to Bora-Bora) and reflections on Téchouva. His work is called "Colors in the veins" and reveals his passion for art.

His sister organizes an exhibition of his paintings in Raanana in the “Merkaz Giron” gallery. The opportunity is given to him to present in large paintings a small overview of all of his work based essentially on the Hassidic world.

He then meets Yaakov Benhaim and Moshe Krieger from Météor Lemag magazine who will spend a video on this occasion. This meeting marks the beginning of a collaboration, which will be born the production of Torah and Hassidouth courses.

The dissemination of the sources of ‘Hassidouth is at the center of his concerns and while continuing his studies he provides many courses around him. His artistic activity is intensifying and an incalculable number of drawings is added to his paintings.

His friend Nissim Belma puts him in touch with his brother Elie with whom he designs a site whose objective is to make known his artistic work and to disseminate the sources of ‘Hassidouthi outside.

Since his exhibition in Raanana, he has been used to writing extracts from the Hassidic speeches of the Rabbi de Loubavitch on his paintings. Mixing the words with the images, the painter seems to be able to finally express his love for painting and for the writing he unites on his paintings.

"You no doubt know that the quality of a painter consists in obscuring the external aspect of an object, to forget his contours, to penetrate it, to grasp the deep aspect and the essence, in order to express it by his canvas. Thus, the one who will contemplate it will perceive what he had not previously noticed, when the inner part was hidden by accessory elements."

Rabbi de Loubavitch

Animés, Kawai & Héros (1)
Nature, Ville & Paysage (1)
Spiritualité & Religion (1)
Vivre ensemble (1)

Born in France in Toulouse, the pink city, to 'Hananiah Abergel and Esther Malka (née Berdah). Second of three children.

Until adolescence, he lived in the countryside in St Ferréol. Around the age of 12, his mother enrolled him in violin lessons, which he attended for 2 years, but he decided to stop music to focus on drawing and painting. His father, who is a furniture and antiques merchant and a passionate art lover, encouraged him to develop his taste for drawing. At the age of 12, he gave him an easel. This relationship that was born between them, that of an admirer of painters and a budding painter eager for advice and knowledge, continued throughout their lives.

At the age of 14, following his parents' divorce, he went to live with his mother and two sisters in Toulouse. During this period, he discovered comics, to which he devoted himself until the age of 22. During the years in Toulouse, he searched a lot, and in addition to a passion for photography and cinema, he began to take an interest in painting. After starting scientific studies, he eventually obtained an artistic Baccalaureate, which led him to enroll in the School of Architecture, where he studied for 2 years. Before taking his exams to enter the third year, he decided to leave to study at the St. Luc School in Brussels, at the School of Comics. He studied there for 2 years. During this period, he discovered contemporary art and contemporary artists and decided to stop comics to devote himself, too, to contemporary art.

He leaves to live in Italy, in Florence, to enroll in a painting school. Upon his enrollment, the director of the school, upon seeing his work, remarked that he would be wasting his time pursuing studies and that the time had come to embark on life. He listened to this advice and began a solitary path. After a year spent in Florence, he leaves the "Dolce Vita" to return to Toulouse where he takes the Beaux Arts exam, which he passes, but he will only stay a few months at the Beaux Arts, which he eventually leaves to devote himself solely to painting. During his brief stay at the Beaux Arts in Toulouse, he meets Annie Merle, who sees his work and chooses him among the artists to whom she dedicates a book she will publish titled: "The Painters of the Toulouse School."

Until the age of 27, he does not stop working, painting, and drawing without ever managing to integrate into an artistic community, whether in the world of galleries or in the world of painters. Although he does not manage to exhibit his works, he continues his research. He is 27 years old and decides to truly earn a living. His parents, who work in furniture sales, help him become a salesman. He first works in his father's store, then his mother takes him with her to teach him the trade. After difficult beginnings, he acquires a good foundation that allows him to live and work alone in a store in Paris. He will work there for 3 years. During this period, he continues to draw, mostly on the pads used for sales. He paints a few paintings and makes numerous drawings of the streets of Paris during his days off.

His older sister, who at that time had become a nun, sends him books related to the deep part of the Torah, Chassidism Chabad, and the Rebbe of Lubavitch.

During the holidays, he takes a trip to Tahiti and Bora Bora. This trip will be decisive in his life because it will rekindle his desire to paint and create to the point that following this trip, he decides to resign from his job as a salesman to devote himself to painting. He then travels to Montreal, Canada, to visit his younger sister who has been living there for some time. There, he meets Haim Sherff. This religious Israeli painter living in Montreal makes him aware of the importance of being attached to his roots and recommends that he become more religious by studying the Torah. Indeed, according to him, art cannot be dissociated from the divine spirit expressed in the Torah. Yaakov takes these recommendations seriously and begins a religious journey alongside his work as an artist under the influence of the Master of Chassidism Chabad: the Rebbe of Lubavitch.

His new habits naturally lead him to pray every morning at the Synagogue on Pallaprat Street where the Chief Rabbi Eliahou Haik also prays, and on the Sabbath at the Rabbi's Chaliach Synagogue in Toulouse: Rabbi Yossef-Itz’hak Matusof who was the first to introduce him to the Rabbi and the Hassidic world. It is during this period that he discovers the book of Tanya with Rabbi Gabriel Sebagh. He also studies Chabad Hassidut with Rabbi Israel Zerdoun.

He returns to live in Toulouse. His mother meets Dany Simon who is the owner of an art gallery and organizes his first exhibition which gathers works inspired by the religious world.

It is at this time that he meets Liba through David and Edith Hagège, friends of his older sister, and he marries her on June 22, 1997, in Lyon. A year after his marriage, the couple decides to join Yaakov's sister and her husband Samuel Marquès who have been living in Israel for a year and settle in Jerusalem.

He spends less and less time painting and drawing as he devotes himself to the study of the Torah, first at the Yeshiva of Rabbi Haï Barkats and then especially at the Kollel of Rabbi Shimon Elitouv under the direction of Rabbi Avraham Kot. He spends 4 years at the Kollel and obtains rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Itz’hak Yehudah Yeruslavski. It is during this period that he meets a decisive person in his life, Rabbi Ytz’hak-Tsvi Eizenbakh with whom he will study Hassidut for many years, particularly the book of Tanya. He attends numerous Hassidut courses, including those taught by Rabbi Aaron-Mordechai Zilberstraum, Rabbi Shmouel Weinfeld, Rabbi Schneor-Zalman Gopin, Rabbi Avraham-Baroukh Pevzner, and Rabbi Moshe Weiner. He especially attaches himself to Rabbi Yossef-Itz’hak Offen whose courses he follows to this day.

His artistic taste will naturally lead him to study Sofrouth in Bnei Brak with Rav Gerschtenkorn, who was recommended to him by Rav Moshe Landau. He obtains the Smi'ha of Sofer from Rav Yeruslavski, which allows him to practice the profession of Sofer until today by writing the Ktav of the Admour Hazaken.

Additionally, he also obtains a Smi'ha of Cho'heth from Rav Shimon Elitouv, but apart from the Kapparoth he performs with his friend from the Kollel, Rav Yaakov Cho'hat, he will not practice this profession.

In 2000, his daughter Chaya-Moushka is born in Jerusalem on the day of Purim Katan.

He changes Kollel and begins to study dayanouth at the Kollel 'Ariel' and continues to this day, with Rav Moshe Pinder. He devotes more and more time to painting and paints numerous portraits of the Masters of Chabad. His creation diversifies more and more and he begins a series of marines on wooden palettes.

In parallel with his studies and his artistic work, he devotes a lot of time to writing books based on the teachings of the Masters of Chabad and the Rabbi, particularly on the essence of the soul. This subject will never leave him. He thus publishes 3 books.

In 2009, the birth of his two sons on the day of Lag Ba Omer.

He continues writing a novel started a few years ago that brings together travel memories (particularly the trip to Bora-Bora) and reflections on Teshuva. His work is entitled "colors in the veins" and reveals his passion for Art.

His sister organizes an exhibition of his paintings in Raanana at the "Merkaz Giron" gallery. He is given the opportunity to present in large paintings a small overview of his entire work based mainly on the Hasidic world.

He then meets Yaakov Benhaim and Moshe Krieger from the magazine Meteor LeMag, who will dedicate a video on this occasion. This meeting marks the beginning of a collaboration that will lead to the production of videos of Torah and Hasidic courses.

The dissemination of Hasidic sources is at the center of his concerns and while continuing his studies, he gives many courses around him. His artistic activity intensifies and countless drawings are added to his paintings.

His friend Nissim Belma puts him in touch with his brother Elie with whom he designs a website aimed at making his artistic work known and disseminating the Sources of Hasidic outside.

Since his exhibition in Raanana, he takes the habit of writing excerpts from the Hasidic speeches of the Rabbi of Lubavitch on his canvases. Thus mixing words with images, the painter seems finally able to express his love for painting and for writing that he unites on his canvases.

“You undoubtedly know that the quality of a painter consists in obscuring the exterior appearance of an object, in forgetting its contours, to penetrate it, grasp its deep aspect and essence, in order to express it through his canvas. Thus, the one who will contemplate it will perceive what he had not previously noticed, when the inner part was hidden by accessory elements.”