At a 2025 interfaith festival, Jewish artist Maureen Barten found shared spiritual meaning in art across Jewish, Indigenous Anglican, and Hindu traditions.

At a 2025 statewide interfaith festival, Jewish artist Maureen Barten found deep connection among diverse religious communities, despite initial hesitation. Leading a sacred art workshop with three artists from different traditions—Jewish, Wiradjuri Anglican, and Vaishnava Hindu—she witnessed striking similarities in their spiritual practices. All saw art as a path to self-discovery, a way to make the invisible visible, and a tool for contemplation and ritual. Their shared understanding of art as a vessel for spiritual, emotional, and relational light resonated with Hanukkah’s themes. The event highlighted that unity and compassion are often already present, revealed through curiosity, respect, and creativity.