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A·Borshevsky: From Alef-bet to Conceptual Calligraphy

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Biography

Avraham Borshevsky (b. 1970) is a world-renowned calligraphy artist and master scribe (sofer-STaM). A member of The Israeli Professional Visual Artists Association and IAA/AIAP. A government supplier. Two-time Guinness World Record Holder.

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Borshevsky lives and works in Jerusalem and creates unique and custom designed works of art, which are distinguished by the original design of ancient texts and the virtuosity of their execution. Complying with Halachic law, he creatively extends the Jewish ceremonial art tradition and has devoted himself to creating original parchment manuscripts based on sacred Hebrew Scriptures and Gematria. Artworks of Avraham Borshevsky are located in museums, synagogues and private collections of dozens of countries around the world.

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Avraham Borshevsky was born on Hanukkah 1970 in the small Ukrainian city of Korosten, USSR. Soon the family moved to Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). He studied there an academic drawing and art history at the Faculty of Architecture of LISI. Borshevsky studied Hebrew on his own. He continued his Jewish education, which he began as a student, with the rabbis of the Shvut Ami Yeshiva in Jerusalem. ​Avraham studied the Talmud with Rabbi Shlomo haLevi Bamberger (1926, Hamburg - 2015, Jerusalem - a direct descendant of the author of the book “Melekhet Shamayim”). After professional training with Dr. Michael Khanin and passing exams with Rabbi Mordechai Friedlander of Mishmeret STaM, Borshevsky became a certified sofer, i.e., a master scribe of sacred Jewish scrolls (1996) and, since 2000, a certified expert of it (bodek).

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In 2004, Avraham Borshevsky scribed a unique kosher Mezuzah parchment recognized as a masterpiece of Hebrew sacred calligraphy. It has been documented by Guinness World Records™ as the world’s largest. Covered in major media, the sensational appearance of Borshevsky's mezuzah inspired and continues to inspire creative Jews from different countries to set new world records related to the biblical commandments and Jewish Tradition. Avraham’s mezuzah set another Guinness World Record, becoming the most expensive mezuzah in history. It became a highlight of the World Calligraphy Museum’s collection in Moscow.

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Borshevsky provides calligraphy services for official meetings at the Israeli President’s House in Jerusalem. This includes handwritten presidential Guest books for all official meetings with visiting heads of states, foreign ministers, and new ambassadors to Israel.​

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In the Certificates of Honour of the Israeli Memorial Institute Yad Vashem, Borshevsky writes in Hebrew, English, French, Polish and Russian the heroic names of the “Righteous Among the Nations” who selflessly resisted the Holocaust.

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World Record Achievements & Media Acclaim

  • 2004 & 2009 — The Grand Mezuzah | The historic masterpiece of Hebrew sacred calligraphy created by Avraham Borshevsky. It holds a unique double distinction by Guinness World Records™, documented both as the World's Largest Kosher Mezuzah (2004) and for the highest commercial valuation of a traditional parchment artifact in history (2009).

 

The sensational appearance, halachic validation, and extensive rabbinical and scientific recognition surrounding this landmark record-holding masterwork have been widely covered by major international media, television broadcasts, and publications, including the global news agency Reuters, The Jewish Chronicle (London), The Forward / Russian Forward (New York), the official chronicle Rossiyskaya Gazeta, The Jerusalem Post (including its main English, French, and Christian editions)​, Israel National News, Hamodia, Yedioth Ahronoth, and Maariv — as well as national television broadcasts including The Children's Channel (Arutz HaYeladim), inspiring cultural creators worldwide.

 

Beyond his world-record achievements, Avraham Borshevsky’s authoritative status as a calligraphy expert has been documented by premier global press agencies, including the Associated Press (AP). Reflecting his prominent cultural presence, he was also featured in a high-profile aesthetic campaign in Haaretz, captured in his Jerusalem studio alongside a life-sized display of his landmark masterwork.

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​Institutional Commissions, Prizes & Awards

Designed and executed on parchment as official international awards and laureates' diplomas:

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  • 2025 — The HaNadiv Award Parchment Scroll| United Israeli Appeal - Keren Hayesod.

  • 2024 — The Keren Hayesod Ze'ev Jabotinsky Award | For Exemplary Leadership.

  • 2024 — The Janet Simons Award | United Israeli Appeal - Keren Hayesod.

  • 2023 — The HaNadiv Award Parchment Scroll | United Israeli Appeal - Keren Hayesod.

  • 2023 — The Max Freilich Award | United Israeli Appeal - Keren Hayesod.

  • 2021 — The Genesis Prize | A fully decorated canonical Song of Songs parchment scroll.

  • 2018 — The Israel Hero Award | The Beverly Hills Synagogue.

  • Since 2013 — The Prophet Isaiah Awards | United Israeli Appeal - Keren Hayesod.

  • 2010 — The Rabbinic Leadership Award Diploma| The Friends of Nahal Haredi.

  • 2010 — The Prophet Isaiah Award | The American Jewish Committee.

  • 2009 — The Jan Karski Award | The American Jewish Committee.

  • 2004 — The International Maimonides Award | The Laureate's Parchment Diploma.

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Exhibition History

​Solo Exhibitions

  • 2019 — Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater | In collaboration with the Israeli Cultural Center, Kiev, Ukraine.

  • 2018 — The Slovak National Museum of Jewish Culture | “Máme 25...”, Bratislava, Slovakia.

  • 2018 — Israeli Cultural Center | Odessa, Ukraine.

  • 2016 — Israeli Cultural Center | Minsk, Belarus.

  • 2010 — The State Library for Foreign Literature | “Sacred Hebrew Calligraphy of Avraham Borshevsky”, Moscow, Russia.

  • 2010 — The Jewish Cultural Center | “Black Fire” photography exhibition, Moscow, Russia.

  • 2010 — The Jewish Community Center | Volgograd, Russia.

  • 2010 — Taras Shevchenko Palace of Culture | In collaboration with the Israeli Cultural Center, Melitopol, Ukraine.

  • 2009 — State University of Informatics and Artificial Intelligence | In collaboration with the Israeli Cultural Center, Donetsk, Ukraine.

  • 2009 — The Israeli Cultural Center | Moscow, Russia.

  • 2003 — The Jewish Cultural Center | “The Revival of the Jewish Calligraphy Art”, Moscow, Russia.

  • 2002 — The Municipal Cultural Center | Jerusalem, Israel.

 

Two-Person Exhibitions

  • 2010 — The Slovak National Museum of Jewish Culture | “Posolstvo z Jeruzalema” (Embassy from Jerusalem), joint exhibition with silversmith Avi Biran, Bratislava, Slovakia.

 

Selected Group & International Exhibitions

  • 2021 — Henry Luce III Center for the Arts & Religion | “Visual Music: Calligraphy & Sacred Texts. Poetry of the Hebrew Bible” (Virtual), USA.

  • 2019 — The World Calligraphy Museum | “Private Museums of Russia. Talents of Russia” (Exhibition & Catalog), Moscow, Russia.

  • 2017 — The VI International Exhibition of Calligraphy | Moscow, Russia.

  • 2015 — Novosibirsk State Museum of Fine Arts | “Eternal Values” Jewish & Chinese Calligraphy, Russia.

  • 2015 — The V International Exhibition of Calligraphy | Moscow, Russia.

  • 2012 — The IV International Exhibition of Calligraphy | Exhibition & Catalog, Moscow, Russia.

  • 2010 — The III International Exhibition of Calligraphy | Exhibition & Catalog, Veliki Novgorod, Russia.

  • 2009 — The II International Exhibition of Calligraphy | Exhibition & Catalog, Moscow, Russia.

  • 2008 — Callifest '08 | International Calligraphy Exhibition, Mumbai, India.

  • 2008 — Kehillat Yedidya Synagogue | “In Four Languages”, Jerusalem, Israel.

  • 2008 — International Calligraphic Exhibition | Exhibition & Catalog, St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia.

  • 2007 — The Slovak National Museum of Jewish Culture | “Greetings from Israel II”, Bratislava, Slovakia.

  • 2004 — Russian State Art Library | “The Art of the People of The Book. Judaism in Art”, Moscow, Russia.

  • 2003 — Macalester College | “A Precious Legacy: The Ten Commandments in Ten Versions”, DeWitt Wallace Library, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.

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Symposia

  • 2013 — The Second International Pergamon Symposium | Bergama, Turkey.

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Lectures & Academic Engagement

Avraham Borshevsky actively shares his specialized knowledge and unique calligraphic mastery beyond his private studio in Talbiya, Jerusalem. His acclaimed lectures and masterclasses, focusing on the history, aesthetics, and sacred canon of Hebrew manuscripts, have been hosted by leading cultural and academic institutions worldwide, including:

  • The Museum of the Academy of Arts | St. Petersburg.

  • The École Biblique et Archéologique Française | Jerusalem.

  • The Slovak National Museum of Jewish Culture | Bratislava, Slovakia.

  • The Bible Lands Museum | Jerusalem.

  • The Wolfson Museum of Jewish Art | Hechal Shlomo, Jerusalem.

  • The Menachem Begin Heritage Center | Jerusalem.

  • The Jerusalem Great Synagogue | Jerusalem.

  • The Korosten Synagogue | Korosten, Ukraine.

  • Shavei Tikva Community Center | Petah Tikva, Israel.

  • The Jewish Community Center (JCC) | Krakow, Poland.

  • The Israeli Cultural Centers | Moscow & St. Petersburg.

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Selected Provenance & Permanent Collections

Public & Institutional Collections

  • The World Calligraphy Museum | Moscow, Russia.

  • The Slovak National Museum of Jewish Culture | Bratislava, Slovakia.

  • The Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan | Astana, Kazakhstan.

  • DeWitt Wallace Library | Macalester College, USA.

  • The “Ezras Israel” Synagogue | Rockville, USA.

  • The Harvey Wolinets’ Judaica Collection | USA.

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Distinguished Private Collections

Artworks are held in prominent private and state collections worldwide. Among the distinguished recipients and owners are:

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Selected Bibliography

  • Pludwinski, Izzy. The Beauty of the Hebrew Letter: From Sacred Scrolls to Graffiti. Brandeis University Press, USA, 2023. ISBN 9781684581467

  • Yagi, Kenji (八木 健治). 羊皮紙の世界 (The World of Parchment). Japan, 2022. ISBN 9784000254755

  • Yagi, Kenji (八木 健治). 羊皮紙のすべて (All About Parchment). Japan, 2021. ISBN 9784791773503

  • Epstein, Marc. Skies of Parchment, Seas of Ink: Jewish Illuminated Manuscripts. Princeton University Press, USA, 2015. ISBN 9780691165240

  • Pludwinski, Izzy. Mastering Hebrew Calligraphy. The Toby Press, Israel, 2012. ISBN 9781592643417

  • Moria, Avner. Scrolls of Esther. Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem. ISBN 965-7027-25x

  • The Book of Amazing Facts and Feats. Feldheim Publishers, 2012. ISBN 9781598268468

  • Guinness World Records 2011, p. 93. GWR LTD, London, 2010. ISBN 9781904994589

  • Guinness World Records 2009, p. 265. GWR LTD, London, 2008. ISBN 9781904994367​

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