A tribute to the cartoonist whose sharp pen and wit captured the heart of the Jewish experience for generations
Israeli cartoonist Yaakov Kirschen, creator of the iconic “Dry Bones” comic strip, passed away on April 14, 2025, at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba after a prolonged illness. He was 87 years old. His pen offered a lens into the soul of the Jewish people, chronicling five decades of history, satire, and identity through a single, unmistakable style.
Born Jerry Kirschen on March 8, 1938, in Brooklyn, he pursued a dual major in Fine Arts and Economics at Queens College, graduating in 1961. Even as a student, his illustrations captured the nuances of American Jewish life and foreshadowed the cultural voice he would later become. After graduation, he illustrated greeting cards for Norcross and contributed humorous cartoons to Cracked magazine. These early works revealed his growing talent for combining wit, warmth, and critique—a formula that would become his signature.
In 1971, Kirschen made aliyah to Eretz Yisrael and adopted the Hebrew name Yaakov. On January 1, 1973, his groundbreaking “Dry Bones” strip debuted in The Jerusalem Post. Named after the vision in Sefer Yechezkel of dry bones returning to life, the strip was conceived as a visual voice of the Jewish people.
Mr. Shuldig, whose name is derived from the Yiddish word for “guilty” or “to blame,” made his first appearance in the inaugural “Dry Bones” strip. In that cartoon, Shuldig cheekily dodged responsibility for a mishap—setting the tone for a character who would go on to deliver decades of humor and introspection. Over time, he evolved into Kirschen’s alter ego, expressing personal insights and asking the questions we all wanted to ask.
The strip quickly gained attention and was soon syndicated in major newspapers such as The New York Times, Time, The Los Angeles Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Kirschen’s voice—expressed through Shuldig—was bold, humorous, and deeply rooted in Jewish experience.
The enduring popularity of “Dry Bones” extended beyond daily newspapers. In 2013, Kirschen published The Dry Bones Passover Haggadah, blending traditional text with his iconic illustrations and wit. It sold out its first 40,000-copy print run and became a beloved addition to seder tables worldwide.
“The First Shuldig” – January 1, 1973
Published in the debut “Dry Bones cartoon” in The Jerusalem Post, this strip introduced Mr. Shuldig with a sharp scene about blame-shifting in Israeli politics. His comic evasion of responsibility captured Kirschen’s unique voice—bold, satirical, and deeply Jewish.
“The Exodus from Egypt” – Passover Edition (2013)
Featured in conjunction with the launch of The Dry Bones Passover Haggadah, this cartoon comically compares the haste of the Exodus with the frantic pace of contemporary seder preparations. It resonates with Orthodox families who find timeless meaning in the retelling of Yetzias Mitzrayim.
Kirschen’s ability to balance levity with legacy was perhaps most powerfully demonstrated in his final strip, “Togetherness,” published just days before his passing on April 11, 2025. In it, Mr. Shuldig reflects on the unity of the Jewish people across generations—a fitting farewell from a man who spent a lifetime chronicling the spirit of his nation through ink and imagination.
Beyond his cartoons, Kirschen’s intellect and conviction found platforms in academia. As a visiting fellow at Yale University from 2009 to 2010, he authored a notable paper exploring how antisemitic imagery spreads across cultures and eras. “Antisemitism is a cultural virus,” he wrote, echoing his cartoonist’s mission to fight hate with clarity, creativity, and courage.
Over the course of his career, Kirschen received numerous accolades. He was a member of both the National Cartoonists Society and the Israeli Cartoonists Society. In 2014, he was awarded the Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize for culture and also received the Golden Pencil Award from the Israeli Museum of Caricature and Comics.
Kirschen is survived by his wife, artist Sali Ariel, who collaborated with him and supported his creative journey. His legacy continues through the” Dry Bones” archive, which remains accessible to the public.
Explore his work at drybones.com and submit reflections or tributes for next week’s “Your Say” section to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
May his memory be a blessing.
