In these collages, a significant passage of the bar or bat mitzvah’s torah portion is illustrated to convey its meaning. Map collage and Hebrew text are used to express the beauty of Torah. This is a meaningful gift for a bar or bat mitzvah, one they will cherish for a lifetime. Illuminations of any Torah portion can be commissioned or prints of these images can be ordered.

A digital version of a collage may be used for bar and bat mitzvah invitations, thank you notes, programs, etc.

For more information on custom Torah portion collages, bar and bat mitzvah invitations, please contact me.

Selected Works (click on images to see larger views)

Jericho

"Behold, when we come into the land, bind this scarlet cordin the window through which you let us down; and bring into your house your father and mother, your brothers and all your father's household. Joshua 2:18

Sh'lach haftarah

collage of maps and digital photography
20"h, 16"w         NFS                         2011

Vayishlach: Jacob Wrestled with an Angel

Jacob was left alone and a stranger wrestled with him until the break of dawn.  When he saw that he had not prevailed, he touched the upper joint of Jacob's thigh. Jacob's hip became dislocated as he wrestled with the stranger. "Let me leave, dawn is breaking".  "I will not let you leave until you bless me." What is your name?" "Jacob."  "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, you have wrestled with beings divine and human and have prevailed."

collage, watercolour  27"h, 35 "w NFS 2010 

Vayetze 

There before his eyes was a well in the open.  Three flocks of sheep were lying beside it, for the flocks were watered from that well.  The stone on the mouth of the well wa large.  When all the flocks were gathered there, the stone would be rolled from the mouth of the well and the sheep watered; then the stone would be put back in its place on the mouth of the well.

collage, watercolour    27"h, 35 "w    NFS        2010

Seven Wells, Seven Oaths

“Take these seven ewes from my hand, replied Avraham.  It will be my proof that I dug this well.  That area was therefore called Be’er-Sheva, since the two had made an oath there."   

This passage is illustrated with seven sheep and a well for each sheep.  Sheva means ‘seven’ and it means ‘oath’, this passage is the connection between the two meanings of the word.  The sheep are the sacrifice to seal the oath and the well is the proof that the land can be used by Avraham and his descendants,

collage, watercolour   27"h, 35 "w   NFS   2009

VaYikra

"when one of you brings a mammal as an offering to Hashem, the sacrifice must be taken from the cattle sheep or goats".VaYikra 1:2

The sacrifice in modern Israel is land and the sacrificial cow is raised on an altar that is the state of Israel.

collage, watercolour   27"h, 35 "w   NFS   2000

 Seraphim         
The archangels, Gavriel, Michael, Uriel and Raphael are represented as birdlike creatures.   They are perched on the wall of Jerusalem, guarding the holy city.

collage, watercolour 20"h, 28"w    2006  

Safeguarding the Sacred 
A goat is tied to a bed for safe keeping in a Hebrew slave's home.  It will be sacrificied in the morning and it's blood will be spread on the lintels as a warning to the Angel of Death to pass over this home. Parashat Bo

collage, watercolour 27"h, 35"w         2006

Entertaining the Sacred

I decided to make an updated version of Safeguarding the Sacred by placing the goat in a contemporary bedroom with accompanying features. Therefore, the goat is watching a movie on a television. Egypt is represented by the wallpaper design. While the goat is watching the movie the Sea of Reeds (Red Sea) is dividing outside his window. The goat is not tied to the bed, since he is being electronically entertained, there is no fear that he will try to escape.

collage, watercolour   27"h, 35 "w     2007 $2,000    

Eternal Light
Olive trees are fueling the eternal light.“Command the Children of Israel, that they take to you, clear, hand-pressed, olive oil, for illumination, to raise an Eternal Light.” Shemot 27:20

collage, tye-dye paper, 27 "h, 20 "w  NFS 2006

Exodus/Eclipse
This collage was inspired by the Pesach images of the ninth plague, darkness, and the tenth plague, the slaying of the firstborn. Israelite dwellings, made of bones smeared with blood, are traveling out of Egypt on a skateboard. Darkness is represented by the Eclipse logo.

"The blood shall be a sign for  you on the houses where you are staying. I will see the blood and pass you by. There will be no deadly plague among you when I strike Egypt."

Bo 12:13

           
multi media collage 14"h, 18"w  NFS  2004

Noah's Ark

multi media collage                              2003

available as a limited edition print

(see Limited Edition Print page)

Twelve Tribes

torah portion B'midbar

multi media collage                              2004

available as a limited edition print

(see Limited Edition Print page)

Gamelan as Ark
A prophecy of Samuel describes David bringing the ark to the City of David: "And David and all the house of Israel played before G-d with all kinds of instruments made of cypress-wood, with harps, with psalteries, with timbrels, with sistra, and with cymbals" (Samuel 2, 6:5). The ark is in the shape of a gamelan, an Indonesian percussion instrument. The patterning is reminiscent of Indonesian textiles. The carrying device for the ark is formed of  bones, symbolizing Joseph's bones that were brought out of Egypt with the Children of Israel.

Shemini haftarah

collage, tye dyed paper   14"h, 18"w      NFS 2004

Chanukah Haftarah

multi media collage                               2002

available as a limited edition print

(see Limited Edition Print page)

Mikdash
The biblical verse from Terumah “They shall make for Me a sanctuary that I may dwell amongst them..." connects the earth to the sky. Landscape is made from maps of the area covered during the Israelites' years in the desert.

           
collage of maps, hand colouring and Hebrew text  19.5” w, 27" h           2001 
collection of B'nai Torah Congregation, Indpls, IN