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 Hebrew
Blessings
Meaning
Small in physical size, yet brimming over with meaning, Hebrew
Blessings are recited for ordinary and extraordinary experiences:
eating bread, seeing a rainbow, listening to a shofar's blast.
They deny the super- importance of the self by thanking God
for every little and big thing; they are the Jewish way of
seeing the glass as "half full", while giving credit
to the Creator.
Form
Blessings begin with the phrase, "Blessed are You, Lord
our God, Ruler of the universe..."
Blessings to be said before performing mitzvot continue with,
"You make us holy with your commandments and command
us to..."
The statement ends with a phrase that connects it to a particular
experience. It is this final phrase which is calligraphed
in Hebrew next to each illustration.
Goal
My goal is to evoke the essence of each blessing by creating
a pertinent illustration. For example, a broken leaf was chosen
as a metaphor for bad news. The meaning behind the metaphor
is derived from the black ribbon that is torn upon hearing
of the death of a loved one. As one tears the ribbon, the
blessing "...The True Judge" is recited.
Medium
My original drawings are ink on paper. From these, limited
edition prints are generated on a color laser printer. For
each print, I have chosen one of three papers, either tan
parchment, plain ivory, or recycled "milkwood",
depending on the nature of the artwork. Editions are limited
to either eighteen prints (early editions), or one hundred
and eighty prints (subsequent editions).
Presentation
Prints are available, with conservation quality mats and backings,
and wrapped in a clear film for protection. Most images are
12"x16", matted, but some images are 14"x18",
matted. Custom framing is available.
Hebrew
Blessings in Print
Seven illustrations from the Hebrew Blessings series embellish
the book, These are the Words, by Arthur Green, Jewish
Lights Publishing, 1999
"Pomegranate", from the Hebrew Blessings series,
graces the cover of Nina Beth Cardin's book, Tears of Sorrow,
Seeds of Hope, Jewish Lights Publishing, 1999
For
more information, contact Jewish
Lights Publishing.
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