|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
Double click to edit
please click to enlarge
While building our personal Beit HaMikdash, we are filled with intense yearning, yet also encounter numerous falls. Sometimes it seems we are nearing accomplishment, only to find ourselves facing intense darkness. We're chasing after HaKadosh Baruch Hu and beginning to see, only to experience feeling pushed away. This compels us to stand yet again with renewed strength.
King Solomon teaches us (Mishlei 24:10) "a righteous person falls seven times, then rises." While pondering the number seven, I found many instances in which the number seven was indicative of one reality which was later transformed to another reality through strongly cleaving to HaShem.
One example of this are the seven barren women who eventually went on to bear children: Sarah, Rivka, Rachel, Leah, Chana, the wife of Manoach, and finlly Zion...may we merit to immediately bring about her complete rebuilding through our devotion and emuna, and our desire to see her remembered.
King Solomon teaches us (Mishlei 24:10) "a righteous person falls seven times, then rises." While pondering the number seven, I found many instances in which the number seven was indicative of one reality which was later transformed to another reality through strongly cleaving to HaShem.
One example of this are the seven barren women who eventually went on to bear children: Sarah, Rivka, Rachel, Leah, Chana, the wife of Manoach, and finlly Zion...may we merit to immediately bring about her complete rebuilding through our devotion and emuna, and our desire to see her remembered.
Seven Barren Women
Shalem
Imagine the intense sweetness of the moment our forefather Yaakov finally returned to Eretz Yisrael after an absence of twenty two years.
VaYavo Yaakov Shalem: And Yaakov arrived in Shalem. Shalem is also whole, complete.
Rashi comments: Complete in body, that he had healed from his limp. Complete in finances, despite his gift to his brother, and complete in his Torah, that he had not forgotten his learning despite being in the house of Lavan.
May we also hear HaShem's call after two thousand years of exile, and my our return also be complete.
VaYavo Yaakov Shalem: And Yaakov arrived in Shalem. Shalem is also whole, complete.
Rashi comments: Complete in body, that he had healed from his limp. Complete in finances, despite his gift to his brother, and complete in his Torah, that he had not forgotten his learning despite being in the house of Lavan.
May we also hear HaShem's call after two thousand years of exile, and my our return also be complete.
LaLevana
The first mitzva given to the Jewish People was Kiddush HaChodesh, sanctifying the new moon. What is so special about the moon? From our standpoint, the moon replenishes and rejuvinates every month. The moon appears to gets very small, but then always comes back.
There are many lessons to be derived from this. One may be to look beyond our original perceptions. What seems to be small and insignificant may actually be something which posesses great light.
There are many lessons to be derived from this. One may be to look beyond our original perceptions. What seems to be small and insignificant may actually be something which posesses great light.
Shirat HaYonim
One very early morning our three year old daughter pleaded with me to take her to the Kotel. As we approched the Kotel, she was excited by the hundreds of pigeon-doves who seemed to be joining us, to help gather up our prayers, at the place where all t'fillot of Am Yisrel ascend.
Soon after, a group of students who had just returned from a tour of Poland and the extermination camps arrived at the Kotel Plaza. They were joyously singing "ViShavu Banim LiGevulam"---and the sons will return to their borders.
In Shir HaShirim, the Jewish people are compared to doves. "My dove is in the cracks of the stone" (Shir HaShirim 2:14). A dove searches for the cracks of stones in order to hide from her predators. Rashi tells us that by the splitting of the sea, Am Yisrael, as the dove, tried to escape her predators, only to find no place to hide, nowhere to go. Yet we still trusted in HaShem, and the sea split. As a nation, and also in our personal lives, we will hit many rough moments, yet we continue to hold onto HaKadosh Baruch Hu. and just when it seems there is no more strength to hold on, things start to fall into place, ViShavu Banim LiG'vulam.
Soon after, a group of students who had just returned from a tour of Poland and the extermination camps arrived at the Kotel Plaza. They were joyously singing "ViShavu Banim LiGevulam"---and the sons will return to their borders.
In Shir HaShirim, the Jewish people are compared to doves. "My dove is in the cracks of the stone" (Shir HaShirim 2:14). A dove searches for the cracks of stones in order to hide from her predators. Rashi tells us that by the splitting of the sea, Am Yisrael, as the dove, tried to escape her predators, only to find no place to hide, nowhere to go. Yet we still trusted in HaShem, and the sea split. As a nation, and also in our personal lives, we will hit many rough moments, yet we continue to hold onto HaKadosh Baruch Hu. and just when it seems there is no more strength to hold on, things start to fall into place, ViShavu Banim LiG'vulam.
Giclee prints are available for all paintings
The Withdrawing of Hands
The first blessing we recite in the morning is Al Netilat Yadayim, literally upon the withdrawing of hands. As we we go about doing our part to fix our own little corner of the world, sometimes we need to step back, to pause, to momentarily withdraw our hands, so to speak. To create space for our Creator to give life to our undertakings.
This space is not inertia, rather a keen awareness that HaShem is giving life to our creations. And that even if our work doesn't bear immediate fruit, our efforts, if for the right reasons, are still meaningful.
This space is not inertia, rather a keen awareness that HaShem is giving life to our creations. And that even if our work doesn't bear immediate fruit, our efforts, if for the right reasons, are still meaningful.
Mizmor Shir
This painting and its accompanying song are based on Tehillim 30. In the wording of this psalm, it seems as if the dedication of the building of the Beit HaMikdash is attributed to King David. But wasn't the Temple built by King David's son, King Solomon?
Rashi explains that this psalm was written by King David to be said at the future dedication of the Temple by King Solomon. For King David, the building of the Temple was so real that he wrote a psalm for its future dedication.
In serving HaShem we strive so hard, often to feel we are getting nowhere. But we know that the yearning alone is significant and real. We my feel "histarta panecha, hayiti nivhal---You hid Your face, I was alarmed", but in truth we are really very close, just by virtue of our desire to be close.
Rashi explains that this psalm was written by King David to be said at the future dedication of the Temple by King Solomon. For King David, the building of the Temple was so real that he wrote a psalm for its future dedication.
In serving HaShem we strive so hard, often to feel we are getting nowhere. But we know that the yearning alone is significant and real. We my feel "histarta panecha, hayiti nivhal---You hid Your face, I was alarmed", but in truth we are really very close, just by virtue of our desire to be close.
--created in Philadelphia in 5759/1999, this is the only painting in the series whose artwork preceded its corresponding song--
Ki BiSimcha-When in Joy
Shuva
Shuva HaShem ad Matay, please HaShem return us to our former glory...
from Psalm 90
from Psalm 90
This painting was the first created in this series, and is a compilation of two concepts.
The Talmud teaches us (Sanhedrin 98a) that there is no greater proof of the imminent redemption than witnessing the Land of Israel become physically fruitful after years of lying barren. Living at the time outside the land, I felt this statement calling to me to be part of the miraculous rebirth that we are now witnessing.
While yearning to return to Eretz Yisrael, yet having some difficulty in getting our move together, I was privileged to hear the following Torah from R' Chaim David Saracik: The navi Yishayahu tells us (Isiah 55:12) Ki BiSimcha Taytzeyu UviShalom Tuvlun. We yearn so much to be settled in Eretz Yisrael. We have to know that only if we leave the galut with joy-Ki BiSimcha Taytzeyu---then will we merit to see the continuation of the verse---UviSholom Tuvlun---that HaShem will embrace us in Eretz Yisrael with peace.
May it be for all of us.
The Talmud teaches us (Sanhedrin 98a) that there is no greater proof of the imminent redemption than witnessing the Land of Israel become physically fruitful after years of lying barren. Living at the time outside the land, I felt this statement calling to me to be part of the miraculous rebirth that we are now witnessing.
While yearning to return to Eretz Yisrael, yet having some difficulty in getting our move together, I was privileged to hear the following Torah from R' Chaim David Saracik: The navi Yishayahu tells us (Isiah 55:12) Ki BiSimcha Taytzeyu UviShalom Tuvlun. We yearn so much to be settled in Eretz Yisrael. We have to know that only if we leave the galut with joy-Ki BiSimcha Taytzeyu---then will we merit to see the continuation of the verse---UviSholom Tuvlun---that HaShem will embrace us in Eretz Yisrael with peace.
May it be for all of us.
the paintings
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |