Arica & Ryan — MAZAL TOV

This was the design on Arica and Ryan’s “everything”!

The invitation. The response card. The website. And on the Kippot.

AND – since the celebration was on June 20, 2021 during the depths of the Covid Epidemic, the design was also on the Hand Sanitizer and the Face Masks.

This is a daytime image.

And like All my creations, this piece looks

Completely different in the nighttime.

Huge Mazal Tov to Arica and Ryan ! !

– – – – – AHAVA – LOVE – – – – –

Here’s my take on the classic L-O-V-E picece often seen in public sites. I’ve placed the beveled iridescent Magain David for dramatic effect. What do you think?

To Life! — L’Chaim ! ! — Both Day and Night!!

The Hebrew Letter – Zayin

ZAYEN is the 7th letter in the Hebrew alphabet.

Z’man, the word for Time begins with a ZAYEN. In our lives we are aware of the constant, steady irreversible passage of time. Unlike in fiction, our time flows onward, and cannot be ignored, destroyed nor nullified.

I find it interesting that the word Zachor (to remember) and Zikaron (remembrance), two words that take us Back In time – both begin with the letter ZAYEN.

We recently celebrated the High Holy Days when we ask to be “Remembered in the Book of Life”.

Zachor is one of two basic commandments of the Sabbath, there seems to be a very strong link between the seventh letter in the Hebrew alphabet and the day of rest.

The original meaning of the letter Zayin is a “sword” or “sharp weapon,” with the word “lezayen” coming to mean “to arm” in the Modern Hebrew language. However, please note – the word in slang and common talk has come to mean something else. You might note in the photo and video how my ZAYEN glows and comes alive in the dark…! (Edited version: None of the previous viewers have bitten on my ZAYEN reference)

And finally, are you feeling rushed or pressured? Meditate on the letter ZAYIN. Are you feeling unmotivated or frozen in time? Meditate on the letter ZAYEN.

The Hebrew Letter — REISH

This is the letter REISH. Some of my non-Hebrew speaking followers mentioned they liked the wind whossssshhhing behind my SHIN. I thought, what device could I use to make the REISH easier to remember. (This one is easy peesie!). REISH is the first letter in my Hebrew name (Re’uvain) and the letter “R” is the first letter in Ron! ** Note how the blue “R” is intertwined with the red REISH.

Now onto the fun part. I always like to give a little background to the Hebrew letters. Sometimes it’s historic; sometimes it’s Biblical; and sometimes it’s a modern use of a word starting with that letter. I like to give the first 3 words that come to mind when I think of that letter. What’s fun is when friends start adding to my list with additional words that were the first that popped into their minds. So – I invite friends to add to my short list of REISH words.

My first work is “Rosh”. Some may smile when the first Rosh that popped in my mind was Rosh Machaneh, the Head of the Camp – the program director. If you’re smiling, I’ll bet we share a little history. The word Rosh means Head – or Beginning. There’s Rosh HaShana – the New Year, and so many more.

My next word is “Ruach”. Ruach has so many uses. There’s wind. There’s breath. But there’s also Spirit. Ruach HaKodesh is the Holy Spirit.

My third word is R’fooah – Healing. My prayer is that all who are health compromised – or might be in the future have a “R’fooah Shleima” – a complete recovery!

There’s a tradition that someone who has the letter REISH at the beginning of their name is a person with influence on their surroundings. These people have great communication with people, and they have the ability to open the hearts of others, even those who are usually closed to their surroundings.

Star of David – Designed with Hearts

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See how I’ve taken 6 hearts and fused them into a Magain David

(A Star of David).

They fit perfectly and bring a sense of

Love and Cheer into this piece of art.

And the difference between

Day and Night views are striking!

Welcome to Temple Kol Haverim

 

Temple Kol Haverim has chosen to beautify their building with this piece of stained glass artwork.  It will soon be hung over the main entrance of the temple.

I would like to thank the Kol Haverim community for reaching out to me and choosing this piece as a statement of their beliefs.

AHAVAH — LOVE !

 

I took The Iconic LOVE Piece ( I obviously used the iconic Hebrew Ahavah Piece…),

and added a little “flair’.

If you’re interested in viewing this piece, and about 2 dozen more,

check out the Ann Arbor JCC, or the Hebrew Day School,

or Beth Israel Congregation, or the Jewish Family Service of Washtenaw County.