Snippets
A shelter of peace.
hashkiveinu hebrica jewish art jewish artist jewish papercut art judaica kim phillips
Peace: a central theme in Jewish life, precious and elusive. We say "Shalom!" in greeting and, in Israel at least, "Shalom shalom!" ~ double peace ~ in parting. I created this piece, Sukkat Shalom, at a scary time for Jews in Israel. At this moment, rockets are raining down on them, forcing them to run for shelters. Read more...
The creativity of Israel.
hebrew micrography hebrica jewish artist jewish papercut art judaica kim phillips micrography second commandment
On a hot, hot summer day in Jerusalem, I stopped into a Judaica shop on King George Street to get out of the sun. I didn't know that brief respite would lead to a career. Read more...Why roses on Shavuot? It's a Hebrew thing.
jewish artist shavuot why roses on shavuot
You may have seen the custom of adorning a Torah scroll with roses on Shavuot, one of the most gorgeous rituals to honor the receiving of Torah by the Israelites. Today, confirmation of Jewish teens usually falls in the season of Shavuot, appropriately for their voluntary acceptance of the Torah, and the confirmation ceremony sometimes includes "presenting" a rose to the scroll. How did the custom of decorating with roses at Shavuot arise? Read more...
The trees of life.
etz chayim hebrica jewish art jewish papercut art judaica kim phillips plant a tree in israel tree of life trees in the torah
One of my favorite bits of Torah is where it talks about how to treat trees during a war: "When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by wielding an axe against them; for thou mayest eat of them, but thou shalt not cut them down." Read more...
Upon all those who occupy themselves with Torah.
kaddish d'rabbanan talmud torah translation of kaddish d'rabbanan
It was a small group of new rabbis, eight men and women, but what a group. Ordination at Hebrew Union College is a fascinating experience. To tell the truth, I was sort of pea-green with envy at the prospect of getting to study for five years: Torah, talmud, Hebrew, homiletics, cantillation, liturgy, philosophy, theology. And with the best rabbis. The highlight of the service, for me, was when the newly minted rabbis stood and faced their teachers and recited the Kaddish d'Rabbanan, the special kaddish honoring teachers. It is said daily in traditional synagogues, and I wish it were in...