Shalom! The Hebrew letter that starts the word shalom, shin, often appears in Jewish design, particularly on ritual objects like tefillin boxes and mezuzah scroll covers. When used in Judaica, it traditionally stands for one of the names of God, Shaddai, which means Almighty. Shalom, Shin! [Image: Detail from mezuzah scroll cover project in Sew … Continue reading
Almond trees blossom in late winter, in the middle of Israel’s rainy season. They’re the first trees to blossom in Israel, making them an ancient Jewish symbol of renewal, hope, and diligence. The almond tree appears a number of times in the Torah. When Jacob sends Benjamin with his other sons to Egypt for food, … Continue reading
The images in illuminated Jewish manuscripts are like the embroidery and applique designs on hand-sewn Judaica; they decorate and inspire. And they feed the creative Jewish soul. Illuminated manuscripts are books that are decorated with images. The earliest examples we have are from the Middle Ages, when books were written by hand. These early illuminated … Continue reading
The world doesn’t have enough sanctuaries; calm, protected spaces to pray, meditate, and enjoy a cup of tea with a friend. One creative Jewish community in New York’s mid-Hudson valley, the Beacon Hebrew Alliance, built such a sanctuary inside their synagogue earlier this year by enclosing part of a multi-purpose room with fabric. They call … Continue reading
The autumn weather has me dreaming of figs. Warm, honey-glazed figs, specifically (the blog for Huppahs.com, Backyard Huppah, has a recipe). One of the simple pleasures of the season. Figs have long been a popular motif in Jewish design, often in combination with pomegranates and other members of the seven species — the seven fruits … Continue reading
The dove that carried an olive branch to Noah on the ark, signifying the end to the great flood, has become a symbol of peace and spiritual renewal that crosses religious boundaries. In the Torah, the dove often symbolizes the Jewish people, especially in imagery that expresses spiritual yearning or calls to God for protection. … Continue reading
What makes a sewing project Jewish? I’m continually turning this question over in my mind. Hebrew phrases or Jewish symbols mark a project as Jewish, but what if you don’t use them? How do you give the object you’re designing a Jewish identity or imbue it with a Jewish idea? That was the question I … Continue reading
Answer: Somewhere between 18″ and 24″. Question: How big is a cubit, anyway? This week’s Torah portion is the story of Noah and the ark. And as you’ll recall, when God gave Noah the instructions for building the ark, God specified the dimensions in cubits: 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits tall. … Continue reading
When chai tea first became popular in the United States, I was living in Kuwait (and we only got a Starbucks the last year I was there). So when I came back to New York one summer for a visit and ordered a cup of chai tea off a menu board, the look on the … Continue reading
Probably the most popular Jewish good luck symbol today is the hamsa. It’s been around a long time–thousands of years. Here’s some background from the introduction to the hamsa project in the Sew Jewish book: Hamsa Your hand is strong. Your right hand, exalted. (Psalms 89:14) A tiny falafel shop I used to frequent in … Continue reading
Here’s the introduction to the tefillin bag project from Sew Jewish book. It’s one of my favorite project intros in the book, since there’s more to the simple tefillin bag than meets the eye. Tefillin Bag Set Me for a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm. (Song of Songs 8:6) The … Continue reading
When you’re writing a book about sewing, you get some of the most insightful questions from editors who don’t do a lot of sewing. And if you’re writing a book that touches on Judaism, you get some of the best questions from editors who don’t know a lot about Judaism. Enter my friend Ann, who … Continue reading
Where are you headed this summer? Bring a sketch book. It’s the best way to capture sewing ideas that inspire you. A postcard captures an image, but sketching allows you to capture details, which is especially helpful if what inspires you are textiles and needlework. I made the sketch above on a trip to The … Continue reading
I first became aware of the fish as a Jewish symbol when I visited the Tunisian island of Djerba and saw fish painted on the walls of Jewish homes. They were stick figures, hand painted in Mediterranean blue and swimming against bright whitewashed walls. Since then, fish seem to be everywhere, and they’ve become … Continue reading
If you’ve ever wished someone “Mazel tov!” you’ve invoked Judaism’s mystical tradition, specifically its association with astrology. “Mazel tov” means “a good constellation.” This probably surprises a lot of people, since there’s a general understanding that Judaism avoids astrology. After all, a Biblical commandment states “There should not be found among you…one who calculates times” … Continue reading
The year I lived in Tunisia opened my eyes to a whole new world of Jewish culture, especially during the spring holiday of Lag b’Omer. The holiday takes place thirty-three days after the first day of Passover. In my American community, we celebrated with a picnic, but on the Tunisian island of Djerba, the El … Continue reading
For your Friday diversion: two videos about the new play The Cutting of the Cloth, currently premiering at the Southwark Playhouse in London. The play’s setting: 1953 London, where a Jewish tailor of bespoke, hand-sewn suits confronts change in the form of a successful new competitor with a sewing machine. The production is by Two’s … Continue reading
Adam Mendelsohn talks to Sew Jewish about Jews and the garment industry, his problem with the Tiger Mom, and history’s lessons for people who want to turn sewing skills into paying careers. The Rag Race: How Jews Sewed Their Way to Success in America and the British Empire By Adam D. Mendelsohn Amazon.com | Indiebound … Continue reading
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