I received a question about Jewish symbols of healing, and it seems like a good time for a post on the subject. There are three primary symbols of healing in Judaism: the serpent, the sun, and the palm tree. You won’t typically find these three objects used in Jewish visual art in a way that … Continue reading
Wreaths are not a major motif in Judaism, but Jews used wreaths as holiday decorations and wedding accessories even in antiquity, when the Temple stood in Jerusalem. Although today wreaths are strongly associated with Christmas, Jews made wreaths for Shavuot and other festive occasions before the birth of Jesus. And as a symbol, the wreath … Continue reading
Roses are red, or yellow, or blueish, But did you know they can also be Jewish? OK, that was kind of corny. And we all know roses come in a lot more colors, like white or pink or peach. But the rose’s status as a Jewish symbol is less well known. A Symbol of God’s … Continue reading
When looking for Jewish design inspiration, illustrated Jewish manuscripts offer a treasure trove of themes and forms. And now, the British Library has made dozens of illustrated manuscripts from the Middle Ages accessible online through the Hebrew Manuscripts Digitisation Project. Within the digitized collection you’ll find hand calligraphed Passover Haggadahs, daily prayer books, Kabbalistic texts, … Continue reading
This topic requires a bit of a personal story. One of my favorite pieces of Judaica in the world is an 18th century Turkish Torah ark curtain –parochet—in the collection of the Jewish Museum London. The curtain is a red flannel wool richly embroidered in gold with Biblical and classical imagery: a city –Instanbul, perhaps, … Continue reading
Who doesn’t love angels, those ethereal creatures who mediate between heaven and earth –between the spiritual and physical worlds. Angel imagery in Jewish needle crafts goes all the way back to the first official Jewish sewing project: the Tabernacle that the Israelites built to house the Ark of the Covenant. In front of the Holy … Continue reading
If you’re looking to push the boundaries of Jewish sewing, let’s take a trip to Japan. In a post last month about fabrics whose patterns suggest Stars of David, two of the swatches were based on the traditional Japanese hemp leaf pattern, known in Japanese as asanoha. The rich history behind the hemp leaf pattern … Continue reading
Shabbat candles, and the candles we light for Jewish holidays, are a fixture of Jewish life and Jewish design. They feature especially prominently on challah covers, and are used here for a tzedakah jar. But why do we light Shabbat candles? Early rabbinic teachers derived the practice from the prophet Isaiah’s call to make Shabbat … Continue reading
The eye appears in Jewish art, especially Jewish folk art, going back centuries. It suggests the eye of God that is always watching over the world, and represents divine protection. Fish, with their eyes that never close, also represent divine protection. Hamsa designs often incorporate eyes. I like the idea of combining folk symbols of … Continue reading
Among Jewish symbols, the Tree of Life —Etz Hayim— stands tall. Its roots stretch back to the Garden of Eden. Here’s the Torah passage where we first encounter it: And from the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that was pleasing to the sight and good for food, with the tree of … Continue reading
Within the constellation of Jewish symbols, the Star of David shines the brightest. It serves as the most well-known symbol of Judaism and Jewish identity. The Star of David’s wide popularity in Jewish design is a modern development –it replaced the menorah as the leading symbol of Jewish identity only about two hundred years ago. … Continue reading
The pomegranate’s natural crown fits its royal status among Jewish symbols. Widely referenced in the Bible, it’s one of the seven agricultural species symbolizing the abundance of the Promised Land. God’s instructions for the High Priest’s robe include decorative pomegranates woven into the hem. King Solomon had pomegranates carved into the crowns of the columns … Continue reading
No one quite knows anymore when the practice of lighting Shabbat candles began, but traditional sources agree that the practice reflects the prophet Isaiah’s appeal to “call the Sabbath a delight” (Isaiah 58:13). As Friday night falls, kindling the Shabbat candles creates light by which to enjoy the evening, especially the Friday night meal. No … Continue reading
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 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
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
Sew Jewish 