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
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
​ 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
Sew Jewish 