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Ukraine:  How you can help

Ukraine: How you can help

For those of us who wish for peace and environmental health in the world, news of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is crushing.  The people of the world have been through so much these last two years.  What gives Putin the right to drive his forces into peaceful cities and destroy the lives of innocent people?  With my background as…

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Maus, Whoopi Goldberg and Defining Race in America

Maus, Whoopi Goldberg and Defining Race in America

As a Jew in America, and a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, I am angered when others define my race as white.   In fact, many Jews are not white— and yet some people, especially in the US as opposed to Europe, think it’s ok to define “our race” as white because many have white skin, and therefore benefit from white…

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Hebrew Shin Torah Finials: From Dream to Reality

Hebrew Shin Torah Finials: From Dream to Reality

Hebrew Shin Torah Finials, silver, 23K gold, 13.5” x 9.5” 3.5”   Photo By: emiko oye The Hebrew Shin Torah Finials symbolize the power and beauty of creation—Oneness in the Universe—hearing light, creating connectivity and partnership, drawing forth restoration, sharing wisdom and consolation. I like to think of Shin in terms of Shaddai— which is one of the ways we…

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New!  Mussar Inspired Jewelry

New! Mussar Inspired Jewelry

I was recently commissioned to create a special piece of jewelry for Rabbi Shana Chandler Leon of Congregation Ner Tamid, in San Francisco, CA.  This gift was to be symbolic of Mussar, the universal Jewish Spiritual Path, that dates back to 10th-Century Babylonia.  Her students wanted to thank her for teaching this special way of engendering purpose, meaning and spiritual…

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Introducing Anousha Mohsenidarabi

Introducing Anousha Mohsenidarabi

I’d like to introduce Anousha Mohsenidarabi, our metal arts studio assistant.  Anousha is a soft-spoken, unique individual, and an award-winning artist.  She grew up in a liberal, progressive Muslim family in Mashhad, Iran.  Her family business is custom paint manufacture, where she worked for many years, surrounded by the technicalities of color.  At the University of Azad in Mashhad, Iran,…

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New Series: Waves of Love Mezuzah

New Series: Waves of Love Mezuzah

I am pleased to introduce a new series of mezuzot– called ‘Waves of Love.‘  The design was inspired by our dear Rabbi– Danny Gottlieb, who is becoming Rabbi Emeritus– at our temple, Beth Israel Judea.  Rabbi Gottlieb has meant a lot to me personally.  He was never too busy to speak with me about my Judaica, Jewish teachings or personal…

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Passover: Relevant from Generation to Generation

Passover: Relevant from Generation to Generation

Since the beginning of my life– long before I turned to metal art for expression,  I knew that we were lucky to be alive.  And, I felt tasked with carrying on Jewish traditions in the face of anti-semitism.  Growing up Jewish in Los Angeles, every year at our annual Passover seder, our Holocaust Surviving grandmother and grandfather would raise a…

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Climate Change and the Jewish Community

The upcoming holiday of Tu B’Shevat celebrates the end of winter, the coming of spring and most importantly, it celebrates trees.  It is customary to plant trees and eat food which comes from trees during this holiday.  The ‘Tree of Life’ is a metaphor often used in Judaism to describe our most sacred book– the Torah.  The tree is used…

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Thank you!  Art for Charities Raised almost $5,000

Thank you! Art for Charities Raised almost $5,000

Thank you!  To everyone who participated in purchasing art that supported different causes this year.  Despite all the hardship, fear and grief that 2020 presented to us, we were still able to raise $4,961.79 for charities.  Here’s the breakdown: Tree of Life Synagogue:  $15.90 Whitwell Middle School – Children’s Holocaust Memorial: $26.40 Sisterhood Temple Israel of Hollywood: $215.40 American Jewish…

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