Life lessons

What would a Jewish Wedding be without the breaking of the glass and the shouting of Mazel Tov at it's conclusion?  Many view it as the highlight of the ceremony and most certainly the cue that the party is about to begin. But what does it actually mean?  Well just like everything else in Judaism, there are multiple interpretations.  Here are some:  As a symbol of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the glass reminds us that even during a joyous occasion there is sadness in the world. The fragility of glass is a symbol of the frailty of human relationships....

The Tree of Life - we see its images everywhere in art, literature and music. It is a motif that bridges almost all religions and cultures and is particularly prevalent in Judaic art. The Hebrew term Etz Chaim, literally “tree of life”, is a common one in Jewish life. "It is a tree of life for those who hold fast to it. Its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace."  With its branches reaching upwards, its trunk on the ground and its roots below, the tree of life can be a mystical symbol linking heaven, earth...

April 10th, which is the 5th day of Nisan, is my mother’s yahrzeit. When she passed away a few years ago a friend said to me that our parents are the guiding light in our lives. Lighting the yarzheit for her reminds me of that. Several years earlier when my father passed I looked for a yahrzeit candle and realized that they were mainly the jelly jar food store variety. Naturally I went into my studio and created one. And although I know that some people prefer the traditional candle, I designed an electric version. I love when I see it...