The Three Weeks — בין המצרים
Stones on Fire – Transcendental Textures of
the Western Wall and the Flames of L’ag B’omer
From a series of paintings inspired
by extreme close-up views of the
unique texture of the Kotel or Western (Wailing) Wall
rock surfaces “married” to the
flames from the L’ag B’omer bonfires,
revealing countless visages and faces,
as if the Kotel itself acts as a spiritual camera
“photographing” its millions of visitors.
Originally created during the Three Weeks of Mourning for the Destruction of the Temple בין המצרים (“between the dire straits”) and other painful events in Jewish history. The paintings, however, do not emanate depression and sadness. The Stones on Fire here are actually burning with the spirit of Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai, who was on such an exalted level, he did not “experience” the Destruction and hint at the prophecy of Zecharia (2:9):
וַאֲנִי אֶהְיֶה לָּהּ נְאֻם יְהוָה חוֹמַת אֵשׁ סָבִיב וּלְכָבוֹד אֶהְיֶה בְתוֹכָהּ
Thus saith the L-rd: I will be a (protective) Wall of Fire Around (Jerusalem) and My Glory will be within it.
My Dove in the Cleft of the Rock – יונתי בחנוי הסלע
In the center of the painting one may see
the form of an angelic Dove, suggesting
the above phrase from the Song of Songs (2:14)
The Dove symbolizes the Jewish people
finding shelter from its many predators and enemies
by clinging to the Rock of Faith
The Women’s Gallery
In this painting one can discover various emerging faces
or visages of women, as if the Wall itself has recorded
and absorbed its many female visitors,
whose prayers are always heard, because they come
from the innermost recesses of the heart.
Link to other paintings in series:
