Sunday, May 07, 2006
Garden of Eden
Photo of a painting that depicts the Garden of Eden courtesy of Adam Rhine
Adam Rhine made a series of paintings based on the Star of David. He is an Illustrator and a graphic designer living in Illinois.
Adam sent me the following email:
As far as my absolute fascination and obsession with the Magen David, I'll give you the very shortened story: As soon as I applied my art to Judaica, everything exploded for me! That was what I've been meant to do my entire life, yet didn't realize it until that moment. Also, being "new" to Jewish thoughts and concepts at that moment in time, the first thing that came to me was... well... a Magen David. You see the results on my website. My series is not just about how I find it a challenge to see just how much I can get out of that shape, but a fan base and licensors has sprung up around my paintings, and the demand has kept me busy for 5 years running! Calendars, a hardcover book, greeting cards, etc. B"H!!! I am aware of some of the history of the symbol (DaVinci Code claims notwithstanding) and that it hasn't always been a Jewish symbol... but it is now, and I'll do my part in keeping it that way.
To Be Born a Jew
My dear friend Gary Brant sent me the following email:
"In the States I was always afraid of being Jewish and here in Israel it's not even a question".
To be born a Jew
What does this label mean?
Does it define the person?
Who is the person to define?
To be born a Jew
Why are we born anything?
The teacher asks the class –
Who is taking off
For the Jewish holidays?
Being the only Jew
I was afraid to raise my hand
Afraid of BEING… judged
Because Jews are hated
And it’s easier to hide
A jewish girl wore a cross
In order to fit in
Otherwise she would be hated
For no apparent reason
Other than a label
She too was afraid
Afraid of BEING… judged
Because Jews are hated
And it’s easier to hide
Who is this David?
Why does David even have a star?
Is he a star? Or just a legend?
The Star of David
Why has this shape become
Such a significant symbol
To so many people?
History, history, history… tick tock
It represents pride
Love, hate, strength, weakness, death
And in the end
It all comes down to fear
Because jews are hated
And it’s easier to hide
History, history, history… tick tock
There are people who simply
Love the history
Behind the shape
Then there are people
Who are attached to the history
OF THE SHAPE
OF THE SHAPE
Then there are people who simply
Love the shape, love the shape
Finding beauty in its
Simplicity and depth
I on the otherhand identify
With it from the side of confusion
Because Jews are hated
And it’s easier to hide
Fear from being hated
For being born and labeled – Jewish
Tick tock…
The Tiniest Star of David in the World
Wendy Elliman wrote an article about nanotechnology on October 22, 1999. One of the achievements mentioned there belongs to Professor Jacob Sagiv, a materials scientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, who has built three-dimensional structures out of molecules, one of them shaped like a Star of David, each of its sides only one-thousandth the width of a human hair.