"From Earth to Heaven" for Sinai Temple, Springfield, MA

Appliqué, photo transfers, construction
460 x 180x 30 cm. (15’ x 6’ x 1’)

The tapestry shows, by form and colour, Israel’s constant struggle to approach spiri-tuality. Priestly purple intermediates between earthly red and celestial blue. The symbol of transition is a ladder, the most obvious being the ladder in Jacob’s dream, mid-way through Genesis. Four other 'ladders' are present.

This scuptural crazy quilt combines the biblical historical account with the yearly cycle of readings. From right to left, the 54 vertical strips represent Torah portions. Se-lected texts chosen by the congregation are placed in that week’s column of text. Special readings for holidays are highlighted in colours keyed to the megillah read on those occasions. Five megillot are physically placed in their chronological positions amid the Torah texts. The traditional phrase recited at the conclusion of each book appears in the divided lozenges at the ends.

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