Shoshana / Lily mantle

COMMISSIONED COMMISSIONED BY GINNY SHULMAN IN MEMORY OF HER late HUSBAND

TEMPLE BETH AM • SEATTLE WASHINGTON

You wanted to express the joy of Shabbat, rich Moroccan colours, the flowers your saw when you met your husband on the mission to Israel.  “Shoshana”, the lily, is perhaps the quintessential flower of Israel, and certainly central to the Song of Songs and much of Hebrew poetry. The Turk’s Cap lily is shown in its various states from bud to full flower.  One could make several midrashim from the fact that there are four blooms (four matriarchs? four mystical levels of heaven? four corners?)  Also each bloom has six petals, forming quite a clear magen David when seen end-on.

The mantle is worked in many layers of appliqué, providing a rich surface.  But the layers also tend to peel away visually creating an entrance portal towards the Torah.  (Lilies are of the onion family, and layering comes naturally.)  The arched “opening” reflects the layout of Adina Gat’s mantles and well as the ark cabinet.  I hope viewers will enjoy this unfolding and discover new details as it becomes part of the congregation’s life.