The beginning carvings illustrate our story from a Jewish perspective, but the stories are universal.  Our journey begins with
1-Tree of Life (Etz Chaim In Hebrew) The Tree of Life has universal meanings. Some include: -the balance between the physical realm we are rooted in and the spiritual realm we are reaching for. -the interconnectedness of all living things -our universal connection to the Earth and our dependence on it
3-Wisdom of Solomon The search for meaning in life was not only God centered. There has also been a rich history of righteous men and woman who were respected for their wisdom. The Jewish tradition honors King Solomon.  Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Eleanor Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony and Martin Luther King are examples of more modern leaders.
4-I(saiah) Had A Dream Apology- When this piece was carved in 2017, All Lives Matter had a different meaning to me. In 2020 I am more sensitive that Black Lives Matter must take center stage! The Carving has been modified for the Exhibit to reflect this position. This carving honors both a past and a modern-day righteous person who taught us so much. The Reverend Martin Luther King lived and died for the cause of racial justice and brotherhood in America.   Isaiah prophesied peace among nations, a time when swords shall be turned into plowshares. Click here to learn more about the carving. Click here to see the Revered Martin Luther King's "I Had A Dream Speech". https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm Learn more about  Fairfield's Racial Equality and Justice Taskforce by e-mailing  REJTF@fairfieldct.org
5-Re-Boot Before Covid and Black Lives Matter occupied the Media's attention, Bush Fires in Australia, the Burning of the Amazon and Rising Sea levels due to Global Warming were constant headlines. The ravages of Fire and Water on our environment is a central theme of Re-Boot.
6-Abraham's Gifts This 14-carving leather book illustrates the stories that many of our ancestors told about God as the Creator and then goes onto the Evolution of the 3 Abrahamic Religions.  Judaism and Christianity are already carved, Islam is not yet carved. Abraham's Gifts has carvings, but no words. Please feel free to write your own words to the carvings in the space provided below. You can also Click here to read more about what I wrote on my web site.

 

Religion, as we know it, is undergoing dramatic changes with many people not affiliating with a particular faith or House of Worship. However, Spirituality and the Search for Meaning is growing. Maybe now is the time to re-claim the beautiful parts of our pasts and traditions. To re-invigorate those parts which provided solace to so many of our ancestors and to re-think those parts that caused such pain is indeed a way to Re-Boot.
Please provide words to the carvings if they moved you in any way. Please cut and paste the below onto an email and e-mail them to me.

Cover-Abraham's Gifts-Please provide a subtitle to the story- __________________________________
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p.1-Beginning-___________________________________________________________________
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p.2-God Created-___________________________________________________________________
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p.3-Good___________________________________________________________________
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p.4-Adam and Eve-___________________________________________________________________
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p.5-One God-___________________________________________________________________
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p.6- Sacrifice-___________________________________________________________________
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p.7-Blessing-___________________________________________________________________
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p.8-Moses-___________________________________________________________________
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p.9-Nativity-___________________________________________________________________
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p.10-Mary's Garden-___________________________________________________________________
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p.11-Jerusalem-___________________________________________________________________
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p.12-Lamentation-__________________________________________________________________
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p.13-Resurrection-____________________________________________________­­­­­­______________