"Layers of Light" Torah Tik and Neir Tamid

Collaboration with Dorothy Ross
Beads, threads, wood, screening LEDs, glass
64 cm x 30 cm 24 cm (25" x 12" x 10")
Aluminum structure crafted by James Maxwell; Electrical engineering by Dr. William Gentles

Torah is light. Torah’s words are eternal.  And so the Torah itself is an eternal light. The lay-ers surrounding the scroll progressively dema-terialize to wrap it in radiance [Psalm 104:2].

The klaf is partially seen through an embroi-dered scrim layer on which the atzei hayyim, having transformed into olive trees, direct us visually upward to the amber glass drops and outward to the seven lavishly beaded posts.  This structure illustrates Zechariah’s dream that at the end of the Babylonian exile the lights of the Temple’s menorah would be rekindled with oil oozing from two olive trees into a seven-spouted vessel.

The top stratum, the physical neir tamid, con-sists of points of light sparkling continuously through the glass around the crown.  They symbolize that each pintele Yid is illuminated by both Torah Orah and God’s spirit.

This unique piece is available for purchase.
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