embody the ideas and ideals we
hold most dear.
Even in desperate need, we can't
imagine melting down Zayde's bat-
tered kiddush cup, or using Bubbie's
frayed challah cover as a dust cloth.
4 VVe continue to treasure these items,
to repair and protect them, so that
we can hand them on to our descen-
dants. They are invested with an
almost sacred emotional aura, form-
ing a precious chain that links us with
our family members both past and
future, and with our roots and beliefs.
Wanting to have a pile of "things
of special value" to give my children
and grandchildren; I turned to mak-
ing Judaica. Not only is it satisfying,
it helps me resolve a concrete spiritu-
al problem.
Like most American Jews, I live a
hyphenated life. I am not making
pologies; I find it exhilarating and
satisfying to be part of a pluralistic
society. But I need to manifest my
Jewishness, too, Since making my first
challah cover, when I was a
bride of 18 living in Ishiki
Hayama, a Japanese vil-
lage outside the U.S.
naval base in
Yokosuka, I found
that creating
something
Jewish nour-
ishes my
soul. What I
can't make I
collect by trad-
ing with other
artists, or by buying,
and by virtue of attractive
display and family use
these pieces become part of
our legacy.
During my years as an inte-
rior designer I was troubled to
notice that objects in clients' homes,
which I thought of as family trea-
sures, often were relegated to a
cabinet or drawer — while a col-
lection of Hopi art or teapots took
center stage.
"Character is guided by the nature
of things most often envisaged, for
sense than ever to display our ritual
objects, even as they wait for the
U next holiday, and to embellish and
oc
enrich our homes with Jewish art and
craft.
Until World War II, most Jewish
0
artifacts were imported from
Europe. When I was a child,
toward the end of the war the pop-
ular Jewish aesthetic included news-
papers on the floor, plastic covers
on the furniture and perhaps a tiny
Chanukah lamp on the refrigerator.
We were a generation in transition
from the traditions of the shtetl to a
"streamlined" American lifestyle.
Our need for Jewish articles were
met by Lower East Side reproduc-
tions of 19th-century reproductions
of 17th-century Judaica, and later
by gift-shop Israel bronze-and-blue
imports (which, by the way, have
become "collectibles")..
Today, we are witnessing a spec-
tacular renaissance of interest and
activity in every
Photo by Kenneth Bernstein
medium of the
craft world.
Like the bagel
— which is being
served every-
where from
Dunkin' Donuts to
Top: Queen
upscale bread
Esther and her
shops — Judaic
homemade
craft has found its
wooden greggor.
way into shops
and department
Right: "L'dor v'dor"
stores that are not
- silkscreen-printed
uniquely Jewish.
seder pillow.
It's even available
got
through
mail-order
Left: Tevya the cat
catalogs and the Internet.
with blue-denim dreidel pillow and
There are no more excuses for not
dreidel beanbags.
decorating like an up-to-date Jewish
mother — I mean, Jewish parent.
Jewish words reecho, where the
the soul takes on the color of
And remember, some of the "things"
its ideas," the Roman general Marcus Jewish book is honored, where the
you
live with and use will indeed, by
Jewish song is heard...It begins in
Aurelius said centuries ago.
virtue of the care, time and love you
homes where the Jewish etching,
For the late Rabbi Morris Adler of
invest in them, some day turn into
painting, and Jewish ceremonial
Congregation Shaarey Zedek,
heirlooms.
objects are visible and exercise a
"Judaism begins in the home. It does-
And what was the most precious
silent influence upon those who
n't begin at a meeting or a confer-
legacy my parents gave me? A love
behold them."
ence. It doesn't begin at a syna-
of
Yiddishkeit in all its flavors and
With so much visual stimuli compet-
gogue service or philanthropic cam-
manifestations. 111
ing for our attention, it makes more
paign. It begins in homes where
12/5
1997
53