ii
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furniture & accessories
the Faith
CONTEMPORARY GIFTS
FOR YOUR HOME..
AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT,
PICK OUT A LITTI,F4
SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF!
33080 Northwestern Hwy.
Between Orchard Lake Road
&14 Mile
West Bloomfield
Left: Dutch artist Abrasha creates a sleek, contemporary mezuzah, included in the
exhibit at Hebrew Union College in New York and Cincinnati.
Right: Artist Ruth Shapiro uses the star of David in a contemporary design in this
mezuzah with an etched design.
of-a-kind Judaica which will be open
through June of 2001 at Hebrew
Union College-Jewish Institute of
Religion in New York and Cincinnati.
"Mezuzot are objects of commitment.
By having a mezuzah, people are
committing to the order and tradi-
tions of Judaism."
By all account and for many reasons,
the number of people making that
commitment is growing. It is easier
than ever to purchase kosher parchment
scrolls (the paper ones that come in
many mezuzah cases are not kosher and
should not be used), and the kind of
mezuzah case you choose is limited
only by your budget and imagination.
For a few dollars, you can buy
some oven-bake modeling clay and
make mezuzah cases with your chil-
dren. For a few dollars more, you can
buy clay cases at many craft fairs and
Judaica shops. My upstairs neighbors
put their front-door scroll in a test
tube from the Harvard medical
school laboratories; a similar rig-up
might be just the thing for your bud-
ding mad scientist's bedroom door.
Want something a bit more ele-
gant? Mezuzot are available in a vast
array of materials, from Jerusalem
stone and Murano glass to Limoges
china and Adirondack wood.
Although some Chasidim do not use
metal mezuzah cases because metals
are associated with "implements of
war," there is no halachic prohibition
against metal mezuzah cases; many
lovely ones are available in copper,
brass, silver or silverplate as well.
Most notable of all is the growing
number of one-of-a-kind mezuzot
crafted by some of the finest crafts-
people in the United states. Their
availability mirrors an overall up-tick
in the popularity of artisanal Judaica.
"Pieces made by craftspeople are won-
derful," says Kruger, "because they
translate the spirituality with which
they are made. The shared spirituality
between the artisan and the person
who uses the mezuzah creates a com-
plete circle." Available in an endless
range of artistic styles and in materials
including hand-cut paper, hollowed-
out twigs and sterling silver, these
works of art can bring beauty not
only to your doorframe, but also to
your observance of Judaism. LI
Susan Kleinman is a freelance writer
based in New York.
TRUNK SHOW
Featuring
Judith Jack
Dec. 15th, 16th & 17th
Open Sunday, Dec. 17th 10-4 pm
all Judith Jack purchases
with this ad
elleglanza
boutique
248-737-2666
Robins Nest, 7415 Orchard Lake Rd.
West Bloomfield
Gift Certificates Available
irhal
Mon. - Fri. lOarn - 6pm; Thurs. 10am - 7pm; Sat. 9:30am - 5:30pm
12/8
2000
G7