ii ".4 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