Festival Items
 Erev Rosh HaShanah Ceremonial Tray: It is the custom, already from the days of the mishnah, to greet the new year, during the kiddush or as part of the meal, with special foods and fruits. Blessings are recited for a special aspect of wishes for a better year, such as peace, richness, health, etc., and in a humorous vein, the Amoraim found clever word puns in these brachot to match the names of the given foods. Various traditions have developed surrounding these foods. Six is the usual number, and thus the tray has associations with the same idea of the six foods of the Pesach seder. This special tray was originally designed for the Alexander Studio of Jerusalem, within and blessings for the project by Rabbi Zvi Rapahaeli, of Switzerland, a well known rabbi and Judaica artist and illustrator, who was working with Alexander in many special projects. The tray concept is available, but if your traditions are important, you should specify what you would like to see written on the tray. For economic reasons, the model shown here was created on a standard cast blank normally used for passover. Nathanael would prefer a normal round plate. A couple of months might be needed to complete the project, as this is not a "stocked" item. |
 Rosh Hashanah Mapa: For the fall holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot, special breads other than the normal challah are usually in order for the Festive Table. This challah cover (mapa) is designed with those holidays in mind, illustrating the Leviatan, or giant fish that has kabbalistic and midrashic connotations with the New Year, as well as the apple and honey motif, with gold drops of honey. This design is uaully quite larger in size, in order to accomodate the much larger round challot that are often used in the festive meals. An extra thought, a slit has been added to the back so that a small rod or pole may be easily inserted and withdrawn, so that the mapa may be displayed in the Sukkah as a decorative item as well as a functional table piece. As is true with all of Nathanael's table pieces, the mapa is treated with the Israeli silicone spray, "SanoGuard" to help avoid soiling. The colors are fast, and the item may be machine washed, light settings, or dry cleaned, and the item is a one of a kind original palette painted brush creation, which is signed and dated. These two gifts are truly special for the holidays, and make lovely gifts for a wedding, new house, or other special time presentation. |
| The matrakah, or purim grogger, is one of Nathanael's most popular
cataloged items. The Italian Collection: a cenury and a half ago, a wealthy
Italian merchant ordered an illuminated megillah with his family"s portraits
between the columns of text. Over the years, the megillah was admired and copied
until the portraits degenerated into line drawing "cartoons" showing images of
the major characters in the Purim story. Nathanael has adapted the entire
"family" to decoarate the matraka. A special matraka was created for the Italian
Jewish Museum in Jerusalem, the clapper fashioned with the logo of the Synagogue
Center.That particular model is ordered through the Italian Synagogue. Italian
Megillah scene: Nathanael has been researching Italian illuminated Megillot.
This scene is quite unique, and is from an l8th Megillah which is housed in the
Cluny Museum in Paris. In this humorous scene, based on a Midrash, the canniving
Esther, out to seek power, is not satisfied simply being coronated by Ashverous, but is grasping for his mace, the real symbol of absolute
power. The court attendants are observing this, and it will become the next
court scandal. Other matarakahs not shown include a newly researched Turkish and
Balkan Design with Haman being escorted to the gallows, which can be
personalized with a name, and another grogger based on a midrashic commentary, Zeresh (Mrs. Haman) dumps the early morning chamnber pot out the window just as
Haman himself is starting out on his fateful last journey to the court.
|
