Judaica by Gary Rosenthal
Rosenthal creates beautiful mezuzot, menorot and dreidels out of mixed metals and rich dicrohic glass. He does also design an extensive line of Jewish wedding gifts that allows the couple to incorporate their broken wedding glass into sculpture and ritual objects.
Contemporary Judaica based on Tradition
Judaica gifts from Gary Rosenthal have been a favorite in Jewish homes for almost 30 years. Known for combining copper, brass and steel with brilliant fused glass, the collection has a handmade contemporary style rooted in jewish tradition.
Inspiration comes from the rich history of the Jewish people which tells us it's a blessing, a mitzvah, to make beautiful functional art. His tallis clips, mezuzah, and menorah are beautiful examples of his craftsmanship tied to tradition.
Collected by Presidents and Museums
Work from the Gary Rosenthal Collection has been presented to Presidents from Carter to Clinton to Bush and to celebrities as varied as Bette Midler, John Travolta and Tony Randall.
This collection can be found throughout the world in many fine galleries, private collections, and the following museums: Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery, Corning Museum of Glass, American Craft Museum, B'nai B'rith Museum, The Jewish Museum, Skirball Museum of Culture, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
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What is Judica? Explanations of Some Judaica by Gary Rosenthal
Challah: braided loaf of egg bread eaten at the Friday evening Shabbat meal.
Dreidel: a 4 sided spinning top used to play a Hanukkah related game. The dreidel has a different Hebrew letter inscribed on each side. The four letters form an acronym about Hanukkah: "Nes gadol hayah sham :A great miracle happened there."
Elijah's Cup: during the passover seder, Jews open the door so the prophet Elijah may visit their homes and bless the people. Elijah was the most beloved prophet and is often referred to as the guardian angel of the Jewish people. Elijah's cup is a special wine goblet set out for him at the Passover seder table to indicate that he is welcome in the house.
Kiddush Cup: a special goblet, often elaborately decorated, that holds the ceremonial wine for the Shabbat and other holidays. The drinking of wine, with appropriate blessings, symbolizes joy and celebration.
Matzah: unleavened bread made of special flour and water and containing no yeast or salt. Eaten instead of bread during Passover, to commemorate the flight of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land.
Menorah: a candle holder used during Hanukkah, also known as a hanukkiah. Candles are lit for each of eight nights as a symbol of the miracle of the jar of oil, found in the Temple, which burned for eight days.
Mezuzot: a small case mounted on the doorposts of Jewish homes. A passage in the bible commands people to keep His words constantly in their minds and hearts, by writing them on the doorposts of their homes. This is done using a mezuzah. Almost all Jews have a mezuzah on the main external door of their house. More traditional Jews have them on all external doors, as well as on internal doors (except bathrooms).
Seder Plate: a plate made to hold the special ceremonial foods that are used in telling the story of Passover during the seder. Some of the foods on it are bitter herbs (usually horseradish, a symbol of suffering in Egypt); charoset (usually made from apples, nuts and wine, and symbolic of the mortar Jews were forced to make); leafy green vegetable (symbolizing spring renewal); and a roasted egg (to symbolize the sacrifice in Temple times as well as the continuity of the Jewish people).
Tzedukah Box: tzedek means social justice in Hebrew. Tzedukah translates as charity. Pursuing acts of justice is one of the most important obligations of Judaism. A tzedukah box is used to collect monetary charitable contributions. Boxes are frequently found in homes, schools, synagogues, and cemeteries. |
