It’s been over five years since we completed our “Hiddur Mitzvah” project! For newer members of the LM, that’s when (during the summer of 2018) over 70 members of the Library Minyan decorated the alcove above the Torah-reading table in the Dorff-Nelson Chapel, coloring-in images inspired by the 18th century Gwoździec Synagogue ceiling artwork.
We sponsored a screening of the AWESOME documentary “Raise the Roof” that followed Handshouse Studio’s decade-long reconstruction of that ceiling and bimah. It’s now available on Amazon Prime! During a Sunday breakfast, Professor Thomas Hubka, author of “Resplendent Synagogue” gave his presentation on the fascinating subject of the “lost” wooden synagogues of Eastern Europe. But at the Friday night Shabbat dinner at our home, I got to read aloud the first draft of a StoryPoem I had written: a homage to two Artists from 300 years ago. Over this past year, while living in Scottsdale, AZ, I have worked with Shui Edelstein of Focus One Films in Toronto to produce a Digital version of “The Ceiling” and am thrilled to share it with you via YouTube!
Originally only for a printed book, Ukrainian-born artist Boris Shapiro has worked tirelessly, creating over 20 illustrations that are both magnificent and charming. They are brought to life by the talented technical team at Focus One Films. Chana Baichman’s graceful typography allows Hebrew blessings to float throughout the story while Rabbi Cantor Menachem Mirski and his band layered in even more magic with original klezmer music.
Please find ten minutes to watch “The Ceiling”. Expand it into a “Full Screen” on a larger computer screen if at all possible: Boris Shapiro’s artwork is absolutely exquisite in its detail! I implore you to watch the credits to the end, not only to appreciate all the people who made this video possible, but because the credits appear over photos of the Handshouse Studio stunning reconstruction in the POLIN Museum in Warsaw, as well as some of the black and white archival photos of the ORIGINAL artwork (courtesy of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art). You will recognize some of the Animals and designs from the Dorff-Nelson Chapel Alcove!
And with THAT ALL SAID: Here is the link!
Happy Hanukkah! May the Light continue to lead the way forward!
Much love,
Wanda (and Avi Peretz)
P.S. The printed book, with its special fold-up pages, still remains on the horizon as a Limited First Edition run of 1,000 copies by Jerusalem Fine Art Prints in Israel in 2024, G-d willing. Will keep everyone updated as we proceed!
The Library Minyan of Temple Beth Am, 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd 90035www.libraryminyan.org
