Hanukah is the festival of lights and colors. This holiday is mostly genial for the children who participate actively in the ceremonies of Hanukah.
Tradition meets a new attitude in this new design - This oils Hanukiyah revives the colors that were usually missing in this kind of Hanukiyah (that works on oil instead of candles). In this one you can choose a different color every day. (just like in the candles Hanukiyah)
One of the main motives in the design, is the achievement of a perfect balance by using magnet and iron spheres that stabilize each oilcan.
The sentence:"תואלפנה לעו םיסינה לע" Is written on the base of the Hanukiyah
This verse connects between the traditional miracles and the wonders of the magnetic force.
Silver, anodized Aluminum, Iron spheres, & Glass.
4.8" Base Diam. 8.5" H 14.5" w
After a long period of thinking, prototype making, and hard work, it finally arrived to the gallery and is offered to you specifically.
The Torah refers to two requirements concerning Shabbat - to "keep it" and to "remember it".
One must "remember it" by making special arrangements for the day, and specifically through the Kiddush ceremony.
I offer you a beautiful design, in which the wine is poured from the main Kiddush cup into a silver fountain, and on to 8 cups or more, for all the family to enjoy.
This design is also extremely functional because each and every part is separable and therefore can be easily cleaned.
The beauty of the wine divider reflects in the esthetic combination of silver and wine, creating warmth in the shining design.
For all of us who enjoys color, some parts of the wine divider can be colorful using anodized aluminum.
This design unifies family values and our beloved mitzvah's into one, making every Shabbat eve into a special and beautiful experience.
Wine fountain
The candles appear as if they are suspended between heaven and earth. This effect emphasizes the magic of Kabalat Shabbat.
Separate Shabbat candlesticks:
Silver, Iron spheres, Magnet & Glass
H 7 X 2.4 W each
Spice box
This spice box is an experiential piece, which involves the beholder in the ritual both motorically and through sensations.
BY squeezing both sides of the spice box, the two halves of the external ball open up, revealing the inner flower. And releasing the pungent smell of the herbs. The HumanObject interaction creates a sense of intimacy and involvement in the Havdalah ceremonial.
Havdalah candleholder
The twisting shape of the candleholder suggests the direction of the flame upwards. The motion intensifies the burst of fire from earth, as God reveals the secret of fire to humankind by grinding two stones together.
Havdalah Set:
Silver
Spice box:
H 6.7 X W3.0
Havdalah Candleholder:
H 6.5 X W 2.4
Cup: h 5 X w 2.4
Religious ceremonies are meant to create a lasting link between the past and present, capturing events at a particular moment in time and thereby etching them into our memory.
In modern times, memory is also a function of technology, particularly as it relates to computers and the disks which store and retrieve data.
This folding Passover seder plate, acts as the nexus between contemporary memory options - (The plates are inspired by the shape of compact disk holder, and were produced using a computer) - and G-ds mandate that we remember our days of bondage, and our escape to freedom and liberty. The interplay between past and present, records of events and records of knowledge, is keenly reflected in this piece.
Folding Passover Plate:
Silver & Anodized Aluminum.
Box: 4.1 W X 8.3L X 2.5 H
When open 4.1W X 30.3L
The plate is made of four layers, the upper layer is used as a tray for the Passover ceremonial plates and the other three are used as Shelves for the Matzoth. In the center of the plate there is a designated place for The Eliahu cup. A verse from the Haggadah appears on it: ךתאצ םוי תא רוכזת ןעמל ךייח ימי לכ םירצמ ץראמ".
Round Passover plate
Silver & anodized Aluminum.
14.5 Diam. 5.5 High
Height with Cup 10.5
Each Tzadaka box bears a biblical inscription:
Cone: "Happy are those who act justly, who do right at all times" (Psalms 106:3)
There are eight degrees of giving, each one higher than the other
(Maimonides, ZERAIM, Laws of Charity, Chapters 9,10)
Inspired by the Rambams statement, Artist Yossi Matityahu has created eight TZEDAKAH-boxes. Yossi Matityahu considers tzedakah, or charitable giving, to be one of the most basic commandments, characterized by simplicity and humility. With these qualities dictating the design, Matityahu has chosen to utilize basic geometric forms (triangle, circle, rectangle and others) and to repeat the motif of the outstretched hands on each TZEDAKAH -box, or pushke.
Matityahus choice of bright, joyous colors and his emphasis on movement and interaction between human and object, symbolize the importance of happiness in giving charity. We may look upon each box from various angles and different directions, yet each view provides an additional dimension of depth and added interest in each of the eight objects.
Each TZEDAKAH-box stands independently, but is also part of the set of eight; the viewer can observe the whole and the parts simultaneously. Thus it is with TZEDAKAH: it is personal and private, yet each act of giving strengthens the community as a whole and provides it with meaning.
As in all of Yossi Matityahus previous creations, the artist uses traditional Rashi script, integrating traditional elements with modern design innovations, enhancing the ancient custom of giving to others and symbolizing the unbreakable link between the unfolding generations of the Jewish people. As stated in the Saying of our Fathers, On three things does the world stand: on Torah, worship and acts of selfless kindness.
What is "Mayim Achronim"? There is a practice in many Orthodox communities to wash the hands before reciting Birkat Hamazon. This practice is called Mayim Achronim (final waters). It is held that this, though a chovah (duty), is not a mitzvah (meritorious action), as the practice was instituted for health reasons (specifically, to avoid the danger of touching the eyes with harmful salts). A special ritual dispenser (also called a Mayim Achronim) can be used to dispense the water. The practice is based on a ruling recorded in the Talmud. The halachca about the use of the garment determines that the water must be poured into such a garment and if they are visible they must be cleared of the table before saying grace.
Nowadays only the strict practice this custom, the lenient pass or simply pour a small amount of water over their finger tips.
The garment I designed is made out of two components:
The first is a water tank shaped as a water drop. In its upper part you can find a slit through which the water can be filled. The bottom is a soldered interior brass weight, which makes the vessel stand still even without the support of the basin.
The second part is a basin for collecting the water, shaped as an echo of the drop. At the upper part of the basin there is a drainage point through which the water passes into the hoarding tank. The water is concealed and therefore is allowed to remain on the table during Birkat Hamazon.
After the use, you can easily empty the water by tilting the vessel to the side, since there is a gap between the two layers of the basin that allows water flow.
Cylinder: Give it to them, they gather it up; open your hand, they are well satisfied (Psalms 104:28)
Cube: Sow righteousness for yourselves; reap the fruits of goodness (Hosea 10:12)
Rectangular box: Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained by the way of righteousness (Proverbs 16:31)
"There are eight degrees of giving, each one higher than the other "
Pentagonal box: But let justice well up like water, righteousness like an unfailing stream (Amos 5:24)
Each TZEDAKAH box bears a biblical inscription:
Sphere: Rather you must open your hand and lend him sufficient for whatever he needs (Deuteronomy 15:8)
Roll: He who strives to do good and kind deeds attains life, success and honor (Proverbs 21:21)
Pyramid: You give open handedly (Psalms 145:16)
Synagogue
My pieces vary from Kiddush cups, silver pomegranates, Chanukah lamps (that can be adapted to candelabra or menorah) and mezuzahs. I do understand the desire for uniqueness, thus my modern and minimalistic designs can be personally adapted to Any congregation needs.
Currently, my designs are being presented in the JUDAICA TWIST exhibition at Beit Hatfusot in Tel Aviv Israel. In addition, I was recently named one of the leading Judaica artists in 500 Judaica by Larks Books.
Sfirat haomer is a mitzvah In the Jewish Halacha, in which from the day of the Pesach we are required to count forty-nine days. The day after this counting is complete, the fiftieth day, is the holiday of Shavuot, the anniversary of the giving of the Torah to the Jews. The counting is done out loud at night with a blessing.
The origin of the mitzvah comes from the book of Leviticus (23, 15-16):
" 'From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD."
In addition, in the book of Deuteronomy (16, 9-10):
"Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you."
Different explanations were offered to explain the meaning of the counting: the common explanation says that we begin to count a day after "yom tov" of Pesach, which is, according to tradition the memorial day of the Jewish salvation of Egypt.
50 days later, we celebrate the day of Shavuot, which symbolizes the giving of the Torah. It comes to show that the exodus of Egypt was only a mean to accomplish the cause receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai.
The design of this device was inspired from numerous connotations:
The first, an abacus. Just as the abacus was used by my generation and the ones before as a method of learning calculation, I found it right as a referent of learning how to count. This device symbolizes the passing of the Jewish heritage, as a children's game.
For the counting we use silver marbles (optional version of colored aluminum balls) that contains a magnet that enables the movement of the marbles. You count the passing day by moving up the needed amount of marbles. (the marbles come in two sizes, one for weeks and one for days).
The second, wheat/barley. The appearance resembles the wheat and the barley whom are the main ingredients of the offering of the "Omer". The offering of the "omer" was sacrificed on the second day of Pesach, the first day of counting.
The third, the harp. The device is shaped as a harp. The harp is associated with King David who according to tradition died on the day of Shavuot.
The device can be used in three versions, by rearranging the components of the device:
1.Candlesticks and counting of the omer format.
2.Candlesticks.
3.Counting of the omer device.
♦Candle Sticks Chala Board Etrog Box Hannukiya Havdala Set Mezuzah Honey Dish
Kiddush Cups Match Box Mayim Achronim Megilat Esther Rimonim Pointer Passover Plates
Tzadaka Boxes Washing Cups Dreidels Wine FountainOmer Counter
