Sunday, November 14, 2010

Hand-Carved Hebrew Verses




Beautiful hand-carved Hebrew verses are one of the unique offerings available from Eitz Hadar Woodworks. Available in a variety of hardwoods, finishes, and in almost any size, you can design a hand-carved verse to fit anywhere and compliment any decor. These beautiful works of art make unique, deeply meaningful gifts for home, office, or synagogue that can commemorate weddings, births, or almost any life-cycle event.

(click photo to embiggen)


Our latest verse, shown above, was recently installed below the zeicher in the entryway of the client's home in Brooklyn, NY. In some Jewish homes, the zeicher is a patch of wall left unfinished to remind us of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem almost 2000 years ago. In modern terms, it should remind us that our comfortable homes are not complete while so much work remains to repair our World. The verse in this carving is taken from Psalm 137 and, translated from Hebrew, reads "If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning." Like the zeicher, this verse exhorts us to remember Jerusalem, the Holy Temple, and our lives' purpose.

This piece is hand-carved in ribbon stripe mahogany by Yitz Finch the Brooklyn studio of Eitz Hadar Woodworks. The calligraphy is hand-drawn using the same guidelines Jewish scribes use to write Ashkenazic (from the Eastern European tradition) Torah scrolls. No computerized equipment is used to produce these works of art. Here, the letters art expertly gilded in 23 karat gold by Yitz's friend George from Of Hand and Soul.

Like the example described here, client's can select a verse to express heartfelt feelings or commemorate life-cycle events:

  • Grateful for your blessings? Say it with Psalm 118: "Give thanks to God for he is good."

  • Buy a new home? Commemorate the purchase with Pirkei Avos 1:4: "Let your house be a meeting place for sages."

  • A child graduates from medical school? Give them Jeremiah 17:14: "Heal us God and we will be healed."

Of course, if you do not have a specific verse in mind, Yitz will work with you to find just the right one.

(click photo to embiggen)


Hand-carved Hebrew verses let you put some Torah inspiration over a doorway, over a mantle, in your garden, or in nearly any room in your home, office, or synagogue. They are also beautiful when viewed up close, which reveals the hundreds of chisel marks in each letter, demonstrating the care and patience that goes into each verse. To signify the relationship between artisan and client, Yitz carves his signature and the date on the back of each piece.

Prices for hand-carved Hebrew verses start as low as $500 for a short verse, or a Hebrew name. A verse of the length shown above starts at $950. Additional charges apply for painted or gilded letters, as well as NY Sales Tax and shipping if applicable. Contact Yitz directly through the Eitz Hadar Woodworks web site or send an email to yitz@eitzhadar.com.

We look forward to making one for you!


No comments:

Post a Comment