Love Thy Neighbor

2025 Exhibition
to benefit israel/promote unity

Since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, my focus has been on expressing the country's beauty and culture,

and on representations of related people/sites/subjects. This is as much a creative choice as it is a heartfelt need.

The intention of my art is to inspire appreciation of one another's differences.

Click on the paintings in the section below to read a description of the subject

and of its relevance to this collection.

These pieces (and many more to come) are available as my gift to those who donate directly

to organizations that either support Israel or battle hatred in any form.

Stay tuned for more on this...more artwork and more details!

For inquiries, please go to Contact

the hamsa as a symbol of peace

The Hamsa hand is instantly recognizable among several religions and cultures as a symbol that heralds good fortune, unity and ultimately, peace.

The 7 paintings you see above, therefore, collectively form the “centerpiece” of this Love Thy Neighbor exhibition which celebrates beauty across diverse ethnic groups and beliefs.

The precise origin of the Hamsa symbol is unknown. Historians say it predates Islam and Judaism, the religions to which it is most closely associated. One theory suggests that it comes from ancient Egypt in a form that featured two fingers, a thumb, and an evil eye. According to Egyptian legend, the fingers represent the gods Osiris and Isis, and the thumb is associated with their child Horus. Other theories posit that the Hamsa originated during the Phoenician civilization or even thousands of years ago in Mesopotamia.

Whatever its origins, the Hamsa is universally believed to be a protective talisman that repels evil. It is not a religious symbol, like a crucifix or Star of David; instead, it is a good luck charm that is worn as jewelry, displayed in homes or carried as an amulet.

IN JUDAISM, the Hamsa is referred to as the Hand of Miriam. Miriam was the sister of Moses, whose honorable life led her to become a representation of protection and luck. Hamsa comes from the Hebrew word hamesh, which means the number 5, thus the 5 fingers that can represent the 5 books of the Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The number is also an inherent reminder that one must use all 5 senses in the holding of one’s beliefs.

IN ISLAM, the Hamsa is known as the Hand of Fatima. Fatima Al Zahra was the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad and his first wife, Khadija. Fatima is seen as pure, and so the Hand of Fatima is viewed as a symbol of protection and strength. The number 5 is also significant in Islam, from the Arabic word khamsah. For Shi’ite Muslims, it represents the five People of the Cloak; Sunni Muslims view the fingers as the pillars of Islam: Faith, Prayer, Pilgrimage, Fasting and Charity.

FOR LEVANTINE CHRISTIANS, the Hamsa symbolizes the Hand of Mary, connecting it with the protective qualities attributed to the Virgin Mary.

IN HINDUISM AND BUDDHISM, the Hamsa takes on a different meaning, representing chakras and the 5 senses, and mudras (hand gestures) that direct healing flow. Hands are important symbols in these religions as they are the tools used to connect with one’s spirituality. The 5 fingers also represent the elements of nature: earth, fire, water, air, and the ethereal.

In all its representations, the Hamsa is considered a protection against harm. I am hoping that this work helps to further that concept, showing it as a unifying element that inspires respect – and peace – among us all.

Stroll in the Muslim Quarter

Oil, 16x20-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2024.
Available for $600 donation as noted above.

The four quarters of Jerusalem are the Armenian Quarter, Christian Quarter, Jewish Quarter and the Muslim Quarter. Walking through the Old City is like walking through thousands of years of human history, and each quarter has different sites, restaurants, architecture, and history to explore.

The largest of the four quarters, the Muslim Quarter lies in the northeastern corner of the Old City and covers 77 acres. Within it is the large open plaza of Temple Mount where the Jewish Holy Temple stood until 70 AD and where the Al-Aqsa Mosque now stands. The Mosque is believed to be the one referred to in the Koran when Muhammad was transported from Mecca to “the most distant mosque” in the Night Journey.

Three of the Old City’s gates in the surrounding city walls open up to the Muslim Quarter: the Damascus Gate (1542); Herod’s Gate (Flower Gate) and Lions’ Gate (St. Stephen’s Gate). The Golden Gate is a sealed gate that leads directly to Temple Mount.

It is a winding complex of narrow and scenic alleys and archways, a wonderful area in which to wander and where visitors inevitably get lost.

Three of the Seven Species

Oil, 16x20-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2024.
Available for $600 donation as noted above.

When Moses describes the Promised Land to the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 8:7-8, he says: “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land…a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and (date) honey.” Known in Jewish tradition as the Seven Species of Israel, these two grains and five fruits hold historical and spiritual value for the Jewish people.

This painting shows three of the seven in their natural state: a pomegranate, figs and dates. (Many Americans have never seen fresh dates so it was particularly appealing to show them here!)

While the agricultural roots of Judaism may have been somewhat forgotten during 2,000 years of exile, many of the religious rituals of Jewish holidays are related to seasons and to native products of the land of Israel.

For example, the holiday of Tu B'Shvat marks the emergence of spring. In the exile that followed the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E., Tu B'Shvat became a way to maintain a connection to Israel’s seasons as was the incorporation of the Seven Species into the observance of the holiday.

Shavuot also began as an agricultural festival, marking the end of the Spring barley harvest and the beginning of the summer wheat harvest. Barley and wheat were brought to the Temple as offerings. After the destruction of the Temple, it became customary to decorate homes and synagogues with greenery and flowers on this holiday.

Wheat and barley fields, vineyards, olive groves, and fig, pomegranate, and date palm trees remain key features of Israel’s landscape today. The Seven Species are common ingredients in Israeli cuisine and they play key roles in Israel’s culture and economy.

Ark of Torahs

Acrylic, 18x18-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2024.
Available for $600 donation as noted above.

Judaism is grounded in the religious, ethical, and social laws as articulated in the Torah. Torah is a Hebrew word meaning ''law'' or ''teachings.”

The Torah is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, known as the Five Books of Moses - what Christians refer to as the Old Testament. It contains the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Readings from the Torah, which are divided into 54 weekly Torah portions (each one called a parsha in Hebrew), are the centerpiece of the Shabbat (Sabbath) morning service. The Torah scroll is taken out of its ark and the weekly portion is chanted or read aloud. The congregant reading from the Torah is known to be “receiving an aliyah”, literally meaning “going up”; this refers not only to physically ascending to the bimah (altar) where the Torah is read, but also evoking the historic ascent to the Temple in Jerusalem. It is an honor to be asked to read from Torah.

The Torah scroll, also known as a sefer Torah, is handwritten on specially prepared parchment sheets, made from the skin of a kosher animal, in accordance with strict specifications by a specially trained sofer (scribe). In synagogues, Torah scrolls are stored in an ark – an aron hakodesh in Hebrew meaning holy cupboard. When synagogues are to the west of Jerusalem, the ark is situated on the eastern wall to ensure that when you are by the ark, you are always standing facing the holy city of Jerusalem.

Each scroll is considered valuable and sacred. In order to preserve and respect it, no one is permitted to touch the scroll directly with their hands; instead a pointer called a yad is used to follow the words in the scroll as they are read aloud.

These Torahs are contained in traditional style covers called Torah mantles. Mantles are often ornate, intended to both protect and beautify the Torah scrolls. They are typically made of velvet or other fine materials and embroidered with metallic thread or otherwise decorated.

Welcome Home

Oil, 18x18-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2023.
Available for $500 donation as noted above.

Visitors to Jerusalem cannot help but note that, in the uneven and winding streets around the city, there are many hidden doorways at odd angles.

Who knows how old those entrances are or even where they lead? But they are often colorful and always beautiful.

Portals to people’s homes or courtyards sit amid Jerusalem stone walls and the cobble stone streets. As you turn around each corner, there is another scenic surprise.

Armenian Doorway

Oil, 16x20-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2024.
Available for $500 donation as noted above.

The Armenian Quarter is one of four sectors of Jerusalem’s walled Old City of Jerusalem, located in its southwestern corner..

The Armenian presence in Jerusalem dates back to the 4th century AD when Armenia adopted Christianity as a national religion and Armenian monks settled in Jerusalem. It is considered the oldest living diaspora community outside the Armenian homeland.

Over time, the quarter developed around the St. James Monastery; it houses the Armenian Apostolic Church's Jerusalem Patriarchate which was established as a diocese in the 7th century AD. The patriarchate acts as an administrator of the quarter and for approximately 2,000 Armenian residents.

According to the Armenian National Committee of America, the Armenians of Jerusalem form one of the oldest Armenian communities outside of Armenia, and that the Armenian Quarter may be one of the most “Armenian” places in the world.

It is unique in that Armenians are the only people to have a Quarter in the Old City alongside three quarters designated for faiths: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

The orangey yellow doors are eye-catching for sure, against the pale Jerusalem stone of the building; perhaps they are the color of one of the stripes of the Armenia’s national flag?

Inviting Entry

Oil, 16x20-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2024.
Available for $500 donation as noted above.

The Old City of Jerusalem is a 0.9-square-kilometer (0.35 sq mi) walled area in East Jerusalem. In a tradition that may have begun with an 1840s British map of the city, the Old City is divided into four uneven quarters: the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Armenian Quarter, and the Jewish Quarter.

The Jewish Quarter lies in the southeastern sector of the walled city. It has a rich history, with several long periods of Jewish presence since the eighth century BCE. In 1967, the Old City contained 17,000 Muslims, 6,000 Christians (including Armenians). There were no Jewish people as their population of about 2,000 had been expelled from the city by Jordanians who had captured it in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.

The city later came under Israeli control during the 1967 Six-Day War. The Old City, along with its walls, was added to the World Heritage Site list of UNESCO in 1981.

The total population of the Old City now is about 36,000. Of these, 22,000 live in the Muslim quarter, 6,000 in the Jewish quarter, another 6,000 in the Christian quarter, and about 2,000 in the Armenian quarter.

It is a maze of winding, ancient streets with shops and homes of all kinds, some almost hidden down narrow alleyways. Every private home’s entry way is different; this one looks particularly welcoming suggesting a beautiful garden just on the other side of the double doors.

Conversing

Acrylic, 18x18-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2023.
Available for $500 donation as noted above.

Islam requires modesty both for men and women. Therefore clothes are loose so that the curves of the body are not discernible.

Muslim men’s clothing are to cover at least their head and body from the waist to the knees, while women's Islamic dress conceals the hair and the body, from the ankle to the neck.

The specific garments worn vary from one culture and community to another but the essential rules of dress are the same among Muslims. For example, the most common garment for women is the hijab head covering. This is worn by many as a way of practicing modesty, however the type of hijab varies depending on the sect of Islam practiced.

These women clearly follow strict Islamic guidelines for dress. Here they are enjoying a few moments together perhaps in the comfort of one of their homes.

Salt Flats

Oil, 11x14-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2023.
Available for $500 donation as noted above.

The Dead Sea is located bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. Aside from the being the saltiest lake in the world, it is also Earth's lowest elevation on land.

Its extreme salt concentration prevents any kind of fish or plants to survive in the sea; thus its name. As you may know if you have ever visited or seen photos of tourists floating atop the surface of the Sea, the water of the lake is so dense that it is impossible to sink in it.

In recent decades, the Dead Sea has been rapidly shrinking. With the passage of time, fewer of the natural formations and phenomena of the sea will remain. Already the evaporation rate exceeds the inflow rate and it is said that eventually the whole area will become mud flats.

The Dead Sea is noted as one of the earth’s best places for natural healing. The water is rich in minerals that are said to be good for skin ailments and the combination of its salt and minerals are thought to relieve joint problems such as arthritis as well.

Whatever its benefits – health or otherwise – the Dead Sea is a sight to behold with its vast expanse and salt formations.

Rainy Night in Times Square

Oil, 11x14-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2023.
Available for $400 donation as noted above.

Known for its neon lights, giant digital billboards and bright Broadway marquees, New York City’s Times Square is all the more brilliant on a rainy night.

It's interesting to note that Judaism is the second-largest religion practiced in New York City, with approximately 1.6 million adherents as of 2022, representing the largest religious Jewish community of any city in the world. This is greater than the combined totals of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Times Square proper encompasses 42nd to 47th Streets from Broadway to Seventh Avenue although people commonly refer to Times Square as the area from around 40th to 53th Streets. It is one of the world’s most popular tourist locations, with an estimated 50 million visitors each year.

Times Square got its name in 1904 when The New York Times newspaper set up its headquarters in the building now known as One Times Square. The mayor of New York renamed Longacre Square after the paper, though the newspaper relocated within a decade afterward.

Galilee View

Oil, 18x18-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2024.
Available for $600 donation as noted above.

The Sea of Galilee (aka Lake Tiberias or Kinneret) in northern Israel is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake in the world after the saltwater Dead Sea. It is fed partly by underground springs, but its main source is the Jordan River, which flows through it from north to south.

Its name originates from the Hebrew word kinnor (harp/lyre) which resembles its shape.

The Sea of Galilee is especially well known to Christians because it was the scene of many episodes in the life of Jesus Christ, including his Sermon on the Mount, at which he first gave the blessings of the Beatitudes and first taught the Lord’s Prayer. The region was also the site of the first Jewish kibbutz, Deganya, established in 1909. The area also appears in some Islamic prophesies.

Today, the Sea of Galilee is a popular tourism site especially for Christians. Visitors can even see a boat, discovered in 1986, that dates back to Jesus’s time.

Market Sweets

Acrylic, 18x18-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2023.
Available for $600 donation as noted above.

The Jerusalem Shuk is a large open-air market that was founded during the Ottoman period.

Today Machaneh Yehuda is a bustling market and a center of innovative food. Some stalls are, incredible as it sounds, owned by descendents of the original owners.

Sellers shout out prices as tourists and locals shop for fresh bread, halva, rugelach, fresh-roasted coffee, spices, fresh ground tahini, beer, gourmet cheese -- and candy. Lots and lots of sweet treats in all colors and shapes!

If you haven't visited this Shuk, you are in for a treat. Or rather, many treats!

Rainbow Eucalyptus

Oil, 18x18-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2023.
Available for $750 donation as noted above.

I first saw a red eucalyptus tree in Israel and was mesmerized by it. (These trees were originally brought to Israel from Australia to help dry out swamps, which were breeding grounds for malaria-spreading mosquitoes.)

Researching this tree, I discovered rainbow eucalyptus trees which are yet another level of stunning!

Rainbow eucalyptus trees grow in tropical regions such as the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. They can grow to over 200 ft tall in their native environments. They can now also be found in some parts of California, Hawaii and Florida where they reach up to about 100 ft.

The trees are evergreens with spear-shaped, silvery-green leaves and tiny white flowers. Clearly their most unique feature is the trunk, which grows bark in shades of green, blue, orange, red, and purple. As it grows, the bark peels off in strips to reveal new colors and patterns, its beauty constantly evolving.

Love Thy Neighbor 2025 Exhibition to benefit israel/promote unity

the hamsa as a symbol of peace

Love Thy Neighbor

2025 Exhibition
to benefit israel/promote unity