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Love Thy Neighbor
2025 Exhibition
to benefit israel/battle hate
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 need to share.
The intention of my art is to inspire appreciation of one another's differences.
You can click on each painting to read a description of the subject and of its relevance to this collection.
These paintings (and many more to come) are available as my gift to those who donate directly to organizations that
support Israel and/or battle antisemitism or hatred in any form.
More to come on this...more artwork and more details!
For inquiries, please go to Contact
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All Come To Pray
Oil, 16x20-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2022.
Available for $500 donation as noted above.
During a recent visit to Jerusalem, I was struck by the women praying so fervently at the Western Wall.
They came from many different places in the world, representing vastly different cultures. However their emotional reaction to being there – having the opportunity to touch the Wall and say their prayers in a medley of languages including Hebrew – was universal.
It was beautiful and moving to observe these women, side by side, as they murmured their prayers, hopes and thoughts.
Available for $500 donation as noted above.
During a recent visit to Jerusalem, I was struck by the women praying so fervently at the Western Wall.
They came from many different places in the world, representing vastly different cultures. However their emotional reaction to being there – having the opportunity to touch the Wall and say their prayers in a medley of languages including Hebrew – was universal.
It was beautiful and moving to observe these women, side by side, as they murmured their prayers, hopes and thoughts.
Dancing Flames
Acrylic, 11x14-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2024.
Available for $350 donation as noted above.
A Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum that is lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.
The story behind Hanukkah goes as follows: King Antiochus, whose ancient kingdom included Judea (present-day Israel), outlawed the practice of Judaism. He wanted Jews to worship Greek gods. When they refused, he ordered his troops to destroy the Temple of Jerusalem, an important place of worship for the Jewish people.
The Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, rebelled. Around 164 BCE, the Maccabees (as they were called) defeated King Antiochus and his troops.
When the Maccabees returned to their ransacked temple, they found only one jar of oil - just enough to light the temple’s candles for one day. But according to the Talmud (a holy text of Judaism), the oil miraculously burned for eight days—enough time for the victorious Maccabees to find more oil for their sacred candles.
To celebrate the ancient miracle of the oil burning for eight nights, candles are lit on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. The menorah holds nine candles—one for each night plus a candle called the shamash which is used to light the other candles.
During the nightly candle lighting, people recite blessings and prayers, sing songs - and during the holiday, they enjoy foods cooked in oil such as jelly donuts called sufganiyot and potato pancakes.
Often called the “festival of lights”, Hanukkah is truly a light-filled celebration in many ways.
Available for $350 donation as noted above.
A Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum that is lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.
The story behind Hanukkah goes as follows: King Antiochus, whose ancient kingdom included Judea (present-day Israel), outlawed the practice of Judaism. He wanted Jews to worship Greek gods. When they refused, he ordered his troops to destroy the Temple of Jerusalem, an important place of worship for the Jewish people.
The Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, rebelled. Around 164 BCE, the Maccabees (as they were called) defeated King Antiochus and his troops.
When the Maccabees returned to their ransacked temple, they found only one jar of oil - just enough to light the temple’s candles for one day. But according to the Talmud (a holy text of Judaism), the oil miraculously burned for eight days—enough time for the victorious Maccabees to find more oil for their sacred candles.
To celebrate the ancient miracle of the oil burning for eight nights, candles are lit on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. The menorah holds nine candles—one for each night plus a candle called the shamash which is used to light the other candles.
During the nightly candle lighting, people recite blessings and prayers, sing songs - and during the holiday, they enjoy foods cooked in oil such as jelly donuts called sufganiyot and potato pancakes.
Often called the “festival of lights”, Hanukkah is truly a light-filled celebration in many ways.
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.
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.
Galilee
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.
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!
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!
Jaffa Oranges SOLD
Oil, 18x18-inch gallery canvas, 1.5 inches deep. 2022.
Gifted to donor of $500 to UJA Federation.
Jaffa oranges, also called Shamouti oranges, are grown in Jaffa, Israel. They are unique because of their sweet taste, deep orange color, oval shape and thick peel.
This particular type of orange dates back to the 19th century when it was traded during the Ottoman Empire's rule. In Israel, which was part of Palestine at the time, it became popular because it is easy to peel, almost seedless, and has a tough skin which makes it easier to export worldwide.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Jaffa oranges became emblems of the Israeli state.
Gifted to donor of $500 to UJA Federation.
Jaffa oranges, also called Shamouti oranges, are grown in Jaffa, Israel. They are unique because of their sweet taste, deep orange color, oval shape and thick peel.
This particular type of orange dates back to the 19th century when it was traded during the Ottoman Empire's rule. In Israel, which was part of Palestine at the time, it became popular because it is easy to peel, almost seedless, and has a tough skin which makes it easier to export worldwide.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Jaffa oranges became emblems of the Israeli state.
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