Jewish Joy Mural

While spending the week at Congregation Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield, Michigan, outside Detroit, as their artist in residence, their leadership asked if I could create a mural for the lobby. And they specifically wanted this to be a piece that involved the whole congregation. Their direction was that the mural should be energetic, feature people engaged in doing Jewish things, and convey an overall sense of joy in Jewish life. The mural should also fit seamlessly into the lobby, reflecting the colors in their giant stained glass windows, and the architecture of the space.

The 16ft by 3ft piece shows a series of abstracted hands performing a handful of mitzvot: shaking the lulav and etrog, lifting the Torah, holding a havdallah candle, and blowing the shofar. A focus on hands allows anyone to see themselves as being the one depicted in the mural. I drew out the design in advance on wood sheets, and the entire congregation was invited to participate in painting in the colors at the annual shul dinner. Now the piece hangs above a hallway in the lobby for everyone to see and remember the role they had in beautifying their synagogue.