The Sacred Letters
Dov Lederberg has been deeply involved
in
using new art media and techniques
to express the subtle ideas
of Kabbalistic teachings and meditation.
Many of his original paintings and prints
have been
inspired
by the "ktav stam" or
the Hebrew scribal style,
including individual
letters
of the aleph bais, as
well as the words:
achad,
mizrach,
shalom,
braysheesh,
the names
of the 12 Tribes.
The
Twelve Tribes
An assemblage of twelve original paintings
representing the names of the Tribes of Israel
as they were incised in the gemstones of
the golden Kho-shen חושן
or breastplate of the High Priest.
Each painting reveals a unique style and
color palette, inspired by teachings
from the Midrash and Kabbalah.
Airbrush/acrylic
on canvas on
12 mounted canvases:
62" x
48" (158 x 122 cm)
Other sizes and versions on
special order
as well as paintings of individual names in Hebrew.
Close-up
of section: The Tribe of Dan
DAN was inscribed on the Leshem,
which some commentators
believe was
a topaz.
The stone (and the painting) have
"inverted" faces, hinting
that from this tribe would come
many judges, who had to show
impartiality in judging
rich and poor and examine
every side of the issue.
So you can see
one set of judges on the left
and if you stand on your
head
you can perceive another set on the right.
The banner of Dan also contained
a
snake image,
hence the suggestion
of reptilian scales.
Close-up
of section: The Tribe
of Judah
JUDAH
was inscribed on the Nofech,
which some commentators
believe was a bluish-green carbuncle.
The gem is said to have an efficacy in
achieving victory over one's enemies,
internal and external,
which is a primary attribute
of Kingdom, as well as the Baal Tsuvah,
the Repenter, both of which
are associated with Judah.
The desert banner of Judah
contained a picture
of a crouching lion
and a gestalt of its profile
may be discerned in the painting.
Efrayim and
Menashe
airbrush
/ acrylic on
canvas
diptych
16” x 32” (40 x 80 cm)
Achad - the Primordial Light - version
#1
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד
“Hear Oh Israel HaShem is
Our G-d HaShem is One”
(Deut 6: 4)
אחד Achad or One
is the essence of both
the Shma Yisroel prayer –
“Hear Oh Israel” —
and the First Day of Creation,
Yom Achad, יום אחד
the creation of the Primordial Light
which was afterwards concealed
so that the wicked
of future generations
would not be able to enjoy it,
this being the most profound
“punishment” for sinning,
the denial of the Light.
In reciting this prayer
it is the custom
to cover our eyes
in order to see and reveal
within ourselves
this Light and unite with the One.
This revelation also applies
to those (actually all of us)
who are not an exactly
a full-time 24/7 Zaddik,
a Righteous One,
since during
this existential second
when we recite the prayer,
we become a Zaddik, irregardless
of what we have done in the past
or will do in the future.
airbrush/acrylic
on canvas
30” x 40”
(76 x 102 cm)
Achad - the Primordial Light - version
#2
airbrush/acrylic
on canvas
30” x 40”
(76 x 102 cm)
Mizrach
-
the Messianic Dawn
The
approaching sunrise
over the walls of the Old City
in Jerusalem -
its
turrets, stairs and gates -
is not just the anticipation
of another day
and another beginning,
but because it is in Jerusalem,
the center of the World's Soul,
the dawn must express
the ultimate faith
that the Night of the Exile
has ended
and this new day
will usher in the coming
of the Mashiach - Messiah.
airbrush/acrylic
on canvas
30”
x 40”
(76 x 102 cm)
Shalom
and The Priestly Blessing
The
Priestly Blessing concludes
with the word “Shalom”,
transmitted to the ears
of the congregation
in ever-expanding waves or ripples,
to open our hearts and minds
to receive G-d’s Blessing.
airbrush/acrylic
on canvas
30” x 40”
(76 x 102 cm)
The
Entrance to the Garden of
Eden
The
entrance to the Garden of
Eden
is guarded by angels
wielding
revolving
swords
and who allow passage
only
to those souls
who in
their lives were connected
to
the Aleph,
the first
letter of the Hebrew alphabet
and
the Ten Commandments
and hints
as well
to
the "Alupho shel Olam",
The Master of the Universe.
airbrush/acrylic
on canvas
30” x 40”
(76 x 102 cm)
Bris
Aish - Genesis - The Convenant
of Fire
According
to Jewish philosophy
the world was created
ex nihilo by the
Hebrew letters
and the words
of the Ten
Divine Utterances
in the first
chapter of Genesis
and in particular
the first word –
Braysheesh בראשית
which is the subject
of the entire
book of the Tikunei Zohar.
There the
various permutations
of its letters are examined
and
explicated and one of them –
Brees Aish - ברית אש -The Covenant of
Fire -
is the source of
inspiration for this work
.
airbrush/acrylic
on canvas
30” x 40”
(76 x 102 cm)
Barah
Sheesh - Genesis - He Created Six
Here
the permutation of the letters
of Braysheesh בראשית
forms the words:
Barah
Sheesh ברא
שית
He created Six (or Foundation)
airbrush/acrylic
on canvas
17" x 20”
(19 x 50 cm)
Poster
on the
Sacred Letters
Image
size 18"
x 12 1/2"
(46 x 32 cm)
Signed
by the
artist.
Many
of the paintings may be available as prints and giclees,
please inquire:
http://dov-lederberg.artistwebsites.com/
107 Alorzorov Street
Tzfat (Safed) Israel 1322480
Telephone in Israel:
mobile: 052-662-7620
(972-52-662-7620)
Email
address: dovlederberg@gmail.com
Copyrighted (c) Dov
Lederberg 1997-2016 All rights
reserved.
