The 12 Tribes in the Kho-shen

12tribes


dov

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.


Poster version

12 Tribes


The Names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel


LEVI לוי SHIMON שמעון REUBEN ראובן
ZEBULUN זבולן ISSACHAR יששכר JUDAH יהודה
GAD גד NAFTALI נפתלי DAN דן
BENJAMIN בנימין JOSEPH יוסף ASHER אשר


The names of Twelve Tribes,
which appear
in various configurations
throughout the Torah,
have many important
symbolic ramifications
according to the Rabbis.
This is particularly evident in their
incision on the gemstones
of the Kho-shen חושן   or
breastplate of the High Priest,
where the order and the spelling
of the tribal names
are according to their
first appearance in the Torah
at the birth of each of the brothers.
The total number
of the Hebrew letters
of all these tribes
adds up to fifty,
which is a seminal number,
associated with
the counting of the Omer and
the 50 gates of Understanding.
The major purpose
of the incised names
was to serve as
a communicating instrument
between G-d and the Jewish people,
האורים והתומים
the oracular Urim and Toomim.
Important questions
of great consequence
to the nation, such as
whether to wage war,
would be submitted
by the High Priest
and answers would be received
as specific lit-up letters
on the Kho-shen.
Since the Torah is eternal
and applies
to all times and states of being,
it is my suggestion
that one's meditation
on the letters
of the Twelve Tribes
should have an efficacy,
particularly when one
confronts difficult crossroads
in one's life.
And if one does this
in a state of prayer
in one's own internal Temple -
enlightened answers are possible.
The following are some
possible correspondences
which I have found
to the Twelve Tribes
and the gemstones
(as well as the tribal banners
in the desert),
based primarily on
the classical commentators,
Rashi and R. Yakov Kuli
(Maam Loh-az),
but doesn’t even pretend
to be exhaustive.
The viewer is invited
to continue further.


reuvan 


REUBEN
ראובן was incised
on the
  אדם pronounced Oh-dem  

a red stone which most commentators
agree is a ruby

and the basis for the painting’s colors.
The name oh-dem is related
to the word, Adam, or man,

and suggests also the dudaim,
the human-like mandrakes,
which Reuben gave to his mother Leah.

The ruby and the mandrakes
have been credited
with having the power to aid fertility.

This implies in the spiritual dimension
the ability to make `chidushim’ –

new creative discoveries -
and is also connected
with the first three letters

of Reuben’s name ראו,
which means seeing,
even otherworldly vision.

וילך ראובן...וימצא דודאים בשדה
(Genesis 30:14)
Reuben went…and
found mandrakes in the field
Link to month of Tammuz 
@ Sefer Yetzira


shimon 

SHIMON  שמעון was incised
on the פטדה Pitdah,

which some commentators
translate as an emerald, hence
the painting's green colors .
Other sources of inspiration include
1) the desert banner of Shimon,
which showed the city of Sechem
ensconced between the mountains
and which was a central city in Israel.
 2) the suggestion of an ear shape
or sound wave ripples
which hints at the meaning
of the Hebrew word Shimon,
“diminutive” hearing,
the inner hearing of
the still voice of the soul.

כי שמע ה' כי שנואה אנכי

G-d has heard that I was unloved
(Genesis 29:33)
Link to month of
Menachem-Av @ Sefer Tetzira




levi

LEVI לוי was incised
on the  ברקת Bareket,
which some translate
as a scintillating crystal,
suggesting lightening
Symbolically, this applied
to the power to enlighten
and be enlightened
with Torah studies which was
a special attribute of the tribe.
The desert banner of Levi
contained three colors
red, white and black
and included a section
of the specially woven garments
of the priests and the Levites
תמיך ואוריך לאיש חסידך

Your Urim and Tumim
belong to your pious one
(Deut 33:8)

Link (as Efrayim) to month of
Tishrei @ Sefer Yetzira




judah 

JUDAH יהודה was incised
on the נפך 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
גור אריה יהודה

Judah is a young lion
(Genesis 49:9)

Link to month of Nissan @ Sefer Yetzira




issa 

ISSACHAR  יששכר

was incised on the  ספיר Saphir
which some believe may be a sapphire
of a deep blue tint,
the color of the pure sky
since this tribe was known
for the excellence of its
Torah and astronomical studies
In the midst of this gem
one was able to see
a form of a dark cloud
suggesting the receiving
of the Torah at Sinai
The desert banner
of Issachar contained
a drawing of a donkey,
which hints at the
tribe’s ability to carry
the heavy load of Torah
יששכר חמר גרם

Issachar is a strong-boned donkey
(Genesis 49:14)
Link to month Iyar @ Sefer Yetzira




ev

ZEBULUN זבולן  was incised
on the  יהלם Yahalom,
which commentators believe
was not a diamond,
as its modern Hebrew translation,
but rather a pearl,
which is, of course, only found
in the depths of the sea
and thus appropriate
for this sea-faring tribe.
These ideas are hinted
by the pearly and ocean
wave texture of the painting.
זבולן לחוף ימים ישכן

Zebulun shall settle the coast
(Genesis 49:13)

Link to month of Sivan @ Sefer Yetzira





dan 

DAN דן was
incised on the לשם Leshem
which some commentators believe
was an orange topaz.
It is said that the gem
showed “inverted faces” to hint
at the fact that from this tribe
came many judges,
who had to show impartiality
in judgment to the rich and the poor
and examine all sides of the issue.
To clearly see this in the painting
one can position
the painting or oneself upside down.
The banner of Dan
also showed a snake
and a suggestion of snake scales
may also be detected.

דן ידין עמו

 Dan shall judge his people
(Genesis 49:16)
 

יהי דן נחש

 Let Dan be a snake
(Genesis 49:17)

Link to month of Tevet @ Sefer Yetzira






naf 

NAFTALI נפתלי  was incised
on the  שבו  Shevoh
which may be a turquoise stone.
The banner of Naftali
showed an antlered deer,
according to Jacob’s blessing,
suggesting dispatch and avidity
in performing the commandments.
נפתלי אילה שלוחה

Naftali is a deer running free
(Genesis 49:21)
Link to month of Adar @ Sefer Yetzira





gad 

GAD גד  was incised
on the אחלמה Achlama,
which some define
as a purple tinted amethyst
in the form of a calf's eye
which was believed
to prevent cowardliness in battle,
an important prerequisite for
the tribe which guarded the frontier.

The banner of Gad
showed a formation
of soldiers and army camp,
which may be discerned
in the painting.

גד גדוד יגודנו

Gad is an army camp
(Genesis 49:19)

Link to month of Elul @ Sefer Yetzira





asher.

ASHER אשר was incised
on the תרשיש Tarshish,
which may have been
amber the color of olive oil,
appropriate for a tribe which was
known for its olive oil production.
The banner of Asher actually
showed an olive tree, which is the
central composition in the painting.

 וטבל בשמן רגלו

He shall dip his foot in olive oil
(Deut 33:24)

     Link to month of Shevat @ Sefer Yetzira




jos

JOSEPH יוסף was incised
on the שהם Shoham,
which was a very black gem,
probably an onyx.
The banner of Joseph
showed the city of Egypt
represented here
by a myriad of small faces,
emerging from the shadows.

בן פרת יוסף

 Joseph is a noble son
(Deut 33:22)

Link (as Menashe) to month
of
Mar-Chesvan @ Sefer Yetzira





ben 

BENJAMIN בנימין was
incised on the  ישפה  Yashpeh,
or jasper, which was multicolored.
The banner of Benjamin
showed a wolf, preying on its spoil,
emanating ferocity.
In the painting a frontal view of a wolf
is somewhat hidden behind
the reeds, but may be discerned,
if you know where to look.

בנימין זאב יטרף

Benjamin is a fierce wolf
(Genesis 49:27)
 

Link to month of Kislev @ Sefer Yetzira




m7e

The names Levi and Joseph
in the Kho-shen
were replaced by half-tribes of
Efraiyim אפרים and Menasheh מנשה
in the encampment in the desert,
their names and banners
having unique and evocative features.
See this link for more information:



לינק לעברית



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