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Fingerprint Mosaic Calendar Banners

Over the course of 5783 (2022-20234), Temple B'nai Torah worked with Paper Midrash to create a series of twelve calendar banners for the Sanctuary, one for each Jewish month. These "Fingerprint Mosaics," were designed by Isaac & Rabbi Shawna Brynjegard-Bialik and executed by the entire TBT community, using their fingerprints to bring these colorful, vibrant banners to life - each inspired by the Jewish holiday cycle as well as local imagery and symbols.

Tishrei - The month of Tishrei includes the holiday Sukkot, also known as “the time of our celebration.” The Tishrei banner shows the interior of a sukkah with a lattice skach top, decorated with suspended fruits and vegetables, including Washington’s state fruit, the apple; the Jewish symbol for joy, grapes; one of Sukkot’s “four species,” the etrog; and the Jewish symbol for Torah, the pomegranate, which midrash tells us contains 613 seeds.

Cheshvan - During Cheshvan we begin to include the seasonal daily prayers for rain in the Amidah. This banner is representative of the greater Seattle area skyline: Mount Rainier in the background; the Space Needle its original “Galaxy Gold” orange coloring; Smith Tower at Pioneer Square, the tallest building west of the Mississippi River at the time of its completion; and MoPOP, with its distinctive shiny metal surfaces; and all are surrounded by the rain that Seattle is known for.

Kislev - The holiday of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, begins in Kislev. This banner features the nine-branched Hanukkah menorah, with eight candles (one for each night) and its shamash rising in the center, and the warm glow of the candles’ flames spreading out over the community — because we are commanded to publicize the miracle of Hanukkah by placing our Hanukkiot in locations where they can be easily seen.

Tevet - The Tevet banner features the new moon that brings with it the new month and our monthly celebration of Rosh Hodesh. Jewish time has our days and holidays beginning in the evening, which goes back to the book of Genesis 1:5: “and there was evening, and there was morning, a first day”; three stars in the night sky is considered the beginning of evening.

Tu B'Shevat - Tu b’Shevat, the fifteenth of Shevat, is known as “The New Year of the Trees,” which we often celebrate with a seder featuring Israeli fruits such as figs, dates, and carobs. The tree in this banner is the Western hemlock, Washington’s state tree. In the time of the Temple when we would make offerings of “first fruits” we needed a consistent way to know the age of trees, and so we mark this day as the “birthday” of all trees.

Adar - The Talmud tells us “Be happy, it’s Adar,” and in the month of Adar we celebrate the festival of Purim. We wear masks, shake graggers, and read from the Megillah, which is shown on this banner. The Megillah — because it does not contain God’s name — can be decorated, and this one is filled with the colors of the rainbow, celebrating the welcoming nature of the TBT community.

Nisan - In Nisan we celebrate Passover, recreating the exodus from Egypt and our journey to freedom in Israel. There is a midrash that God pushed back the Sea of Reeds and made walls of water, through which the Israelites walked on dry ground; this banner features the split waters, just as the Israelites are about to sing and dance in celebration of God’s freeing us from Egyptian bondage.

Iyyar - The month of Iyyar contains a modern Jewish holiday: Yom HaAtzma’ut, celebrating Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948. According to the Torah (Deuteronomy 8:8), there are seven foods that made ancient Israel’s agriculture special: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olive oil, and dates; this banner contains them all.

Sivan - In Sivan we celebrate Shavuot, which is both a harvest festival and connected to our receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. In Exodus 19:18 we read that Sinai was surrounded in rising smoke like from a kiln, and in Midrash Tanchuma we have a Midrash that teaches the Ten Commandments were carved from a single giant sapphire Moses found at the top of the mountain, which is why this banner’s tablets are blue, visible through the smoke surrounding the mountain.

Tammuz - The Tammuz banner recognizes our weekly celebration of Shabbat, with candles, a full cup of wine for our joy, two challahs (for the dual commandment to “keep and remember” Shabbat), and the light of Shabbat spreading over our households and communities. Ahad Ha’Am, one of the founders of the state of Israel, wrote that "More than the Jewish people have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.”

Av - Jerusalem is at the heart of the month of Av. Not just for Tisha b’Av, in which we remember the Temple’s destruction, but also for Tu b’Av, a a biblical holiday which is now celebrated as a holiday of love in Israel. The banner represents the walls and of the Old City of Jerusalem, shining in the light of the sun, which is why the city is known as “Jerusalem of Gold.” The history of our connection to Israel is found in the details of this city, with its beautiful arches, the dome of the Hurva Synagogue, and David’s Citadel rising above it all.

Elul - The banner of the month of Elul has a shofar stretched over a field of green grass and colorful flowers. It’s said the Elul is the month in which God is most approachable. There is a parable that a king's usual place is in palace, hard to approach, but there are times when the king comes out to the fields outside the city and anyone can approach him. The month of Elul is when the king is in the field — when God comes out to see us, as we prepare for the upcoming High Holy Days. The shofar is blown in synagogue during Elul as a reminder that the high holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur will soon be here.

Wall of Connections Art Gallery

These twelve panels that adorn our wall are the result of a congregational effort in 2002 to express our personal and communal aspirations. They serve as a confirmation and reminder of what is possible when we work together toward a common goal. Inspired by the women of Sisterhood, this project began as an effort to simply add a piece of artwork to our physical space. It grew into a process of visioning, creation and community building. Guided by artist, Nancy Katz, this multiple piece artwork was made by and for our congregation.

Ahavah – Love

Avodah – Worship

Bracha - Blessing

Brit - Covenant

Emet - Truth

Kadosh - Holiness

Kavanah - Intention

Kavod - Intention

Khillah - Community

Shalom - Peace

Shema - Listem

Tzedek - Rightousness

Internationally known Judaic artist, Nancy Katz, led us in the effort to create the twelve panels. Over a five day period in March, 2002, Nancy met with a variety of leadership groups of TBT. Beginning with a Sisterhood retreat and then continuing with Brotherhood, the faculty of our Beit Midrash, our Temple Board, clergy, senior staff, high school students, and Project Kehillah, and an ongoing Temple focus group, Nancy guided congregants through a process of reflection, sharing, laughter, and tears. In each session, participants were challenged to communicate in words and images what the Star of David meant to them. A short exercise highlighted the issues and feelings that arise in communal art making. Finally, words were identified that were most reflective of our community and our Jewish values.

Nancy then returned to her studio with the expressions of our community and created the outlined designs for twelve silk panels, each portraying a central value of our community through a Hebrew word and symbols. Each panel could stand alone, but was designed to work in sets of four, and as one large ensemble. If one looks closely, the entire collection could be displayed as a large Torah scroll.

Throughout the day on May 5, 2002, over 300 congregants came to our social hall, individually and in groups, and with the guidance of Nancy and the “veteran” Sisterhood women, we brought our “Wall of Connections” to life by painting the silk in vibrant colors ourselves. It was truly a multi-generational experience, and those who participated that day can point out their contribution and share memories of the day. For those who were not able to participate, the artwork serves as a starting point of understanding what our community stands for and what we as a community strive for.

Funded through a generous donation by Irl & Ruth Hirsch, in memory of Gloria Simon Hirsch, and by the Sisterhood of Temple B’nai Torah

Mon, December 2 2024
1 Kislev 5785

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Endless Opportunities: Hanukkah Celebration
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Mon, December 2 2024 1 Kislev 5785