Hand drawn phases of the moon are embroidered in an array of color on a cream color canvas zippered pouch.

Size is 9.25” x 7”, to fit a 1/2 piece of standard boxed matzah (a generous half piece measures to 6.75” x 4”).

Thread colors are deep green, burnt orange, mustard yellow, raspberry sorbet, robin’s egg blue, soft lavender and dark lavender.

About:
I made this piece specially for Ish Cincinnati and am glad to be selling them in my shop as well. The sentiment I hope to convey is how in Jewish life, we pass our rituals and traditions from generation to generation. With each year that passes, we repeat the same physical rituals time and again, while we (miraculously I think) make them anew with each new year, and with each generation. It’s like the way an actor makes Shakespeare new with each performance— their work is to bring something relevant and fresh to the fore.

The moon image is in reference to the month of Nissan on the Hebrew calendar, when Passover takes place. It is known as the time of our freedom and it is one of four New Years celebrations observed in the keeping of Jewish time. As Pesach marks the time when the Israelites were freed from slavery, this moment is literally when Jewish time keeping began. The moon is our guide. I like this image for the afikomen bag because what’s a more freeing part of Seder than running around looking for treasure and eating dessert?!

The text says:

הישן יתחדש והחדש יתקדש
ולפני ירח דור דורים

In English:
the old becomes new, the new becomes holy (Rav Kook)
before the moon for generations upon generations. (From psalm 72:5)