unisex judaica bracelets

Rabbi Bleich came on a condolence call.

​I showed him a set of tefillin inherited from wife’s late Grandpa Jack A"H. The Rabbi suggested having them examined for flaws, using the word ‘kosher’, and laughed when I asked who eats tefillin?  No, no, no, he said, and then explained the practice of ritual burial for worn-out Hebrew-language books and papers on religious topics.

Ok… I get it, and without hesitation I handed him over the blue crushed velvet bag with it’s golden embroidered star of David.

​Weeks later when I saw him he handed me the bag shaking his head, and - like a doctor informing a patient of a test result; sorry, the tefillin are no longer kosher, and need to be buried. 

No thank you, I said. I’ll keep them where they were, on a bookshelf surrounded by family memorabilia... for the next generation.  After all, they were used from the time of Grandpa Jack’s Bar Mitzvah sometime around the turn of the last century.  Not quite 'antique', but really old... vintage old.  Not to be buried.  Only to be preserved.  For the kids, and their kids...

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Tefillinisin is a fruition.  

​Found objects have unknown history that elevates them to hidden treasure status.

As a photographer since 1976, I regard the photograph online is their staging ground, and they're designed for those who appreciate the resulting combinations of a vintage/antique talisman with modern industrial materials.

Finally, there is homage here to the heroism of an old friend; his hand damaged in combat.  The photography is inspired by the masters who created a new art form.

The rest is where my design and photography passions meet in a small desktop studio between books, collections of silent memorabilia, photography going back to the 70's, and the nicknacks of my life.

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