The Torah speaks of a portable holy space called the Mishkan.
G-d dwelled in the rooms, and priests performed their sacred tasks between the walls.
Ten years ago, a vision came to me, and with it a calling:
I would build a modern version of the Mishkan. Imagine walking into the Torah, an eight-foot-tall scroll embracing you like two arms, covered with the 613 Mitzvot in English (on the outside) and Hebrew (on the inside).
In biblical times, we performed sacrifices for G-d. Today, we use prayer. The Modern Mishkan is a prayer space, an offering, a representation of the connection between art and faith that has driven my career.
The Modern Mishkan is portable and the various versions have been installed in four locations.
Each version grows and evolves.
October 16 - 26, 2024 Eastside Jewish Commons
during the Jewish holidays of Sukkot and Simcha Torah
To kick off the installation’s debut, we had an evening of music, poetry (written by Brian Rohr) and an artist talk.
Over 400 people visited and used the installation space during these holidays. Many wrote prayers and put them into the
copper pot. Later, I took those prayer and burned them as an offering.
March 2020
Things were put on hold during the pandemic. I did get a lighter frame created and began drawing the new idea for a three layered silk Etz Chiam (tree of life) as the Holy of Holies. This version of the Modern Mishkan taught me about our connection with our ancestors and each other.
July, 2019 New CAJE Conference
(Council of Jewish Educators)
In this iteration I added a chuppah (marriage canopy) to the rear of the installation, providing an additional space for personal reflection and prayer. The conference opened with 100 participants in a Havdalah service. I invited these educators to return to the space throughout the week to meditate, pray, and write blessings on paper that they placed in a copper basin. These blessings were then burned in a ceremony and the ashes were buried as and offering, emulating the ancient sacrifices ofour people.
February - April, 2019
The 150 Anniversary Celebration for Neveh Shalom
(a Portland, Oregon shul)
The two-month installation was launched with an opening night lecture. During its time there I was told about one class of preschoolers who spontaneously laid down on the floor and silently gazed up at the letters. Congregants and staff would spend solo time in the space, meditating and contemplating. This version had a number of contributors and was truly a community builder.
Writing Hebrew commandments/Checking different sources
Full view of Installation
Close-up of scroll handle and Hebrew commnadments
Putting up first frame made by Stu Luxenberg
Master weaver, Martha Decherd, creating accent from colors in torah text
October, 2018 Art Show at Mittleman Jewish Community Center
As I was just beginning to bring the Modern Mishkan into reality, it became the walls of my booth for an art show. I had only the 613 Commandments written in English completed but wanted to share them with people. A couple of grieving patrons said they felt comforted, which was meaningful for me.
