I’m in silence this week with our retreat, sitting by this lakeshore scene.
One of my earliest experiences with spirit, age 4 or 5, was sitting in services at our reform synagogue. Most of the content slipped past me but I always loved this prayer, and it will be in my heart this week.
Grant us peace, Thy most precious gift, O Thou eternal source of peace. Bless our country that it may ever be a stronghold of peace and be its advocate in the council of nations. May contentment reign within its borders, health, and happiness in its homes. Strengthen the bonds of friendship and fellowship between all the inhabitants of our land (and every land). Plant virtue in every soul and may love of Thy name hallow every home and every heart.
So I’m offering you my reflection: What does peace mean? What can I do as active or energetic doing, as being, to enhance peace in the world?
The first large outdoor sculptures I ever made were these two 7’ bronze, electrified menorahs, commissioned by my childhood synagogue. They hung on either side of the front door. When that (very old) synagogue merged with another, they were moved and hang today on this wall near the entrance. They are welded and I did all the wiring! I still find them beautiful. This was the true start of my professional sculpture career after college, the first of many outdoor pieces.
This relief on the Hillel Building in Ann Arbor, is my final large outdoor piece, 1989.
They are up to 9’, stylized Hebrew letters spelling Hillel.