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Building our inclusive sacred community
These twelve panels that adorn our wall are the result of a congregational effort 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… a multiple piece artwork made by and for our congregation. Click here for the story of the panels.
Wall of Connections (2002)
Artists - Nancy Katz, Berkley, California
and the women, men and children of Temple B'nai Torah
Funded through a generous donation by Irl & Ruth Hirsch in memory of Gloria Simon Hirsch
and by the Sisterhood of Temple B'nai Torah
 | | Ahavah - Love | | |
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 | | Avodah - Worship | | |
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 | | Bracha - Blessing | | |
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 | | Brit - Covenant | | |
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 | | Emet - Truth | | |
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 | | Kavanah - Intention | | |
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 | | K'hillah - Community | | |
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 | | Kadosh - Holiness | | |
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 | | Kavod - Honor | | |
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Creating our panels
Internationally known Judaic artist, Nancy Katz, lead us in the effort to create the 12 panels. Over a 5 day period in March, 2002, Nancy met with a variety of leadership groups of the temple. Beginning with a Sisterhood Retreat and then continuing with Brotherhood, the faculty of our Beit Midrash, our Temple Board, Clergy and senior staff, our High School students, and Project Kehillah, 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.
With Katz's guidance, Sisterhood created a large group tallit at their retreat—their expressions transformed into an incredible design enlivened by brilliant color and painted with their own hands. The other groups had a bit of waiting to see the tangible results of their soul searching.
Nancy then returned to her studio with the expressions of our community and created the outlined designs for 12 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 to life our “Wall of Connections” 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 actual bit of painting and share their 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… what we as a community strive for.
To the panels
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