This is my rendition of the cave where Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi) and his son, Rabbi Elazar, hid from the Romans. G‑d miraculously provided a flowing spring and a carob tree with which they sustained themselves for years, while rigorously delving into the Torah’s secret wisdom.

This painting features a father teaching his son about the Shema prayer and the mitzvah of having a mezuzah on the doorposts of the house. One can sense the child's curiosity as he learns to touch the mezuzah, kiss his fingers, and remember the words of the prayer. He will one day teach his child this same lesson, and the mitzvah will be passed along from generation to generation.

The Holy Torah is full of references to agriculture, landscapes, scenery and terrain. But these are not simply a collection of hollow descriptions. The Torah is very specific with every word and every idea, and through various images it paints a picture of the relationship between the Jewish nation, the Land of Israel and the Creator. Man is given a mission, a set of directives outlined in the Torah, and it is his job to fulfill them to the best of his ability. He sanctifies the physical by using it for spiritual purposes. In doing so, he uses his talent and skills to reveal G‑d’s presence in the world. In return, G‑d then watches over the Land of Israel, ensuring that the needs of His land and His nation are fulfilled.

The Jewish nation is compared to a tree. The trunk is the full body of the nation, the branches are the mental and physical abilities, and the fruit of the tree represents the mitzvot. Man must use his G‑d-given gifts to emulate G‑d, to do mitzvot and pursue kindness. In extolling the virtues of the Land of Israel, Moses praises the land and identifies the seven species which are native to it. The seven species symbolize the close relationship between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. Each has an associated mitzvah, and this is the basis of the painting.

This picture was inspired by my recent journey to the graves of the Chabad Rebbes in Ukraine. In the chassidic discourse “Maamar Hahishtatchut,” the Rebbe Rashab emphasizes the powerful impact of prostration. He explains that emunah in the tzaddik nourishes yiraat Hashem (fear of G‑d) and ahavat Hashem (love of G‑d), yet the emunah remains above the attributes, shining like a crown.

My rendition of the Splitting of the Sea, where the Jewish people achieved faith in G‑d and Moses.