“MAY HASHEM BLESS YOU...”
An original calligraphic artwork based on the Book of Numbers (6:24)
Year of Creation: 2022
Materials: Calligraphic ink, hot foil stamping, gold paint, natural calfskin parchment.
Presentation: Deep box frame, sophisticated dark grey-grey-green mat board (passe-partout), museum glass.
Dimensions: Parchment: 14 × 15 cm; Framed: 37 × 38 × 4 cm.
Authenticity: Signed with the artist’s custom brand mark on the parchment; includes a printed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the back of the frame.
 
Concept & Composition
At the heart of the artwork is the opening verse of the canonical Priestly Blessing (Birkat Kohanim):
יְבָרֶכְךָ ה' וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ
“May Hashem [The L-rd] bless you and protect you.”
The piece is executed within an intentionally square composition, projecting a sense of absolute architectonic stability, monumentality, and sacred tranquility. Here, traditional sacred calligraphy is seamlessly integrated into the realm of rigorous conceptual art, where every element — from the contours of the letters to the depth of the molding — works in harmony to cultivate a unified meditative space.
 
Technical Distinction & Calligraphy
A Shimmering Flame and Simultaneous Contrast: The text is written in a calligraphic ink that possesses a vibrant, warm, and fiery essence. The choice of a deep, cool grey-grey-green mat board acts as a powerful optical contrast: the cool surroundings restrain yet brilliantly manifest and quicken the inherent fiery energy of the ink, making the letters appear to pulse with life. The biblical verse is fully punctuated with vowel signs (nikkud), demanding jeweler-like precision from the master scribe.
Constructing the Sacred Center: In strict accordance with Jewish scribal tradition, the Tetragrammaton is reverently substituted with the letter He (ה') to represent Hashem (The Name). This central word is uniquely constructed by the artist and rendered using hot foil stamping. Unlike the soft shimmer of traditional gold leaf, the foil stamping yields an immaculately crisp, graphic, and deep reflective surface, transforming the substituted Divine Name into a commanding luminous and spiritual anchor.
The Organic Form of the Parchment: The text is inscribed on a piece of genuine calfskin parchment measuring 14 × 15 cm. The hand-cut edge of the hide is delicately traced with gold paint along its entire perimeter. This slender, radiant contour visually separates the organic, breathing texture of the leather from the strict geometry of the mat board.
Mark of Authenticity: The artist’s custom brand mark is burned directly into the parchment — an absolute hallmark of the piece's archival status and uncompromising handcraftsmanship.
Spatial Solution & Framing
The framing of the artwork serves as a direct extension of its underlying philosophy:
The Deep Box Frame (4 cm & Float Mounting): This presentation elevates the piece from a flat image into a striking three-dimensional object. The parchment is meticulously float-mounted, raised above the mat board to cast a beautiful, soft shadow. This deliberate gap creates a captivating interplay of depth and light, making the sacred text appear to literally hover in space. 
Museum Glass blocks ultraviolet rays to preserve the organic parchment while eliminating distracting reflections. This creates the striking illusion that there is no physical barrier whatsoever between the viewer and the rich texture of the manuscript.
Provenance and Protection: For long-term value and authentication, a professionally printed Certificate of Authenticity is permanently affixed to the back of the frame, ensuring the artwork's provenance is preserved alongside the piece itself.
This piece stands as an exemplary model of contemporary intellectual minimalism, where an ancient text and handcrafted materials resonate with a timeless, modern clarity.