This is the other commission I created, a gift of gratitude for someone who chaired a fund raising effort to benefit our community. Below is the explanation I provided.
Aitz Chayim, The Tree of Life is symbolic of so many things. Traditionally, it is a metaphor for Torah and also for knowledge and wisdom. In mystical Judaism the Tree of Life demonstrates the essence of God ( as best we can understand ) and the manner in which the world was created.
This glass plate was inspired by a quote from the book of Proverbs (referring to the Torah) where it says:
דְּרָכֶ֥יהָ דַרְכֵי־נֹ֑עַם וְֽכׇל־נְתִ֖יבוֹתֶ֣יהָ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ עֵץ־חַיִּ֣ים הִ֭יא לַמַּחֲזִיקִ֣ים בָּ֑הּוְֽתֹמְכֶ֥יהָ מְאֻשָּֽׁר׃
“Her ways are of a pleasant path, and all these ways are of peace. She is a tree of life for those who hold fast to her and all those who hold her are happy.”
