These hand-sculpted panels of The Twelve Tribes of Israel adorn the Kerem BiYavneh Yeshiva. Six wall sculptures face the six columns on either side of the main hall. Each carving is accompanied by decorative paneling and moldings which serve to frame and accentuate the sculptural works.
The creation of artistic pieces for the synagogue offers Kimchi an opportunity to make the sanctuary space more inspiring, which in turn, can encourage a more spiritually uplifting religious experience.
The subject of the twelve tribes has especially strong resonance in this regard and offers Kimchi a well spring of inspiration.
Each tribe is sculpted in its own particular artistic language. The figurative symbols represented at the top of the panels are hinted at in the abstract carving below.
As shown:
Each Panel 52 cm wide x 235 cm high
Cherry
Contact the artist for further information or to commission work:
[email protected]
972-535-4874
Artist’s Statement
Jeremy Kimchi – Wood Artist
Wood artist Jeremy Kimchi (b.1965) grew up in the beautiful, wooded region near Ithaca New York. In 1982 he moved to Israel, where he still lives and works.
Upon completing his BA Kimchi decided to engage full time in what had been until then a growing passion - the art of fine woodworking.
Kimchi returned to the States for a year to apprentice at the Jeffrey Greene Design Studio from 1991-92. It’s safe to say that the intense learning experience he had there transformed both his woodworking skills and his outlook as a budding artist.
After the apprenticeship Kimchi returned to Israel and founded his own studio workshop, but still maintains a warm relationship with former mentor Jeffrey Greene to this day.
Kimchi creates pieces by commission for both the private and public sectors. However, over recent years he has become more sought over as an artist in the unique niche of synagogue furnishings. While Kimchi views every project as an opportunity for growth and artistic perfection, he feels a special sense of significance when creating pieces designed to uplift the spirit.
Kimchi lives in a small community on the edge of the Judean Desert. “I still miss the luscious forests of the Northeast,” he says. “But now the rugged desert landscape that surrounds my home has merged with the scenes of my childhood as a source for my artistic inspiration.”
Kimchi’s uniquely sculpted Torah arks and other furnishings adorn dozens of synagogues both in Israel and the U.S.