Designer Tradition – “Mother Tongue” Jewelry by Yael Kanarek

Photo credit: Gili Getz

“Mother Tongue” is a collection of fine jewelry in Hebrew, Yiddish and Aramaic created by artist Yael Kanarek during her fellowship at LABA House of Study at the 14Y. Kanarek created the works inspired by texts from the Bible, Zohar, Lea Goldberg, Celia Dropkin and her grandmother. The works are created with a typeface Ms. Kanarek designed specifically for this purpose.

The works are available for purchase at Aleph Foundry. She also creates custom jewelry with Roman or Hebrew alphabet.

Photo credit: Gili Getz

“Family Charms” Hebrew Bracelet

The “Family Charms” bracelet was inspired by a passage from Tikkunei HaZohar, an independent book that reinterprets the first word of Genesis, bereshit (“In the beginning”).

One passage links each member of the nucleus family with one letter from the unpronounced 4-letter name of God יהוה. Av (father) with Yod, Em (mother) with Heh, Ben (son) with Vov and Bat (daughter) with Heh.

These four words are spread throughout the Hebrew alphabet in such a way to encompass the whole alphabet system. Thus, within the family, a world is born. Wear this bracelet on your right hand or if you’re a lefty, on your left. The hand of doing. May we do with divine inspiration.

Photo credit: Gili Getz

“Family Charms” Hebrew Necklace

“Family charms” necklace features the ancient Hebrew words Av, Em, Ben and Bat — father, mother, son and daughter. These charms are inspired by a passage from Tikunnei HaZohar, a Kabbalist text that elaborates on the Book of Genesis. In the book, each family member is linked with one letter of the unpronounced name of god יהוה, reaffirming the spiritual connection of the family.

The word for father begins with the aleph and the word for daughter ends with Tav, the last letter. Thus between father, mother son and daughter, all words are possible a the world comes to be.

The charms can be recombined to represent the diversity of all families structures.

Photo credit: Gili Getz

The Secret of Secrets – Aramaic

These two charms are in Aramaic and read Raza deRazin, meaning the Secret of Secrets. The Secret of Secrets is one of the sections in the Zohar, the central Kabbalist book.

The Secret of Secrets necklace, worn close to the heart, serves as a commitment, connection and reminder to the great mystery of life and consciousness. The heart that feels and the mind that admires the grandeur of the force that manifests the universe.

Photo credit: Gili Getz

The Tree of Life in Aramaic

Ilana deKhayey means Tree of Life in Aramaic. The Tree of Life symbol is a universal mythological icon of intelligent life. We see it represented in culture often, most recently in two acclaimed movies: Avatar by James Cameron and The Tree of Life by Terrance Malick.

The most famous symbol in Kabbala is called the Tree of Life and the special language of Kabbala is called the “language of the roots and branches.”

The word ‘ilana’ (tree) is in rose gold and the word ‘deKhayey’ is in white gold. This pendant is a reminder of our inner most connection of the divine care that The Tree of Life symbol expresses.

Photo credit: Gili Getz

“I sleep and my heart is awake” in Biblical Hebrew

It’s late at night. She’s in bed. Her body is asleep but her heart is listening for her lover to come up to her door. This insightful line comes from Song of Songs, the one book in the Old Testament written mostly in a woman’s voice. What unfolds is a poetic love story of attraction and rejection.