“The Tree of Life Shtender" - a Magnificent Wooden Item for the Jewish Ritual Objects of Use - David Moss and Noah ...

“The Tree of Life Shtender" - a Magnificent Wooden Item for the Jewish Ritual Objects of Use - David Moss and Noah Greenberg
The Tree of Life Shtender, a splendid wooden "Shtender" (a reading desk). Handmade. Designed by the artists David Moss and Noah Greenberg. Manufactured by Bezalel-Editions, 1980-1998. Signed by Moss and Greenberg. Copy 18/18 A.P.
In 1979, David Moss first conceived the idea of transforming the "Shtender" from a simple item designed for prayer and study into a complex Judaica item that addresses not only the spiritual aspect of religion, but also the practical side – the observance of commandments. Together with Noah Greenberg (artist of carpentry, born in California), he spent over a decade developing and building the special "Shtender" that would look fairly standard outwardly, but on the inside would be a compartmentalized treasure chest in which one could hide away the sacred objects that are essential for the practice of the Jewish religion .
The motif that was selected for the design of the "Shtender" was the Israeli trees and plants, including the seven species. Each item that is found in the "Shtender" is decorated with floral patterns, carved in wood, representing the command for which it is intended.
Great design work went into every part of the "Shtender", starting from choosing the design motif down to the careful and skillful carving.
The prototype of the "Shtender" was hand-carved by Noah Greenberg. Total amount of 180 copies were produced by expert craftsmen in workshops abroad, under the supervision of Greenberg. Copies of the "Shtender" were featured in several museums and synagogues in the United States and in private collections of collectors around the world.
The "Shtender" contains:
* A charity box. On its walls there are carvings of fig leaves and fruit.
* A carry-on Tefillin box. On the box’s walls there are carvings of the branches of an apple.
* Kiddush set - Kiddush goblet and plate, both made of silver, and four smaller goblets (for family members), placed in a carved wooden box , decorated with vine carvings .
* Menorah with seven canes, carved out of an individual walnut tree piece, shaped as the branches of an almond tree.
* Wooden Challah tray. Around the cutting surface, there are carvings of ears of wheat. There is a drawer in the base of the tray; in it stored a knife with a carved handle. Inside the knife’s handle there is an extractable part that can be used as a salt shaker.
* A box for etrog (citron), with a folding handle.
* A container for the Lulav, with carvings of lulav branches, myrtle and willow.
* Set for the Passover 'Seder' night, an eight-sided plate, with dents for vials; six vials made of silver, a silver goblet, and a carved wooden box for matza. The set folds so that all its parts are stored inside the matza box. Great craftsmanship and time were invested in creating the set. This appears to be the most complex of all items in the "Shtender”.
* A menorah with olive shaped metal vessels. On its sides there are carvings of olive branches.
* A box for the 'Shofar', made of carved ebony, and a 'Shofar'.
* A ’Havdala' Set – A wooden case, with a removable candlestick. In its base a small drawer for perfumes. In creating this item, pieces of the Tamboti tree were used (a particularly aromatic African tree).
* 'Sfirat Ha Omer' calendar made of walnut tree, with ornaments in the shape of barley ears. The calendar is comprised from three separate parts that are assembled together and placed at the top of the "Shtander".
* Esther scroll, written on parchment, stored in a wooden case .
* Siddur for Mincha prayer, bound in an elegant wooden binding (the title of the siddur: "Bau Lefanav, Seder Mincha , Shtender "Tree of Life", published by Bezalel 1998).
Height: 108 cm. Width: 42 cm. Good condition. Minor damages in some parts.
From the collection of Arnie Druck.