Slichot. 2012. Acrylic on canvas, 135x50 cm
In the month of Elul, all Jews begin a period of focused praying, of Slichot, which is the focus of this image. The painting depicts the physically demanding nature of this prayer in the angled head, the creased forehead, and the supplicating hands of this Jew wrapped in his prayer shawl. I sought to represent the strain and exertion of this prayer and of true repentance, to show the effort that goes into the process. The Tefillin on the forehead, a universal symbol of sacred mysteries, is reflected in the ethereal lighting of the image.