2/20/09 Dedication of Parochet (Ark Curtain)

At the February 20th Shabbat service, the congregation of the Temple for Universal Judaism dedicated a parochet for the ark that houses our Torah.  It was designed and crafted by Toronto artist Temma Gentles (temmagentles@sympatico.ca) a winner of the Spertus Judaica prize, recipient of Ontario Arts Council grants and a founder of the Pomegranate Guild of Judaic textile artists.  She wrote this description of its origin and process:

This ark curtain was created in honour of Philip M. Roshevsky, and donated to the Temple of Universal Judaism by his daughter Eve, with whom I have worked on a number of projects over many years. According to Eve, Phil was “never happier than when he was in Temple”.

As suggested by Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor the ark curtain has open areas that allow us to glimpse the Torah scroll. These take the form of a network of stars. The single panel opens to the left side of the ark; and now the ark doors will remain open throughout the service. The fabric used for the appliqué picks up the gold leaf letters (with traditional red underpainting) on the ark doors. It is a 1938 vintage design from Boris Knoll. The blue/grey in the base fabric and border references the long scarf "–the colour of our eyes–” that Eve knit for him.

During my site visit I attended choir practice with Eve and was struck by the beauty and appropriateness of Hanna Senesh’s poem “Yesh Kochavim”, set to music by  Cantor Jeffrey Klepper and translated by Rabbi Dan Friedlander. The lines ". . . and so it is with people that we loved,/ Their memory keeps shining, ever brightly though their time with us is gone . . .” seemed b'shert for this use, and stars became the theme of the piece.  The dedication panel, placed behind the border, reads

May this tribute to Philip Roshevsky bring joy to the congregation and family for many years.