Sunday, 26 May 2019

Three Different Stages of Service

Remember the 25th wedding anniversary cards I made for this couple last year? Well, they both came back to me once again, as they so loyally do, this time to mark 26 years. Fortunately they requested very different cards.
The first card I created was based on a photo sent to me by the wife. The couple's twin sons and their daughter are all currently serving in the Israeli army. Gabi, on the left, has almost finished his 3 years of compulsory service. Adi, in the middle, is in the middle of his service and Ella, on the right, has just been drafted. The photo mum sent me, shown below, was taken at Ammunition Hill, Givat Hatachmoshet, on the day Ella went in.
The Hebrew words on this photo say, from right to left, "The one that's joining", "The one that's inside" and "The one that's on the way out".
Mum wanted me to make the three different stages of service that her children are in very clear, so I changed the poses ever so slightly so that it looks like Gabi, on the left, is walking away or leaving. Mum was keen for me to show Ella with her big bag on her back with all her army stuff.
"Thanks Lisa for the amazing cards as always!" she wrote on Facebook, whilst a friend of the couple wrote "Wow such a cool recreation of the photo."
Her husband asked me to make a card showing his wife drinking a glass of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey Whiskey, with the Shabbat candles in the background. It seems she is rather partial to the stuff! "Happy 26th Anniversary" he asked me to write on the card and then "!לחיים".
לחיים, or L'Chaim, is a toast meaning "to life". A celebration with family and friends to mark a special occasion is often called a l'chaim.
Hebrew letters are also used as numerals and the Hebrew letters that spell "chai", life, also stand for the number 18. The letter Het (ח) has a value of 8 and the Yud (י) has a value of 10.  Thus, 18 is considered a lucky number in Jewish culture. It is common to give gifts and contributions to charity in multiples of 18, symbolically giving the recipient the gift of "life" or luck.

15 comments:

Miss Val's Creations said...

It is amazing how you re-create photos with paper Lisa! Love it! The Whiskey bottle is a fun touch on that second one.

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

Your work is always so detailed and life-like.

italiafinlandia said...

I believe they were happy!

Sum of their Stories said...

What lovely and very different cards. How lovely to have such happy customers who come back to you again - you are definitely doing a great job!

VeggieMummy said...

Great cards and interesting about 'chai' meaning life. I agree with Miss Val - the whiskey bottle is great! xx

Tamar SB said...

The sibling card is AMAZING!

Michele Morin said...

The people you create look so realistic!

Anne said...

As always I am in awe of the way you recreate photographs, it's no wonder people come back time and time again. Fabulous cards x

Junieper/Jesh said...

That's a great card for that family, Lisa. Like how describe the process of the positions of the three, etc. I did not realize the Hebraic letters also have a numeric value. I could have known, because the Hebraic years always have a meaning. A year in our alphabet also has numbers, but no meaning! All in all, again a very interesting post - have a lovely week!

Thisiswhereitisat said...

So cleverly made X @mmbc

Cheryl said...

You put so much detail and meaning into your cards. It is a delight. Thank you for explaining the importance of the number and the words. #MMBC

alid said...

I love how you made these from the image you were given. You can really see the love and thought you put into making them.
#MMBC

NCSue said...

You have such a talent for this.
Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2019/05/a-smattering-of-superrealism-from.html

likeschocolate said...

You have outdone yourself. Wayt to go!
http://travelingbugwiththreeboys-kelleyn.blogspot.com/

Sara - Villa Emilia said...

Hello Lisa, thank you for the interesting post!
It's lovely to see your beautiful cards AND at the same time to learn about your culture.