Theo Jonah

My sister's eldest daughter has two little girls, Lottie Ruby and Sadie Eve. I made each girl a personalised papercut picture for their bedrooms when they were born. So, when my sister's youngest daughter gave birth to a baby boy back in March, I decided to make a papercut picture for him too.

I created a piece which displays the baby's name, Theo Jonah, in the centre and his Hebrew name, Boaz Yonah, below it. His birth date and the time of his birth is at the top of the piece, whilst his birth weight is at the bottom. My previous papercuts had a bear and a fox on them. This time I added an elephant, a little bird and stars.

Many Jewish people observe the custom of giving their children both English and Hebrew first names - the former for everyday life, the latter for religious purposes. The Hebrew name is used when the child is called to read the Torah at their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, at their wedding, in the writing of a get (a Jewish bill of divorce), and for funeral ceremonies. Their use on these occasions is customary.

Theo's Hebrew name, Boaz, is a boy's name of Hebrew origin, translating to "strength." Boaz is a prominent figure in the Book of Ruth, with Boaz being the second husband of Ruth. Boaz had a reputation for extending a special kindness to Ruth, ensuring that she was protected and well-treated.

The name Yonah derives from the Hebrew word "Yonah," meaning "dove," sharing ties with the prophet Jonah, who was a leading figure in the Book of Jonah. As legend has it, Jonah was swallowed by a whale, after G-d caused his ship to sink, and then was tossed up onto dry land after three days and nights. Sailors traditionally use the name Jonah to personify someone who brings bad luck but, in this case, Yonah will be known as Jonah in English, after my dear mum Joan.

* This post has been shared on Little Things Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things.

More Glasses Than Elton John

My customer's Uncle Larry was turning 70 in May 2022. She asked me to make a special card for his birthday. "He's such a character" she wrote to me. She told me that he enjoys gardening, eating ice cream and travelling. "He has more glasses than Elton John. It's one of his 'things'" she said.

I showed bespectacled Uncle Larry with an ice cream cone in his hand. There is also a bowl of ice cream behind him. I added some bushes in the background, some gardening tools and a plant. An aeroplane represents his love of travel. Finally, a big red number 70 marks his age.

"It's perfect!" my customer said.

* This post has been shared on Craft Schooling Sunday, Happiness is Homemade, The Good. The Random. The Fun.

Dove of Peace

A customer asked me for a special card to send to a fellow professional in Australia. She wanted something "Israeli" but nothing religious or political. She had already thought about a white dove, the symbol of peace. After some thought, I suggested adding some Jerusalem-style buildings, in the creamy, gold colour of the ancient Jerusalem stone, along with some bright red pomegranates, one of the Seven Species mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as being native to the Land of Israel. Many Jewish families serve the fruit on Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) in the hope that the coming year will bring many blessings.

I created a card which was predominantly blue and white, the national colours of Israel. I cut out a white dove carrying an olive branch. The dove is a symbol of peace from the biblical story of Noah's ark. Noah released the dove to find dry land after a flood, and the dove returned carrying an olive branch, signaling that the flood had receded.

The Vilna Gaon, a scholar and one of the greatest Talmud experts (the Talmud is a record of the rabbinic debates in the 2nd-5th century on the teachings of the Torah), declares that a dove is a symbol of the human soul. The dove is also considered to be a symbol of the people of Israel.

I added the word "Shalom" in English. The word Shalom is a very important word. It has several meanings: it is a greeting word (like Hello, but also Goodbye), it means peace and health and stems from the root S.L.M. that means complete or perfect.

The green trees behind the Jerusalem stone buildings are cypress trees. For centuries, Middle Eastern culture has identified the cypress with the afterlife, prompted by its evergreen quality and the fact that it is roughly shaped like a candle, a symbol of the soul in both Judaism and Islam. It is commonly planted at cemeteries of both faiths throughout Israel - including the military cemetery at Mount Herzl.
Long ago the wood of the Mediterranean cypress was used for building the Temple, ships, and musical instruments. Locals believe potions and ointments made from the fruit of the Mediterranean cypress can treat diabetes, strengthen the immune system, heal gum infections and fungus, and alleviate toothaches.

In 1898 Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism, planted a cypress tree to symbolize his dream for the future of the Land of Israel and the birth of a Jewish State. The cypress tree started to grow and with it, the hope of Israel to see a state. For several years the cypress was a symbol of hope for all the Jews who sat in its shade on the way to Jerusalem. Sadly it did not last long; in 1915 it was chopped down and burned!

I cannot finish this post without mentioning the Hamas war on Israel. Yesterday morning, 1st September, it was announced that Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alex Lubnov and Ori Danino had been murdered whilst held in captivity in Gaza. Hamas kidnapped them on 7th October 2023. They kept them hostage for 330 days and then murdered them and left them in tunnels, to be found by Israeli soldiers. Their captors had fled. These young people were killed for no reason but hate.

May their memory be a blessing.

101 hostages remained in captivity in the Gaza Strip.

Bring them home now!

* This post has been shared on The Good. The Random. The Fun., Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) and Tuesday Turn About.