Broken to Renewal: Mosaic Midrash Opens Our Hearts to Torah

Rabbi Gila Ruskin will guide us on a tour of 21 original mosaics that are on display in our Social Hall, and invite us to enhance their meaning through our own unique interpretations.

Lite nosh

ARTIST STATEMENT

Rabbi Gila Colman Ruskin is passionate about Mosaic Midrash.  Passages from the Bible or liturgy or Jewish folk music gather layers of meaning as they are crafted into colorful, 3-D mosaics.  Her mosaics are assembled from broken ceramic, glass beads, rocks, shells, costume jewelry, iridescent tiles, coins, archaeological shards, stones, and assorted found objects.  Materials are often donated by her students, congregants, and friends or found in thrift shops, yard sales, or salvage yards.  The mosaics are meant to be touched.  They are meant to enhance our understanding of the text, and to stimulate our senses. Other people are invited to add to the composition with their ideas and materials, but especially with their hands, gluing and grouting.   And a new midrash is created, opening our minds and our hearts.

Gila Colman Ruskin creates mosaic midrash to add depth and breadth to the Torah text.  Retiring from the pulpit rabbinate has allowed her to explore the urban life of West Philly, to spend joyful hours with her grandchildren and her 99 year old mother, and to find the whimsical/spiritual voice of poetry and mosaics.  Thirty six of her art-pieces have been on display for the past 9 months at Mekor Habracha Congregation in Center City.