"I will be to Israel like the dew, he shall blossom like the lily, he shall strike root like the Lebanon. His boughs shall spread out far, His beauty shall be like the olive tree, His fragrance like that of Lebanon."
(Hosea 14:6-7)
The Holy One Blessed
be He said to Israel that all is from you, just as this lily blossoms and
its center (lev) is directed upwards, so too when you do repentance
before me, your hearts (levavchem) shall be directed upwards like
this lily. In that same hour I shall bring redemption.
(Midrash Tehillim, ed. Buber, Psalm 45)
Copyright © 1998 by Avi Biran
Cloves are stored in a round compartment which is located as a drawer inside the base, on which is written the verse from Hosea. The fragrance of the cloves rises through the verse, the letters of which are sawn out of the metal. In the center of the lily are seven cloves which symbolize the six days of the week which surround the Shabbat.
The base is covered with allspice grains which represent the whole of Israel, Klal Yisrael. The individual spice grains (all-spice) are gathered with all the others in anticipation of redemption.
The lily is made of reddened copper and as though time has taken its toll on them, the leaves are made from oxidized green copper. Copper, which was one of the main materials used in the making of the holy vessels in the Tabernacle and afterwards in the Temple, is used. Illustrating the concept of historical continuity, the stem (made of stainless steel) represents a vertical time line starting out from the base (from the time Israel was gathered into a nation (the allspice grains)). On the way up, the three groups of leaves represent the Tabernacle, the first and the second Temples. The flower at the top of the stem symbolises our pure prayer for future redemption and future rebuilding of the Temple.
It is possible to separate the lily from the base in order to pass it among participants in the havdalah ceremony.
Sterling Silver, Copper, Stainless Steel, 4" x 4" x 10"
$3,510
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