"The Tree of Life Shtender", a splendid wooden "Shtender" (a reading table), handmade. Designed by the artists David Moss and Noah Greenberg. Bezalel-Editions, 1980-1998.
A copy from an edition of eighteen copies, signed by Moss and Greenberg and marked A.P.
In 1979, David Moss first conceived the idea of transforming the "Shtender" from a simple item designed for prayer and study into a complex Judaica item that addresses not only the spiritual aspect of religion, but also the practical side - the observance of commandments. Together with Noah Greenberg (master of carpentry, born in California), he spent over a decade developing and building the special "Shtender" that would look fairly standard outwardly, but on the inside would contain in secret compartments the ceremonial objects that are essential for the practice of the Jewish religion.
The motif selected for the design of the "Shtender" was Israeli trees and plants, including the seven species. Each item that is found in the "Shtender" is decorated with vegetal patterns, carved in wood, representing the command for which it is intended.
Great artistic work went into every part of the "Shtender", starting from choosing the design motif down to the careful and skillful carving.
The prototype of the "Shtender" was hand-carved by Noah Greenberg.
Total of 180 copies were created by expert craftsmen in workshops abroad, under the supervision of Greenberg. Copies of the "Shtender" were displayed in several museums and synagogues in the United States and are found in private collections around the world.
The "Shtender" contains:
* A charity box. Carved decorations of fig leaves and fruit appear on its walls. * A carry-on Tefillin box. Carved branches of an apple tree on the side walls. * Kiddush set - Kiddush goblet and plate, made of silver, and four smaller goblets (for family members), placed in a carved wooden box, decorated with vine leaves. * A seven-branched Menorah, carved out of one walnut tree piece, shaped as the branches of an almond tree. * Wooden Challah tray. Around the slicing surface appear carvings of ears of wheat. There is a drawer in the base of the tray; in it is stored a knife with a carved handle. Inside the knife's handle there is an extractable part that can be used as a salt shaker.* Ethrog container with a folding handle.* A holder for a Lulav, with carvings of Lulav, myrtle and willow branches.* Set for the Passover Seder: an eight-sided plate, with dents for vials; six vials made of silver; a silver goblet, and a carved wooden box for Matzah. The set folds so that all its parts are housed inside the Matzah container (Great craftsmanship and time were invested in creating the set. This appears to be the most complex of all items in the "Shtender"). * A Hanukkah Lamp with olive-shaped metal oil fonts. On the side plates appear carved olive branches.* A Shofar box, made of carved ebony, and a Shofar. * A Havdala Set - a wooden case, with a removable candlestick. In its base a small drawer for perfumes. In creating this item, pieces of the Tamboti tree were used (a particularly aromatic African tree). * Sfirat Ha Omer calendar made of walnut tree, with ornaments in the shape of barley ears. The calendar is composed of three separate parts that are assembled together and placed at the top of the "Shtander".* Esther scroll, written on parchment, stored in a wooden case. * Siddur for Mincha prayer, bound in an elegant wooden binding (the Hebrew title of the siddur: "Bau Lefanav, Seder Mincha , Shtender "Tree of Life", published by Bezalel, 1998).
Height: 108 cm. Width: 42 cm. Good condition. Minor defects to some parts.