by Deborah Silverthorn

Special to DJW

Artist David Moss, during a recent Dallas visit, shared his portfolio of magnificent artwork, including the Tree of Life shtender - a freestanding lectern that the Torah is read and studied from. Moss and his partner and friend, Noah Greenberg, conceived the shtender almost 20 years ago.

"The Tree of Life Shtender is a treasure chest for the objects in our Jewish lives," Moss explained. "Originally, I looked at the traditional shtender, a somewhat overlooked piece of Jewish culture, and I wanted to bring together the artistic, symbolic and spiritual possibilities. The responses we've received have been phenomenal."

The Tree of Life shtender is much like an intricate jigsaw puzzle bringing together to create the complete lectern a mincha siddur bound in wood, a tefillin box, tzedakah box, memorial candle holder, Shabbat candelabra, challah board, kiddush set, havdalah set, a shofar box and shofar, an etrog box and lulav container, a Chanukah menorah, matzah holder and seder plate with cup of Elijah, Omer counter and megillah case with a handwritten kosher Book of Esther.

The Tree of Life shtender is much like an intricate jigsaw puzzle bringing together to create the complete lectern a mincha siddur bound in wood, a tefillin box, tzedakah box, memorial candle holder, Shabbat candelabra, challah board, kiddush set, havdalah set, a shofar box and shofar, an etrog box and lulav container, a Chanukah menorah, matzah holder and seder plate with cup of Elijah, Omer counter and megillah case with a handwritten kosher Book of Esther.

The shtender is handcrafted, primarily in workshops in Northern Italy and in Souzhou, China, out of walnut wood with accents in sedua and ebony. The accessories and hardware are in sterling silver and brass. Ninety pieces have been sold thus far and the remaining 90 (this edition of the Tree of Life shtender is limited to 180 pieces) are currently under construction. "The shtenders are virtually the same but as they are each hand carved, they really are one of a kind," said Moss. Most of the pieces have been purchased by private collectors with a few institutional sales.

"Our intention was that these be for home use and that the owners would, and most have, make them part of their home, their Shabbats and their holidays.

"The shtender is divided into three areas," said Moss. "Items for daily use are at the top, then items for weekly use and then the holiday pieces. There is something for every day of the year and an opportunity for the user to make the mitzvot they are performing, through the use of the items included, more beautiful and even more meaningful."

While wood is the "traditional gift" for a fifth anniversary, Dallasite Howard Schultz surprised his bride Leslie with the shtender as a 40th anniversary gift earlier this summer. After the Schultz' daughter Jaynie saw a similar piece in Houston, she reconnected her father and Moss. "Reconnected" because, as it turned out, Moss had designed a ketubah for Leslie's parents' 50th anniversary almost 30 years ago.

"We appreciate beautiful art and beautiful Judaica," said Howard Schultz "and this piece reflects those interests. It was my gift to Leslie and her idea to share that gift."

Once Leslie saw the beautiful piece, she immediately wanted to share it with the community. It was first introduced to the community in November, at its first stop, Yavneh Academy, and it will spend time on loan to Jewish schools, synagogues and organizations throughout the community.

"This is a piece that needs to be used daily, to be appreciated and to be shared on a daily basis," said Leslie Schultz. "It's definitely not something to look at but something to use. We hope it will make its way through every school and every synagogue in the community giving many people a chance to learn with it, pray with it and to enjoy its intricate beauty. This was the best gift I've ever been given."

During Moss' week in Dallas, he spoke to the students of Akiba Academy, the JCC's Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, the religious school at Congregation Shearith Israel and Yavneh Academy. In addition he spoke at the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas; to an audience at Temple Emanu-El, and seniors and an adult Talmud class both at the JCC.

"Everyone's reception has been incredible," said Gordon Fuller, director of the Jewish Education department of the Jewish Federation. "There's been very high interest and the reaction to the symbolism of the shtender has been a resounding 'wow!'"

"Mr. Moss spent time with some of our religious school students and spoke about calligraphy, and he then shared his gorgeous Haggadah," said Elana Rivel, Director of Education at Congregation Shearith Israel. "He taught them how to write Jewish calligraphy and the students were very excited. He was an interesting, patient and true teacher."

Moss' other works include ketubot, an outstanding Haggadah, numerous books, expressions of ritual art and a variety of educational programming.

"It was our intention to share the organic integrity of our Judaism," said Moss. "The place where you study should also be the place where you pray and the place where you practice, and each of those should lead to each other. That is what the piece really means to me. The appreciation and everything about this project has been so rewarding and, as an artist, that's what you work for."