Chance to rekindle the light

CYNTHIA RAMSAY

Mordechai Edel's new painting, "Circle of Light," is set on the stage of Chanukah, but he believes it holds within it a vision for the entire year.

The five-by-seven- foot work of art features prominently the Lamed Vavniks, a recurring theme for Edel.

"The Chassidic rebbe, the Sfat Emet, explains that the Lamed Vavniks refer to the 36 righteous beings hidden in every generation," Edel told the Independent. "They are synonymous with the 36 times that the word 'ohr,' light, is mentioned in Torah.

"During Chanukah, we light a total of 36 candles in addition to the servant light, the shammash. It is then that the hidden light of the Lamed Vavniks is revealed to potentially illuminate and dispel all darkness from our world and illuminate the face of mankind."

Edel, who has also studied opera and cantorial art, takes the act of creativity seriously.

"The task Hashem gave to the Jewish people is to 'be a light to the nations,' thereby requesting us to 'form' shalom, peace and harmony on earth, as the Almighty Himself 'created' in heaven. Most of us inherently are artists, each of us striving in our own way to continue 'forming' and to draw out the shalom of perfect harmony hidden in the essence of the menorah. As a Jewish artist, how to paint and narrate this daunting, elusive task has passionately obsessed me for the past several years."

With respect to his most recent work of art, Edel shared with the Independent his unique source of inspiration.

"We had a remarkable friend living in the garden of our old home, a beautiful fig tree with which I often had 'conversations.' Hashem's fig tree brought many blessings," he said. "Recently, our fig tree 'spoke' to me of the need to 'transform material blessings into spiritual blessings.' As if on cue, Lynne Zlotnik of Lynne Zlotnik Wealth Management appeared on the scene. Lynne inspired me to attempt to depict the essence of 'true wealth,' hidden in my painting 'Circle of Light.' Lynne used this painting for her Chanukah cards.

"Lynne is a professional financial consultant who radiates a dream from her neshamah that we all ultimately share," continued Edel. "I sense that her dream of true wealth management, that inspired my painting, does not permit any room for the folly of humanity's monetary downfall, caused by greed, but rather it is an idealistic dream, a universal prayer for mankind to unite in perfect harmony with our Creator. It is a dream that emanates from the spiritual essence of our original menorah, made of pure gold, and from the pure olive oil we light, which was once symbolically flown to mankind by Hashem on the wings of Noah's dove.

"Chanukah offers us a golden spiritual opportunity to rekindle that light and give the gold of Chanukah gelt to do good in the world. That is the true 'wealth management' task exemplified by the Lamed Vavniks, as they beckon us to follow them and transform the physical into the spiritual via tzedakah, mitzvot and the light of Torah to illuminate 'the face of mankind.' "

Edel has created two identical paintings of "Circle of Light," one of which has been acquired by the Baycrest Foundation in Toronto. It will be dedicated at their Chanukah celebration on Dec. 21.

"I intend to complete the other twin sister original 'Circle of Light' painting at the Chabad menorah located at the Vancouver Art Gallery during the eight days of Chanukah," said Edel, adding that this painting awaits a new home. "Maybe one day, the two sisters, the opposite ends of the 'Circle of Light,' will dance together in a place of perfect harmony," he said.

In this regard but in stark contrast to "Circle of Light" and its meaning, Edel pointed to a recent auction item sold at Sotheby's.

"Personally, I would like to see 'Circle of Light' auctioned at Sotheby's for some astronomical sum (maybe $360,000?) to at least counter the millions of dollars spent on morbid art such as Damien Hirst's 'The Golden Calf,' an animal preserved in formaldehyde, which recently sold at Sotheby's for 10 million pounds.

"Art critic Norman Tebbit, commenting on Damien Hirst's work, said, 'Have they gone stark raving mad? The works of the 'artist' are lumps of dead animals. There are thousands of young artists who didn't get a look in, presumably because their work was too attractive to sane people. Modern art experts never learn.'

"The view of the tabloid press," continued Edel, "is summed up by a Daily Mail headline: 'For 1,000 years, art has been one of our great civilizing forces. Today, pickled sheep and soiled beds threaten to make barbarians of us all.'

"As Jews, I believe we have a duty to bring a brilliant light to this world to counter bowing down to 'The Golden Calf' and this type of dark, treacherous morbidity. I believe that 'art will appreciate if we appreciate art' and that, by attempting to continue painting the holy colors of Hashem's creation, we can create true wealth management: a wealth of holiness, happiness and harmony."

This is what Edel attempts to do in all of his art, including his latest creation.

"By recognizing that Hashem is, above all, creation and even astrology, 'Circle of Light' aspires to depict the giving and receiving of energy to and from the seven visible planets, the eight candles 'replacing' the seven candles of perfection taken from us in the menorah of the Bes Hamikdash," he explained. "It is a role given to us to emulate the Lamed Vavniks, to inspire and illuminate ourselves and the face of mankind by rekindling the eternal light of shalom."

For more about Edel and his artwork, visit www.edelartist.com.

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