Congregation Sha'aray Shalom, Hingham, MA

Jackson Hole Jewish Community East

Windows for the family Schul of the Jackson Hole Jewish Community East near Hume, Virginia

The Shattered Vessel 48” x 48”

Tree of Life 48” x 48”

Temple Shalom, Newton

Temple Shalom, Newton, MA. 11’x8’ Kiln-formed Lambert Opal stained glass.

The Temple Shalom of Newton Ark. Each piece of glass was bent in a kiln.to achieve the circular curved shape of this unique ark with curved sliding doors.

The sanctuary at Temple Shalom of Newton with the curvd stained glass composition, entitled, “Aliya.”

The Torahs are revealed as the curved doors slide away.

Image from the first High Holiday Service in the new sanctuary at Temple Shalom of Newton.

"Tree of Life" Stained Glass in the Lopati Chapel at Temple Valley Beth Shalom

This symbolic composition, on the theme of "It is a tree of life to them who hold fast to it," was created for the Lopati Chapel at VBS, in 1991. The project consists of fifteen stained glass panels, two sandblast-carved ark doors and two eternal lights. All the work was designed and fabricated in the studio of Plachte-Zuieback Art Glass

Stained Glass in the Lopati Chapel

"Shema" Temple Valley Beth Shalom, Encino, California

The thee for this composition came directly from Rabbi Schulweis. The "Shema," the ultimate expression of oneness, the call to witness the oneness of God. The enlarged "Ayin" and "Daled," spell the word, "aid," to witness. The Shema is a call to witness the first commandment. "Anochi Adonai," the acknowledgement of God. The context of this window becomes one of "Hiddur Mitzvah," i.e. the artistic embellishment and glorification of the first commandment. Also, in viewing this window, we are "witnessing" the scene at Sinai: the Jews encamped before the mountain, experiencing God, first hand.

Six species of Biblical fruit frame the composition. Pomegranate, symbol of Torah, by virtue of it's 613 seeds; Myrtle, symbol of marriage, joy, peace and tranquility; Grapes, symbol of blessing and the connection of man and God; Olives, symbol of peace and light; Figs, contender for the Tree of Life; Almonds, first tree to flower in Spring.

54 phases of the moon surround the composition. The Shema is rendered in 36 languages on the border.

The "Shema" window at Temple Valley Beth Shalom

Installation of the "Shema" window

Workers rest on the scaffold during the installation of the "Shema" window at Temple Valley Beth Shalom.

Rabbi Harold Schulweis, may his memory be for a blessing.

David Shapiro Memorial Synagogue Center at American Jewish University

Download the Free IBook on the stained glass in the David Shapiro Memorial Synagogue Center

"Love Thy Neighbor"

"Vey'Ahavtah L'Rayach Kamochah." " Love thy neighbor as thyself." The single irreducible principle of Torah. The letters are illuminated with 140 etchings. These etchings, which are three inches high, are of peoples of all different times and nationalities, moving together, in the same direction, in joyful celebration, singing, dancing, playing musical instruments. This is a vision of a world in which people live by this golden rule. This panel, 7'x14', was created in 1992 for the new gallery, above the entrance hall, at VBS.

Detail of the etchings on the "Veyahavtah" window

"You Shall Love Your Neighbor as Yourself": Stained Glass at VBS

The Temple Ohabi Shalom, Nashville, Tennessee

The installation of "The Garden of Peace," at The Temple Ohabai Shalom, in Nashville, Tennessee, took place during the first week of October 2001. This 20'x 24' composition for the newly remodled sanctuary consists of 57 panels of antique and sandblast etched flashed glass.

Download the Free IBook on the stained glass at the Temple Ohabi Shalom

"All its Paths Are Peace" Stained Glass at Temple Ohabi Shalom

Temple Emanuel of West Essex, Livingston, New Jersey

Created in 2010, this sanctuary installation consists of a maple wood and Cherry wood aron Hakodesh with stained glass doors as well as two stained glass sidelights, artificailly lit.

Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School: Creation Windows

Eight windows, 3'x7', on the east-facing wall of the Shirley Levine Beit Midrash flank the ark and illustrate the Six Days of Creation and Shabbat.

Download the Free IBook on the stained glass at the Abraham Heschel School

First Day of Creation

A fractured vessel emits the letters of the Hebrew Alphabet, the raw material of creation. This pomegranate-shaped volcano alludes to the Kabalistic image of the vessel which could not contain the light of G-d. A pomegranate is a symbol of Torah by virtue of its 613 seeds.

Second Day of Creation

The most salient feature of this window are the crystals, actual quartz healing crystals, which protrude from the surface of the panel. The clouds are rendered by a technique of multi-stage sandblast etching on flashed glass. The molecular arrangement of crystallized water, i.e. ice, is shown, in the circular designs at bottom. This window, on the theme of the second day, is all about the three states of matter, how liquid becomes solid and dry land emerges from the sea .

Third Day of Creation

On Day Three, Adonai brings life into the creation, for the first time. With the command, "Let there be seed-bearing plants of all kinds," the world burst into flower.

Creation Day Five

"Let the seas bring forth swarms..." Fish, birds, reptiles and all oviparous life was brought forth on the Earth in Day 5.

Fourth Day of Creation

The gears of the universe were set in motion on the fourth Day of Cretion, when God creates time.

Sixth Day of Creation

On Day 6, God brings into the Universe, humanity, it all it's multiplicity.

Shabbat

Shirley Levine

Michelle poses with Shirley Levine at the dedication of the Shirley Levine Beit Midrash at Abraham Heschel Day School.

Congregation Beth Israel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Above, the 12' x 5' glass and steel ark doors which are part of the composition for Milwaukee Beth Israel's refurbished sanctuary.

Temple Beth El, Charlotte, North Carolina

In this image by David Powers the Aron Hakodesh, with stained glass doors, designed and fabricated by Plachte-Zuieback Art Glass stands "proud" at the center of the Bima, during a service in the main sanctuary at Temple Beth El.

Designing the Ark for Temple Beth El

"Sanctuary of Peace and Healing," Ashland, Oregon

The sanctuary artwork consists of the two columns of stained glass windows as well as the Aron Hakodesh with stained glass doors

"Gates of Truth," Temple Sinai, San Jose, California

The Gates of Blessing is a composition of twelve windows, each 4'x4' which depicts a grapevine and a fig tree surrounding a pair of opening gates. The gates bear the insignia of the twelve tribes of Israel and are decorated with the gems of the twelve tribes also. The rails and the styles of the gates are etched with the design of random array of 613 Hebrew letters. The grapevine and the fig tree, symbols of peace are shown in all the seasons of their cycle, culminating in the harvest colors, at the top of the composition. The inscription, in Hebrew, from the acrostic prayer, the "Ptach Lanu," translates, "Open for us the gates of blessing."

"The Divine Spark" Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills, California

Lightning occurs when the Heavens touch the Earth. In this interpretation of Redemption and the splitting of the Red Sea, lightening flashes, a pillar of cloud looms and a roiling sea separates. Sound ripples the crackling atmosphere in a moment of elemental power.

Temple Beth Chaim, Danville, California

Two sliding stained glass doors with steel frames open to expose the Torahs, inside the ark. Two sliding wooden doors allow the ark doors to be covered when the sanctuary is used for non worship activities.

Temple Beth Tikvah, Columbus, Ohio

Temple Chai, Longrove, Illinois

This composition incudes the Aron, Ner Tamid, stained glass ark doors and stained glass window above.

"Shema"

This composition features the prayer the "Shema" set against a background of fire and light, symbolizing the presence of God.

Mechitzah

Congregation Beth Israel, Scottsdale AZ

Ark doors, sidelights and transom windows for the main sanctuary at CBI Scottsdale. Completed in 2016.

Holocaust Memorial with full-size LED panel. This piece hangs on the wall of the sanctuary complete with lighting. The total package is 1" thick.

Congregation Beth Israel Holocaust Memorial

This 36" x 48" stained glass panel is mounted in a frame which also contains a full-size LED light panel, which enables CBI, in Scottsdale, Arizona to hang this brilliantly illuminated piece on a wall in their santuary. The frame containing the stained glass panel and LED lighting is only 1 1/4" deep.