Hanukkah Rising
11 × 14 Photographic Print — $29.99
The print is professionally produced on premium photographic paper, capturing the vibrant colors and intricate details of the original artwork. Shipping is available within the United States only.
Hanukkah Rising is a symbolic Hanukkah painting celebrating the triumph of light over darkness, the resilience of the Jewish people, and the courage to stand together in the pursuit of freedom. At the heart of the composition stands the Etz Chaim, the Tree of Life, portrayed as a vibrant, deeply rooted olive tree. Its strong roots anchor the image while its branches rise upward and gradually transform into a nine-branched Hanukkiah, connecting the enduring symbolism of the Tree of Life with the sacred light of Hanukkah.
Within the trunk, two wounded figures stand together, their bodies wrapped in bandages representing injuries sustained during the Maccabean Revolt. Their presence symbolizes courage, sacrifice, unity, and the determination to stand together in the struggle for religious freedom and liberation. Rather than portraying the figures as defeated, their upward posture conveys perseverance and strength. They become part of the living tree itself, suggesting that sacrifice and courage are woven into the Jewish people’s continuing life and strength.
As the tree branches reach upward, they become the arms and candle holders of the Hanukkiah. At the tips of the branches, foliage and candle holders transform into upturned hands, evoking prayer, worship, and active participation. These hands lift the flames toward a brilliant, sunlike golden aura. The gesture represents the human responsibility to hold up the light while recognizing its divine source. The flames evoke the rededication of the Temple and the restoration of its sacred menorah, symbolizing victory, renewal, faith, and hope.
Sweeping bands of blue, lavender, and deep purple flow across the composition, weaving around the tree and moving through the luminous golden background. Their wave-like movement evokes water, Ruach, the spirit or breath of God, and the passage of time. The flowing forms suggest movement through adversity while the deeply rooted tree remains steadfast, creating a visual contrast between stability and change. Above it all, the radiant golden field surrounds the Hanukkiah with warmth and illumination, transforming the background into an atmosphere of divine presence.
The artwork is rendered in a contemporary mixed-media style, combining expressive painterly textures, layered collage, gestural mark-making, and intricate hand-drawn linework. Rich gold, cream, blue, lavender, and purple passages create the appearance of layered, tactile materials, while fine dark outlines define the tree, figures, foliage, hands, and Hanukkiah with an illustrative quality. The contrast between loose painterly surfaces and detailed linear drawing gives the work both movement and visual depth. The resulting composition brings together ancient Jewish symbolism and contemporary artistic expression in a meditation on Hanukkah, courage, liberation, resilience, renewal, and the rising light of hope.