Rachel's Tomb (Kever Rochel)

Over the years, Rachel’s Tomb has been a place of pilgrimage for Jews, especially Jewish women unable to give birth. Many come to visit on the 11th of the Jewish month of Cheshvan, the anniversary of her death.
According to the Bible, on the outskirts of Canaan, Rachel, wife of Jacob, went into a difficult labour with her second son, Benjamin. She died during childbirth on Cheshvan 11. The Bible records the event:

“And Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.” — Genesis 35:19-20

The tomb site in Bethlehem consists of a rock with 11 stones upon it, one for each of the 11 sons of Jacob who were alive when Rachel died in childbirth. Over the centuries, the rock was covered by a dome supported by four arches.

Jewish tradition teaches that Rachel weeps for her children and that when the Jews were taken into exile, she wept as they passed by her grave on the way to Babylonia.

In 1864, the Sefardi Jews of Bombay donated the necessary money to dig a well. Although Rachel’s Tomb is only an hour and a half walk from the Old City of Jerusalem, many pilgrims found themselves very thirsty and unable to obtain fresh water.

Sir Moses Montefiore and Judith, Lady Montefiore visited the Land of Israel seven times. Lady Montefiore first saw Rachel’s Tomb on their first visit, in 1828. The couple were childless, and Lady Montefiore was deeply moved by the tomb, which was in good condition at that time. Before the couple’s next visit, in 1839, the Galilee earthquake of 1837 had heavily damaged the tomb.[2] The Montifiore’s paid for the building to be restored.

The Torah Ark Rachel’s Tomb is covered with a curtain (Hebrew: parokhet) made from the wedding gown of Nava Applebaum, a young Israeli woman who was killed by Palestinian terrorists in a suicide bombing at Cafe Hillel in Jerusalem on the eve of her wedding.

The Encounter

The meeting of Eliezer and Rivka
Original on canvas:
80 x 85cm – 31.5″ x 33.5″

Butterfly - Metamorphosis

Inspired by the words:

“O Lord of Hosts, happy is theh man that trusteth in thee.”
Psalms XX
Original on canvas:
66 x 76cm – 26″ x 30″

The Sacrifice

Original on board:
50 x 35cm – 19.8″ x 13.8

Moses

Original on canvas:
80 x 60cm – 35.5″ x 23.5″

Jerusalem

Original, oil on canvas:
80cm. x 56cm – 31″ x 22″

The Great Day at Sinai

We see the small yet brave, lone figure of Moshe going forth, amidst fire and lightning as the people of Israel look on, arms raised to shield them from the light of Revelation.
Oil on Canvas:
76cm X 52cm – 30″ X 20.5″

Jacob's Dream

This painting is replete with symbols: The twelve stones representing the 12 tribes come together as Yacob sleeps, Jacob’s ladder with the angels ascending and descending, the destruction and rebuilding of Jerusalem, the rise of the Nations, the giving of the Law, the Prophet Ezekiel and his scribe.

Oil on Canvas:
80cm X 65cm – 31.5″ X 25.5″

The Vision of Rachel

For thousands of years women have flocked to this most sacred of tombs, where Rachel looks down compassionately on all those who seek her help to bear children. The olive tree represents eternal fruitfulness.

Oil on Canvas:
66cm X 80cm
26″ X 31.5″