Editorial Art

A few years ago, I attended the funeral of Rabbi Devora Bartnoff — who was probably one of the first female rabbis in history to die, given that women were not admitted to the rabbinate before 1972. Devora was a remarkable woman and a friend, and en route to the service the following thought entered my mind: Everyone will die . . . but EVERYONE will never die.

I created a circular mandala with those words, EVERYONE WILL DIE EVERYONE WILL NEVER DIE. Now I've reproduced it in Yiddish, which lends the piece an historical dimension that goes way beyond any individual's passing. Still, the piece is entitled, "Devora's Funeral."

Lawrence Bush
Editor, Jewish Currents