Ex Libris

Gersch:

My grandfather, Emanuel Gersch, was a civil engineer with the City of New York and helped build the Whitestone Bridge, which stretches from Whitestone, Queens to the Bronx. With a center span of 2,300 feet (700 m), it once had the fourth-largest center span of any suspension bridge in the world.

I have added the wordplay on “Gersch” [gimmel-resh-shin] and “gesher” [gimmel-shin-resh], “bridge” in Hebrew.

Leah:

Leah, who bore half the nation of Israel, six boys in total, is alluded here through the tents.

The yellow mandrakes in the heart of the letter, "lamed," speak to the mandrakes in the story between Leah and her sister Rachel.

Esther:

This piece stands as a proud testament to my Jewish heritage. Like my namesake, Queen Esther wore her Jewishness proudly, in her case, often in secret for most of her story. I’m grateful to live in an era when such hiddenness is not necessary.

The word, “Zachor,” at right, represents the Biblical command to remember Amalek, from whom Haman was a direct descendent. The Shabbat before Purim is always called “Shabbat Zachor,” the Shabbat of Remembrance.

The Persian motifs along the borders stem from illuminated manuscripts and palace architecture.