Wherever faith meets art with Menachem Wecker

Marc Chagall’s Jewish Lazarus

Marc Chagall’s Raising of Lazarus features two decidedly Jewish symbols adorning the tomb — a Star of David, and two hands, signifying the Levite (or priestly) blessing.

So why did Chagall — the Jewish painter and refugee, who painted soaring Hassidic men, green faced rabbis and fiddlers on roofs — emphasize Lazarus’ (Hebrew: Elazar) Jewish identity? [Read More]

Where did Gabriel Metsu get his Hebrew Crucifixion inscription from?

Metsu crucifixion Gabriel Metsu’s c. 1650-60 Crucifixion incorporates all the props one would expect: a skull and crossbones, a chalice, a dramatic sky with a suspended moon and three figures, presumably John, the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene. The unexpected element of the work, though, is the Hebrew inscription (titulus in Latin) on the cross. [Read More]