“This painting is based on a legend found in Chapter 5, Verse 2 of Pirkei Avot. ‘Ten things were created on the eve of Sabbath at twilight, namely: the mouth of the well which supplied the Israelites with water in the wilderness; the mouth of the ass which spoke to Balaam; the rainbow given as a sign after the flood; the manna dropping from heaven; the rod of Moses; the ‘shamir¹ employed for splitting stones at the building of the Temple; the shape of the written characters; the engraving instrument; the tablets of stone.” (translation by Philip Birnbaum) On Saturday nights, Rafi’s father, Rabbi Yamin Bouganim, and his friends gathered in the courtyard of their home to play music and discuss Torah and Rabbinic legends. Falling asleep in the adjoining room, Rafi, only four years old, heard them discussing these miracles and reflected on them. He imagined the ten miracles sharing the shelves with his favorite playthings.”

– Lou Newman

Size: 12″ x 12″, Medium: tempera