Gerry Macsai
"Three Stages of Life"
 (Photo by Tom Caroll) |
 (Photo by Tom Caroll) |
 (Photo by Charles Fyer) |
There are three stages of life represented in the Mantle:
The white Mantle which is the base for the decorative elements is a symbolic Kittel. A Kittel is an unadorned white garment worn by Orthodox Jews on holy days throughout life and finally becomes a burial shroud.
The overlaid decorative panel depicts a Tree of Life on which leaves grow, mature and die. The overlay panel is symbolic of a Tallis, first worn by a 13-year-old boy or 12-year-old girl at his/her Bar/Bat Mitzvah and then throughout life during prayer. The fringe, or Tsitsit is symbolic of the 613 Mitzvot or good deeds that are the framework of a religious life.
The Hebrew represents a Wimpel, a long strip of fabric created when a child is born and usually decorated with the name of the child and family members and prayers or wishes for his/her future. The Wimpel is used to wrap the Torah at the child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah and may be incorporated into the Chupah or symbolic canopy held over the couple at the wedding. It can be incorporated into a new Wimpel for a new generation.